Precision turning: Tornos France focuses on machinability and chip management with Eural’s lead-free aluminium

Obtained via official Press Release

The performance characteristics of Eural Gnutti’s lead-free aluminium – the world’s leading manufacturer of drawn aluminium alloy bars for machining and one of the major players in extruded bars and profiles – meet the specific requirements of Tornos France, which prioritises machinability and chip control in precision turning. In this context, the alloy 2033 proves particularly effective in supporting high-speed machining cycles with tight tolerances, facilitating better operational management and consistent performance. 

Tornos France, a subsidiary of the Swiss Tornos Group, is a long-established manufacturer of machine tools specialising in bar turning, particularly with sliding head lathes. With over 140 years of experience and a presence in more than 20 countries, the group has thousands of installations worldwide in high-precision sectors such as automotive, medical and luxury goods. Thanks to its current machine portfolio, Tornos is now a leading technology partner for complex, high-value-added applications.

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The synergy between Eural and Tornos confirms the industry’s growing interest in lead-free aluminium solutions, capable of combining high performance with stable and reliable machining processes. Added to these advantages is surface quality, which is particularly important for the sector, where high and consistent aesthetic standards are required over time. In this context, the material’s ability to ensure bright and uniform surfaces—ideal as a base for subsequent treatments and coatings with precious metals such as gold, silver or palladium—is a key factor in further enhancing the quality and aesthetic appeal of the finished product.

The 2033 alloy by Eural opens up new possibilities for the luxury and watchmaking sectors

In the luxury and watchmaking sectors, which have historically relied on the use of other alloys such as leaded brass, there is a growing need to adopt more sustainable materials in response to regulatory, environmental and safety requirements regarding skin contact. In this context, lead-free aluminium presents itself as a viable alternative, capable of combining technical performance, lightness and greater sustainability, whilst maintaining the required quality standards. The star of the project is, in fact, the Eural 2033 alloy, which stands out for its excellent machinability in terms of chip fragmentation – a crucial factor in automated machining and the main operational challenge. Added to these benefits is the guarantee of superior operational continuity, resulting in a reduction in tool breakage or wear. The 2033 alloy therefore presents itself as a solution that anticipates market developments and is the ideal choice for the most demanding market segments.

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Real-world application, concrete results: the practical test of the 2033 alloy

At Simodec exhibition, and to demonstrate the alloy’s qualities, Tornos put its Swiss XT lathe into live operation to produce a practical, lightweight and durable object— that would showcase the potential of both the machine tool and the material used. The application chosen was a pocket knife combining functionality and aesthetics, to highlight not only machining performance but also the final result in terms of finish and material yield – aspects of increasing importance in the sectors served by both companies. Designed from the outset with a ‘full metal’ approach, the product has succeeded in maximising the alloy’s characteristics, without the interference of dissimilar materials, which would have limited its performance. Unlike the more common configurations, which feature plastic or wooden inserts or components, every element has in fact been made exclusively from metal: the handle in 2033 alloy, the blade and ferrule in stainless steel, and the screw in titanium.

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In detail, the handle was machined through turning, milling, drilling and threading operations, followed by a tumbling finish, which resulted in a particularly shiny surface. The use of cutting tools for steel, combined with increased cutting speed, has also helped to improve chip management. The results achieved have demonstrated high machinability and production continuity, alongside unrivalled surface quality. Added to this is the finished product’s solid mechanical strength, including impact resistance, and its full compatibility with surface treatments such as anodising and decorative finishes.

Patrice Armeni, Director of Tornos France, states: “This application has demonstrated first-hand the potential of Tornos machines and their genuine efficiency in precision machining using a high-performance material such as Eural Gnutti’s 2033 alloy.” He concludes: “Although the selection of materials is not within our remit, the evidence gathered leads us to recommend this alloy to our customers.”

Sébastien Vadillo, Sales Manager for France at Eural Gnutti, comments: “I would like to thank the Tornos team for their fruitful collaboration, thanks to which we were able to quickly identify the optimal parameters, confirming the value of 2033 even in new application contexts,” and concludes: “The contribution made by Eural’s Machining Trials service, working alongside the customer, enabled us to steer the choice towards the most suitable alloy, accelerating the transition from concept to production.”

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Note: This article has been issued by Eural Gnutti and has been published by AL Circle with its original information without any modifications or edits to the core subject/data.