With advances in material technology come challenges to productivity. New materials are, in fact, more difficult to machine with regards to tool wear and especially machine tool stability. This paper proposes to extend the stability limits of the machining system by enhancing the structure’s damping capability. The aim of the research work presented here is to introduce a unified concept based on the distribution of damping within the machining system components exploiting the dynamic properties of the existing joints. To maintain a high level of static stiffness, it was chosen to adapt hydrostatic clamping systems to the tools. Damping is designed in the structure via high damping interfaces (HDI), intentionally introduced interfaces where the damping ratio is enhanced by introduction of viscoelastic polymer metal composites between the two metallic surfaces composing the interface. In this paper HDI are introduced at two joints, between tool and turret and between turret and lathe. The tests show that the designed-in damping is effective and allows extending the stability limits of the machining system. The implementation of designed-in damping allows the end user to select the most suitable parameters in terms of productivity avoiding the hassle of tuning the devices, having to acquire a deep knowledge in structural dynamics or having to use additional control systems. In addition to this, the enhanced machine tool system becomes less sensitive to stability issues provoked by difficult-to-machine materials or even fluctuations of the work material properties that might occur in everyday production processes.