# CNC Machined Bushings & Sleeves

> Custom bushings and sleeves are normally turned from bar or tube, then finished around the functional bore. Material choice is driven by shaft pairing, lubrication, load, corrosion and whether the bushing is sacrificial; fit and wall thickness must be evaluated together because thin rings can move after parting.

- HTML page: https://fabvector.com/custom-cnc-parts/cnc-machined-bushings-sleeves (Portuguese: https://fabvector.com/pt/custom-cnc-parts/cnc-machined-bushings-sleeves)
- Quote: https://fabvector.com/quote

## Typical applications

- Plain bearing and pivot bushings
- Seal and bearing sleeves
- Hydraulic and pneumatic spacers
- Electrical and thermal isolation sleeves

## Recommended manufacturing route

1. Select solid bar or tube based on bore size, wall and batch quantity.
2. Rough and finish the functional bore before controlling the outside diameter.
3. Part off with allowance for face finishing and distortion control.
4. Inspect bore, wall, length and fit in a temperature-stable condition.

## Drawing and RFQ controls

| Control | Guidance |
|---|---|
| Fit class | State the mating shaft size and intended clearance or interference, not only the bushing diameter. |
| Wall thickness | Thin walls can relax after parting; avoid unsupported tight cylindricity unless function needs it. |
| Lubrication | Define grooves, holes and permitted edge breaks without creating dirt traps. |
| Press installation | Provide housing material, bore and installation method so interference is reviewed as a system. |

## Recommended materials

- [phosphor-bronze-c510](https://fabvector.com/md/materials/phosphor-bronze-c510): Wear and bearing behavior for loaded sliding interfaces.
- [brass-c360](https://fabvector.com/md/materials/brass-c360): Fast machining for moderate-duty bushings and instrument sleeves.
- [pom-delrin](https://fabvector.com/md/materials/pom-delrin): Low friction and low mass for dry or lightly loaded mechanisms.
- [stainless-steel-304](https://fabvector.com/md/materials/stainless-steel-304): Corrosion-resistant sleeves where galling is addressed by the mating pair.

## Manufacturing processes

- [cnc-turning](https://fabvector.com/md/services/cnc-turning)
- [swiss-machining](https://fabvector.com/md/services/swiss-machining)
- [surface-grinding](https://fabvector.com/md/services/surface-grinding)
- [production-machining](https://fabvector.com/md/services/production-machining)

## Compatible finishes

- [electroless-nickel-plating](https://fabvector.com/md/finishes/electroless-nickel-plating)
- [passivation](https://fabvector.com/md/finishes/passivation)

## Inspection scope to define before production

- Air gauge, bore gauge or CMM measurement appropriate to the tolerance
- Wall-thickness and concentricity verification
- Functional go/no-go or mating-part fit check when supplied

## Buyer questions, answered

### Should I specify the bushing bore or the required running clearance?

Provide both the controlled bore and the mating-shaft information. Clearance depends on tolerance stack, temperature, lubrication and material expansion, so the nominal bore alone does not define function.

### Can very thin bushings be held round after parting?

They can be produced, but free-state roundness becomes sensitive to wall ratio, residual stress, clamping and measurement force. Agree the inspection condition before quoting.

### Can lubrication grooves and holes be included?

Yes. Supply groove geometry, edge-break requirements and the angular relationship of cross holes. Small intersections need an explicit burr-control requirement.

### Which material is best for a custom bushing?

There is no universal choice. Bronze suits many loaded sliding contacts, POM reduces friction and mass, brass machines efficiently, and stainless resists corrosion. Load, speed, shaft material, lubricant and environment decide.

## Related engineering guides

- [Swiss machining for bushings and pins](https://fabvector.com/blog/swiss-machining-small-precision-parts)
- [C510 phosphor bronze data](https://fabvector.com/materials/phosphor-bronze-c510)