Mazak Develops Swiss-style Machine

The Syncrex offers flexibility and rugged durability.

Mazak released its new Syncrex Swiss Machine at IMTS 2022. The lathe garnered a lot of interest, so we talked with Leonard Lanute, Syncrex Product Manager, to learn more about the machine’s capabilities and features.

Lanute says Mazak decided to get into the Swiss turning market because its customers were looking for the flexibility of a Swiss machine. Mazak’s users state they are committed to the brand and would buy a Swiss machine if the company were to build one. Over time, customer demand for a Swiss machine grew stronger, so Mazak began developing the Syncrex line. The Syncrex product fits perfectly within Mazak’s full machine lineup, allowing customers to machine small parts in high production.

Mazak manufactures four Syncrex Models in 20, 25, 32, and 38 mm. All machines come in seven-, eight-, or nine-axis options. Additionally, the nine-X model has full 5-axis contouring.

Lanute states Mazak’s Syncrex line is manufactured in the U.S. The company recently built a brand-new facility in Florence, Kentucky, so they could manufacture and assemble the machine base and all other components on the Swiss machines. When visiting the Kentucky campus, customers are happy to see where Mazak produces parts, builds, and tests the Syncrex machines.

Lanute highlights the Syncrex’s high-dampening composite casting (“HDCC”) base as a standout feature. The base is approximately 10 percent heavier than cast iron and offers stability, dampening properties, and thermal features during the turning process. “If you stabilize the process,” Lanute says, “you can make parts much faster.”

Another unique feature of the Syncrex is the Mazak Swiss Setup-Assist. According to Lanute, the typical process for setting up Swiss-style lathes is time-consuming and somewhat laborious, as users typically need to do it manually. However, many Mazak users now use probes to set up their lathes, and the company has taken those probes to the next level.

Mazak is now the only Swiss-style lathe manufacturer whose machine can probe tool lengths and set tools. Through simple macros in the machine, the user can select tools and set the length, diameter, and center of each specific tool. This process significantly decreases the time spent setting up the lathe. Per Lanute, the average setup time is 3 minutes per tool. An operator could take the total overall setup time from an hour to fifteen minutes, which can also help machine parts much faster.

Lanute also briefly discusses the Syncrex’s control. The Syncrex is a standard ISO code machine that consists of a Mitsubishi two-channel CNC control. So, if a user is looking to get the cycle time out of the machine, it could be better accomplished with EIA.

If you have questions or are interested in learning more about Mazak’s Syncrex machines, please reach your territory manager. For additional information, please visit https://mazaksyncrex.com/.