Swiss-type lathe or conventional CNC lathe: which fits your parts?
A Swiss-type lathe fits small parts machined from bar: the Eurotech models Eagle sells take bar up to 1.65 in (42 mm), and Eurotech describes them as suited to small, intricate components with continuous material support. Larger bar, and parts held in a chuck, go on a conventional turning center such as the Eurotech Ultima B620 and Stallion (bar from 2.00 to 4.03 in) or the Hwacheon CUTEX-180 (a 6 or 8 in chuck).
Published Nov 10, 2026
What is the difference?
The four Swiss-type lathes Eagle sells are Eurotech's Kobra, Gepard, Diamont and Xtreme. Eurotech calls the first three hybrid Swiss sliding headstock machines, built to run with or without a guide bushing. None of the four takes bar over 42 mm (1.65 in).
A conventional (fixed-head) CNC lathe, in this guide, is a turning center for chucked parts and larger bar. Hwacheon's CUTEX-180, one of its horizontal turning centers, is a 6 in chucker, or 8 in on the B model. Eurotech's Ultima B620 and Stallion are single-turret turn/mill centers for bar and chuck work.
Both kinds can carry live tools, a Y axis and a sub-spindle, model by model, so milling alone does not decide between them. What separates them first is bar size, part length and whether the part starts as bar.
What bar size and part length fit each?
The Swiss-type lathes take bar up to 1.65 in (42 mm). Every turning center here takes larger bar, from 2.00 in on the smallest Ultima B620 to 4.03 in on the Stallion, and chucked work too: a 6 or 8 in chuck on the CUTEX-180, up to 9.8 in on the Ultima and up to 15.7 in on the Stallion.
| Model | Kind | Bar capacity | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kobra 25 SLY-X | Swiss-type | Up to 1.02 in (26 mm) | 7.87 in machining length per chucking |
| Gepard 32 and 42 SLY | Swiss-type | Up to 1.65 in (32 or 42 mm models) | Confirm on the quote |
| Diamont 42 SY2-X | Swiss-type | Up to 1.65 in (42 mm) | 11.02 in stroke |
| Xtreme 25, 32 and 42 SLY-2 | Swiss-type | Up to 1.65 in (25, 32 or 42 mm models) | Not on Eurotech's page yet |
| CUTEX-180 | Turning center | 2.01 in (51 mm) on the 180A, 2.56 in (65 mm) on the 180B | Up to 12.91 in cutting length, 20.79 in on the long bed |
| Ultima B620 | Turning center | 2.00, 2.76 or 3.15 in | 24.4 in machining length |
| Stallion B750 and B1250 | Turning center | Up to 4.03 in | 750 mm or 1250 mm turning length |
For bar up to 1.65 in, both kinds can take it, and the part's length and features narrow the choice. Eurotech calls the Stallion B1250, with 51.6 in of longitudinal stroke, particularly suitable for long shafts.
Can a Swiss-type lathe run without a guide bushing?
The Kobra, Gepard and Diamont can. Eurotech's brochures for all three list easy conversion from guide bushing to non-guide bushing work, and setup with any major brand of guide bushing and collet.
The same brochures show one difference: the bar left over. The diagram in all three shows 150 mm of remnant using a live bushing with the guide bush, and 50 mm using a rough material bushing without it. The Kobra and Gepard brochures put that short remnant at 1.97 in (50 mm) with the optional rough material bushing, depending on part length, and pair the same bushing with raw material machining.
Eurotech's Xtreme page does not cover guide bushings, so confirm that before you plan on running it without one.
How many tools, and which axes?
The figures below are each builder's own, and they count in different units: tools on some machines, turret stations on others. Compare the tool layout for your part rather than the headline number.
Swiss-type lathes
- Kobra: 25 tools standard, up to 38 depending on the modular live-tool setup, and 7 axes, with 2 Y axes available as an option.
- Gepard: 25 tools, 29 with double sleeves, and up to 7 axes.
- Diamont 42: a 12-station turret with BMT55 holders, up to 61 tools and up to 10 axes. Eurotech says up to three tools can cut at once.
- Xtreme: up to 39 tools and up to 8 axes, with C-axis on the main and sub-spindle and Y2-axis capability.
Turning centers
- CUTEX-180: a 12-station turret. MC models add BMT55 live tooling and can index to 24 positions, Y models add a ±55 mm (±2.17 in) Y axis, and SMC models a sub-spindle.
- Ultima B620: a 15-station servo turret with live tooling on every station, 3.54 in of Y-axis stroke and a synchronized sub-spindle with C-axis on the SLY. Eurotech's brochure says up to 30 tools can be used together.
- Stallion: a 12- or 16-station servo turret with direct-drive live tools, and a Y axis and C-axis sub-spindle on the SLY. Eurotech's brochure says the turret accepts up to 34 tools that can work simultaneously.
Two- and three-turret lathes are a separate choice: see Twin-turret or single-turret lathe: what do more turrets add?.
What decides it for your parts?
Size settles it first. A part over 1.65 in (42 mm) in diameter, or one that starts as a blank held in a chuck, is work for a turning center. Under that, the drawing decides. Have these answers ready:
- The largest and smallest diameters and the overall length, set against the table above.
- The features off center and on the back end, and whether the model has the Y axis and sub-spindle for them. Eurotech lists flat, slot and keyway milling, thread milling and grid holes as Y-axis work on the Ultima B620.
- The material, the quantity per lot and how often the part repeats.
Common questions
What bar sizes do the Swiss-type lathes Eagle sells take?
Up to 1.65 in (42 mm): the Kobra 25 SLY-X takes bar up to 1.02 in (26 mm), and the Gepard, Diamont 42 and Xtreme up to 1.65 in. Larger bar goes on a turning center, such as the Eurotech Ultima B620 (2.00, 2.76 or 3.15 in) or the Stallion (up to 4.03 in).
Can a Swiss-type lathe run without a guide bushing?
The Kobra, Gepard and Diamont can: Eurotech's brochures for all three list easy conversion from guide bushing to non-guide bushing work. The Kobra and Gepard brochures put the bar remnant at 1.97 in (50 mm) with the optional rough material bushing, depending on part length, and the diagram in all three shows 150 mm with the guide bush. Eurotech's Xtreme page does not cover guide bushings.
Sources
- 1.Eurotech product list (Swiss lineup) · eurotechelite.com
- 2.Eurotech Kobra brochure (PDF) · eurotechelite.com
- 3.Eurotech Gepard brochure (PDF) · eurotechelite.com
- 4.Eurotech Gepard product page · eurotechelite.com
- 5.Eurotech Diamont brochure (PDF) · eurotechelite.com
- 6.Eurotech Diamont product page · eurotechelite.com
- 7.Eurotech Xtreme product page · eurotechelite.com
- 8.Hwacheon CUTEX-180 catalog (PDF) · hwacheon.com
- 9.Eurotech Ultima brochure (PDF) · eurotechelite.com
- 10.Eurotech Stallion brochure (PDF) · eurotechelite.com
- 11.Eurotech Stallion B750 product page · eurotechelite.com