Manufacture of cutting tools of the highest precision for the watchmaking industry and micromechanics
Henri Robert SA
La Chaux-de-Fonds (CH)New on Amplifa
About Henri Robert SA
Henri Robert SA is a small micromechanics company in La Chaux-de-Fonds, in Switzerland's watchmaking centre, specialising in the manufacture of high-precision cutting tools. The product range includes milling cutters, gravers, radius or profile cutters, cylindrical and taper reamers, drills, punches, embossing stamps, guide tubes and combined milling cutters – mostly made to order according to drawing or model. Production is carried out in carbide (tungsten carbide), cobalt-based hard alloys and high-speed steel. In addition to tool manufacturing, the company offers brazing of attached parts, a regrinding service for milling cutters of any origin, lapping of small bores from Ø 0.12 mm and, on request, tool coating. Its customers are around 50 companies, including about ten major watch manufacturers who account for the bulk of the order book; further industries include jewellery, medical technology, audio-visual and telephony. Production takes place at the headquarters in La Chaux-de-Fonds on a CNC machine park as well as universal grinding and sharpening machines.
- Site
- La Chaux-de-Fonds
- Processes
- Manufacture of high-precision cutting tools (milling cutters, gravers, reamers, drills, punches,, Brazing of attached parts, Regrinding of milling cutters of any origin, Lapping of small bores from ø 0.12 mm, Manufacture of complex and small-dimension tools according to drawing or model, Grinding and sharpening (universal grinding and sharpening machines), Manufacture of standard tools: micro helical milling cutters (30° helix, 10° cut), milling cutters, Tool coating on request
- Materials
- Tungsten carbide, Cobalt-based hard alloys, High-speed steels, Tungsten carbide (hard metal), High-speed steel, CNC machining, Brazing (brazing of attached parts), Lapping of small bores
- Certificates
- Measurement to 0.002 mm
- Founded
- mid-
- Industries
- Watchmaking industry, Jewellery/jeweller's trade, Medical technology, Audio-visual, Telecommunications, Audio-visual
- 01
Design according to drawing or model
- 02
CNC machining
- 03
Grinding and sharpening
- 04
Lapping of small bores
- 05
Brazing of attached parts
- 06
Coating on request
- 07
Measurement and final inspection
Materials and Processes
Tungsten carbide (hard metal)
Standard material for micro cutting tools, including micro milling cutters and micro drills from the stock programme.
Cobalt-based hard alloys
Used for highly stressed cutting tools of the highest precision.
High-speed steel
Material for milling cutters, gravers and other cutting tools depending on the application.
CNC machining
Manufacture of complex and small-dimension tools according to drawing or model.
Brazing (brazing of attached parts)
Joining of attached tool parts as a company specialisation.
Lapping of small bores
Machining of bores from Ø 0.12 mm on special-purpose machines.
Site
La Chaux-de-Fonds
CHHeadquarters and production
- Lot size
- Single and small orders, mostly custom-made products
- Materials
- Carbide, cobalt-based hard alloys, high-speed steel
- CNC machine park
- Universal grinding machines
- Universal sharpening machines
- Lapping machines for small bores
- Measuring instruments with 0.002 mm resolution
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacture of high-precision cutting tools (milling cutters, gravers, reamers, drills, punches,Machining | ±0.01 mm (stock tools); measurement control to 0.002 mm | – | – | – | Tungsten carbide, Cobalt-based hard alloys, High-speed steels |
| Brazing of attached partsJoining | – | – | – | – | – |
| Regrinding of milling cutters of any originSurface | – | – | – | – | – |
| Lapping of small bores from ø 0.12 mmMachining | – | – | – | – | – |
| Manufacture of complex and small-dimension tools according to drawing or modelMachining | – | – | – | – | Tungsten carbide, Cobalt-based hard alloys, High-speed steels |
| Grinding and sharpening (universal grinding and sharpening machines)Machining | – | – | – | – | Tungsten carbide, High-speed steels |
| Manufacture of standard tools: micro helical milling cutters (30° helix, 10° cut), milling cuttersMachining | d1 ±0.01 mm; D h6 | L 38 mm | – | – | Tungsten carbide |
| Tool coating on requestSurface | – | – | – | – | – |
5 Anlagen & Maschinen
| Machine | Manufacturer / model | Quantity | Working area | Year built | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CNC machine park | – | – | – | – | La Chaux-de-Fonds |
| Universal grinding machines | – | – | – | – | La Chaux-de-Fonds |
| Universal sharpening machines | – | – | – | – | La Chaux-de-Fonds |
| Bore lapping machines | – | – | – | – | La Chaux-de-Fonds |
| Measuring instruments to 0.002 mm | – | – | – | – | La Chaux-de-Fonds |
Additional services
Reference customers
Quality
Dimensional accuracy is checked with measuring instruments allowing measurements to 0.002 mm; stock tools are manufactured with tolerances of ±0.01 mm and shank tolerance h6.
| Evidence | La Chaux-de-Fonds |
|---|---|
| Measurement to 0.002 mm |
History
- ca. 1965
Henri Robert, previously technical director at Zénith, founds a company for ultra-precise cutting tools; starting in his own home, later in his father's watchmaking workshop on rue de la Paix.
Daughter Josette Paolini-Robert joins and takes over mainly the commercial side; the workforce never exceeds five people.
- 1997
Henri Robert retires at the age of 85; his daughter takes over the company management.
- 1997–2012
Technical development with the support of Roger Hirsch and conversion into an SA.
- 2012
Sale of the company to Laurent Ryser and Géraldine Emel; Géraldine Emel takes over the management.