Star Micronics Swiss Lathe Financing:
New and Used Star CNC Machines.

Star CNC maintains one of the broadest current Swiss-type automatic-lathe lineups in the U.S. The exact model matters because Star spans 10 mm small-diameter equipment, 20 mm production machines, 32 mm and 38 mm platforms and highly complex multi-tool configurations. For a broader look at Citizen, Tsugami and Nakamura-Tome, see our main CNC Swiss lathe financing guide.

Star also provides a useful discontinued-model list on its current site. That makes it possible to distinguish current machines from used legacy equipment without guessing. For financing, exact series, type suffix, Fanuc control, guide-bush mode, tool layout, bar feeder and condition should be documented.

Understanding the Machine Lineup

Small Diameter: SL-10, SR-10J and SB-12R

The current SL-10 is a 10 mm Swiss-type automatic lathe and Star lists Fanuc 32i-B control on the current product page. Star also currently lists SR-10J and the new SB-12R Type G. These machines fit very small precision-part production.

20 mm Core: SB-20RII, SP-20, SR-20JII and SR-20R IV

Star's 20 mm class includes multiple current architectures. SB-20RII supports guide-bush and non-guide-bush operation. SP-20 is positioned as a versatile compact 20 mm machine with an optional 1-inch capacity. SR-20R IV Type A/B includes a full B-axis on Type B and Star lists Fanuc control on current documentation.

SV-20R, SW-20 and ST-20

These machines serve more complex production. SV-20R offers multi-axis overlap and guide-bush/non-guide-bush flexibility. SW-20 uses a multi-tool architecture. ST-20 uses opposing twin turret tool posts and three turrets for high-complexity simultaneous machining.

Larger Diameter Star Machines

Star's current U.S. lineup also includes SR-32JIII, SR-38 Type B, ST-38, SX-38 Type A/B and SK-51 Type A. Individual bar capacities and control configurations should be verified before purchase.

Current Machines vs. the Used and Secondary Market

Star's own current site marks numerous machines discontinued, including SB-16 variants, SB-20R Type G, SC-20, SR-20R II, SR-32J/JN, SR-32JII, SR-38J, SV-12, SV-20, SV-32 and SV-38R. That archive is valuable for used-machine financing. It allows real legacy equipment to be named without implying it is current. A discontinued Star can still be financeable but control support, guide-bush hardware, live-tool condition and purchase price deserve closer review.

Financing a New Machine

A new Star purchase is often tied to a specific part family and can include a substantial tooling package. The shop should provide the bar feeder, live-tool units, thread-whirling or special attachments, coolant and fire-suppression setup needed for production.

Financing a Used or Refurbished Machine

Used Swiss-type equipment is a normal part of the machine-tool market. The key is documenting the exact machine and its condition. Prepare the exact brand and model, serial number and year, control make, model and generation, maximum bar diameter and guide-bush configuration, main-spindle and sub-spindle hours when available, guide-bush, spindle and collet condition, live-tool and cross-working attachment condition, bar feeder make, model and condition, tooling and holders included, current running condition and alarm history, service records and known repairs, an inspection report or running video when available, and rigging, freight and installation quotes. Guide-bush condition, spindle condition, bar-feeder setup, live-tool condition and control generation can matter as much as the machine year. A running video or inspection report is particularly useful on a complex multi-axis Swiss machine.

Upgrading or Adding Capacity

A shop may move from older SR or SV equipment into current 20 mm models, add B-axis capability with an SR-20R IV Type B or move to larger 32 mm or 38 mm capacity. Explain how the upgrade changes cycle time, complete-in-one capability or contract capacity.

Buying From a Dealer, Auction or Another Shop

Used Swiss lathes are commonly bought from machine-tool dealers, auctions and other precision shops. Dealer transactions can be cleaner because the dealer may provide model information, video, inspection, bar-feeder details and rigging support. Auction financing should be addressed before bidding because payment and removal windows can be short. Direct shop-to-shop purchases can potentially be financed but ownership, liens, location, condition and serial number generally need additional verification.

Don't Forget Bar Feeders, Tooling, Workholding and Automation

A Swiss-type machine project can include much more than the lathe. Common supporting equipment includes a magazine bar feeder, guide-bush tooling, collets, carbide guide bushings, live-tool holders, cross-drilling attachments, thread-whirling units, high-pressure coolant, mist collection, chip conveyors, part conveyors, tool presetting, inspection equipment, CAD/CAM software, postprocessors, fire suppression where required, oil chillers, transformers, rigging, freight and installation. If the machine will not make the intended parts without those items, include them in the project quote.

Star Generation and Architecture Deep Dive

Star's current catalog is unusually broad, which makes the exact model family important. Current machines span small-diameter SB, SL and SR models through the 20 mm SP, SR, SV, SW and ST platforms and larger 32 mm to 51 mm machines. The same nominal bar capacity can appear in machines with very different tooling architecture.

The current SB-20RII is a useful generation example. Star describes it as a seven-axis machine with more tool stations, higher spindle speeds, advanced controls and guide-bush or non-guide-bush operation. The older SB-20R Type G is now listed as discontinued. A used buyer should therefore distinguish SB-20RII from SB-20R Type G rather than treating both as one SB-20 platform.

The SR-20R IV family adds another layer. Type A and Type B share the core 20 mm platform but Type B adds a full B-axis controlled power-driven tool unit. Star lists a 27-position tool station with capacity for up to 41 tools and Y-axis backworking. A buyer paying for Type B capability should verify the B-axis unit and its tooling rather than relying on the base SR-20R IV name.

Star's SP-20 represents a newer compact approach with a gate-shaped tool post around the guide bush and modular driven-tool stations. The SW-20 uses a different architecture and a proprietary Star motion-control system to coordinate complex tool paths. The ST-20 moves further into simultaneous machining with opposing turret tool posts and multiple turrets. These are not simply feature packages on one common machine.

Control generation matters in the used market. Star's own NC Assist compatibility list shows older machines across Fanuc 16i, 18i, 0i, 31i and 32i generations. That has implications for operator familiarity, program transfer, memory, networking and support. The lender does not need to compare Fanuc features but it should have the exact control in the collateral description.

Why the Exact Star Configuration Matters to a Lender

A 20 mm capacity label does not establish value. An SB-20RII configured for flexible general Swiss work is different from an SR-20R IV Type B with B-axis milling or an ST-20 designed for highly simultaneous multi-turret work. Tool capacity and which tools can cut simultaneously can be central to the buyer's productivity case.

Guide-bush and non-guide-bush capability should be documented because it affects stock strategy and remnant. Thread-whirling, polygon machining and specialized modular tool units can also carry significant replacement cost. A used machine missing proprietary driven-tool cartridges may require a substantial tooling budget.

Condition review should cover main and sub spindles, guide-bushing mechanism, headstock motion, live-tool spindles, B-axis hardware where equipped, turret indexing on ST machines, coolant system and control alarms. On older Star machines, confirm the exact Fanuc generation and whether programs, parameters and backups are available.

Building a Complete Star Financing Package

Provide full model and type designation, serial number, year, Fanuc control, guide-bush configuration, main and sub spindle information, B-axis or Y-axis options, modular tooling, thread-whirling equipment, bar feeder, coolant system and parts handling. Include every major toolholder supplied with the machine.

For used equipment, add running videos, spindle and live-tool condition, service records, crash history when known, control backup availability and guide-bushing condition. Rigging, freight, bar-feeder setup and high-pressure coolant should be included when they are part of getting the machine into production.

Why the Exact Model, Control and Condition Matter to a Lender

Star models with the same nominal diameter can have very different tool architectures. SR-20R IV, SV-20R, SW-20 and ST-20 are all 20 mm class machines but they are not interchangeable collateral. The lender needs the exact architecture, control and included tooling.

What You'll Need to Finance the Machine

Start with the complete machine quote or purchase agreement. Useful information includes the exact machine model and year, serial number, seller or dealer, purchase price, control make and generation, maximum bar capacity and guide-bush configuration, spindle hours when available, main and sub-spindle condition, live tooling and driven-tool configuration, bar feeder and material-handling equipment, included tooling and workholding, an inspection or running video for used machines, rigging and freight, installation and training costs, business information and ownership, and a brief explanation of the parts and production volume the machine will support. Qualifying smaller transactions may be eligible for application-only financing. Larger or more complex machine acquisitions may require additional business and financial documentation.

Used-Machine Due Diligence Before Closing

Before a used Swiss or Swiss-style machine closes, the buyer should reconcile the dealer quote with the physical machine. Confirm the serial plate, control, bar capacity, spindle configuration and every option that materially affects the production plan. Run the main spindle and sub spindle through their useful speed ranges, index or move every tool group and test live tools under load when practical. A machine that powers up but cannot demonstrate its back-working, B-axis or live-tool functions should not be documented as though those systems were proven.

The tooling inventory deserves its own line-by-line review. Swiss tooling can include guide bushings, collets, driven-tool holders, cross-working units, thread-whirling attachments and proprietary cartridges. Missing holders can turn an attractive purchase price into a larger commissioning bill. The bar feeder should be identified by model and serial number and the buyer should confirm that the channel set or conversion parts match the stock diameters it intends to run.

Finally, build the move into the transaction. Seller-side deinstallation, rigging, freight, buyer-side unloading, leveling, electrical work, coolant fill, bar-feeder alignment and machine startup are real costs. If the machine is expected to run unattended, include high-pressure coolant, mist collection, fire suppression and parts handling where required by the shop's process and safety plan.

How the Machine Earns Its Keep

The financing case is strongest when the shop connects the machine configuration to a measurable production constraint. Swiss equipment is often justified by a family of parts rather than one isolated job. The buyer may be moving work from cam automatics, reducing secondary milling, replacing several older machines or adding unattended capacity for a contract that already has repeat demand. Material remnant, operator intervention, tool life, chip control, inspection frequency and changeover time all influence the economics of a Swiss cell, and the application should state the part family, approximate bar diameters, materials, expected production pattern and whether the machine is replacing equipment or expanding capacity.

Financing Star Micronics Swiss Lathes Through iLease Capital

iLease Capital works with machine shops and manufacturers acquiring new, used and refurbished CNC equipment. Machines purchased from dealers, auctions and other eligible sellers can potentially be financed depending on the equipment and transaction. Financing may be available for transactions up to $5 million plus and qualifying smaller transactions may be eligible for application-only financing. For Citizen, Tsugami and Nakamura-Tome Swiss-style machines, see our main CNC Swiss lathe financing guide.

Frequently asked questions