SWISS INDUSTRIAL SOURCING · 05
Sliding-head, multi-spindle or micro-turning qualified against bar stock, complexity, volume and repeatability.
Discuss your project →TECHNICAL DOSSIER & SWISS SOURCING
Precision turning becomes competitive when geometry, material, bar diameter, cadence and secondary operations are designed together. For miniature parts, risks often concentrate in slenderness, threads, deep holes, burrs, concentricity and tool stability over a production run.
OVEL searches for the relevant Swiss profile: sliding-head CNC for complex parts, multi-spindle for high volume, fixed-head turning, secondary machining, rolling, grinding or a complete chain with treatment and inspection. Qualification targets total delivered cost and repeatability, not axis count alone.
A movement component is defined by its drawing and calibre. OVEL identifies Swiss manufacturers for the required sequence: precision turning, secondary machining, gear cutting, treatment, finishing and inspection. Turning can produce blanks and rotational surfaces; teeth, spokes and spring functions may require other processes. French workshop terms are retained below to support clear identification across languages.
The bearing seats, shoulders and drive interfaces of a barrel arbor must match the barrel and movement. Specify fits, runout and surface condition. Depending on the design, heat treatment, grinding or pivot burnishing may follow production of the turned blank.
The sliding pinion participates in selecting winding and hand-setting functions. Its bore, teeth, clutch engagement and sliding surfaces must be assessed together. Manufacturing may combine precision turning, gear cutting and finishing suited to friction and engagement requirements.
The ratchet wheel belongs to the winding mechanism and works with the click. Tooth profile, bore, flatness and runout affect its operation. The process may combine blank turning, tooth cutting and decoration, with separate acceptance criteria for functional and visible surfaces.
Eccentricity and its reference axis need an explicit definition. Clarify which bearing seats are coaxial and which feature is intentionally offset. Orientation, secondary setups and measurement methods follow the drawing for the particular calibre; this English term is a functional description.
A spoked wheel combines a rim, hub and spokes whose geometry affects stiffness and distortion. Machining the openings and cutting the teeth supplement blank preparation where required by the drawing. Check flatness, concentricity and burr removal after finishing.
The designation pignon de couronne needs to be matched to the movement drawing to identify the exact component and its engagement. Tooth count, profile, bore or bearing seats and inspection datums must be documented. It should not automatically be treated as synonymous with crown wheel.
The ratchet click works with the ratchet wheel to prevent reverse movement in the winding mechanism. Contact geometry, pivoting and any spring function depend on the design. Cutting, milling, treatment and finishing can be more important than turning for this component family.
A miniature nut requires a defined thread, controlled seating face and clean edges. State the thread tolerance, inspection method and assembly tool. A visible watch movement nut also needs appearance criteria in addition to dimensional acceptance requirements.
The date corrector pinion participates in adjusting the date display. Tooth geometry and interfaces with other movement components are calibre-specific. The enquiry should address gear cutting, engagement clearances, position datums and assembly-level functional checks.
A column wheel controls chronograph functions. Angular positions, column profiles, heights and contact surfaces need explicit requirements. Turning the blank is followed by the operations needed to form the columns, cut the teeth and complete the finishing.
The balance wheel rim forms the outer part of the balance and contributes to its moment of inertia. Specify material distribution, geometry and final condition after machining. Inspection may cover dimensions, mass and poising of the assembled balance, depending on the project.
A pied-vis provides fastening or positioning according to the component drawing. Its seat, shoulder, working length and thread must be identified clearly. This functional English description alone does not determine fits, assembly method or compatibility with a particular calibre.
A quotation for a finished part should distinguish the blank, gear cutting, heat treatment, pivot burnishing, polishing, decoration, cleaning and any assembly. The approved drawing also defines protected areas, appearance references and packaging. Acceptance applies after all specified operations. OVEL coordinates the enquiry; the manufacturer confirms feasibility, processes and evidence of conformity.
PROJECT SCOPE
Long or slender parts, complex features, live tooling, back-working and bar production with controlled support and concentricity.
Optimised cycle time for stable references and substantial volumes; tooling investment, material yield and inspection strategy are included.
Very small diameters, holes, threads, slots, rolling, grinding, washing, sorting or automatic inspection to deliver a complete function.
Two visually similar parts may require very different equipment. The quotation should state assumptions about bar stock, cadence and off-machine operations.
The relevant turning shop understands downstream function and sector requirements that change cleaning, documentation and packaging.
QUALIFICATION CRITERIA
Residual burr, a poor thread start, a sharp edge or a particle can make a dimensionally conforming part unusable. The drawing should define edges, prohibited zones, cleanliness and verification, including how deburring changes dimensions.
For series work, we seek risk-based monitoring: first-piece approval, sampling frequency, SPC or automatic inspection, tool-wear tracking, material-lot segregation and a reaction plan.
QUALIFICATION CRITERIA
sliding head, multi-spindle, fixed head and live tools
diameter, straightness, surface, length and source
feed, changeover, cycle time and material yield
deburring, break, cleanliness and functional zones
first piece, SPC, automatic sorting and capability
washing, treatment, grinding, assembly and packaging
PREPARE AN ACTIONABLE RFQ
A clear dossier prevents incomparable quotations and hidden assumptions. Send what is available for the current project stage; missing points are converted into technical questions before the RFQ is circulated.
OVEL is not the workshop manufacturing the part and does not claim its partners’ certifications. We structure the requirement, search for suitable capacity in Switzerland, review the available evidence of fit and coordinate the technical exchange. The selected manufacturer remains responsible for final feasibility, its quotation, processes, inspections and contractual commitments.
FREQUENT TECHNICAL QUESTIONS
It often suits slender, long or complex bar-fed parts. Diameter, operations, volume and cadence also determine the choice.
Its advantage generally appears at sufficient volume and product stability to amortise setup and tooling.
Identify critical edges, target condition, prohibited zones and inspection method. “Deburr” alone is ambiguous.
Yes. Cleanliness level, protected areas, certificates and chain responsibility should be defined.
No. OVEL selects and coordinates a Swiss turning specialist suited to the project.
OUR SECTORS OF EXPERTISE
Precision components for medical devices.
→Development and production for watch brands.
→Miniature components and precision assemblies.
→Complex parts from prototype to production.
→Reliable contacts and components for critical applications.
→
SWISS INDUSTRIAL SOURCING