Custom Machined Bushings
Resolute Precision Manufacturing (RPM) produces custom machined bushings to your drawing in brass, bronze, steel, stainless steel, aluminum, and plastics such as Delrin and PEEK. Our bar-fed lathes and Swiss CNC machines handle CNC turning bushings from 3/8″ to 3.2″ OD, with tight ID and OD tolerances for press-fit, slip-fit, and bearing applications. Whether you need custom bushings in small lots or production runs, you work directly with the shop floor, with no distributor markup. Request a QuoteWhat Makes a Precision Bushing?
A bushing is a cylindrical bearing or guide element that reduces friction, absorbs wear, provides electrical insulation, or establishes a precision clearance between two mating parts. The critical features on a precision bushing are the inside diameter (ID), outside diameter (OD), length, and surface finish. The tolerance on each dimension determines the fit class in the assembly.
CNC turning bushings on bar-fed lathes and Swiss CNC machines suit these features well, since the ID, OD, length, and any flange or groove are machined from the same bar stock. RPM produces bushings to the fit class specified on your drawing: H7/p6 press fit, H7/f7 sliding fit, or custom tolerance bands. Our ISO 9001 quality system includes 100 percent dimensional inspection on critical bushing dimensions, so those dimensions are verified against your drawing before shipment.
Material Selection for Bushings
The right bushing material depends on the application: load, speed, temperature, chemical environment, and whether lubrication is available. RPM works in common bushing materials, and our engineers can advise on material selection if you share the operating conditions. That input is especially useful when specifying custom bushings for a new design.
Brass (360) — most common bushing material; good machinability, corrosion resistance, moderate load capacity
Bronze (932 bearing bronze, 954 aluminum bronze) — higher load capacity than brass; better wear resistance
Steel (1018, 4140) — high load capacity; suitable for press-fit applications requiring high retention force
Stainless (303, 304, 316) — corrosion resistance in wet or chemical environments
Aluminum (6061, 7075) — lightweight; suitable for light-load, low-friction applications
Delrin (acetal) — self-lubricating plastic; good for dry-running, low-load applications
PEEK — high-temperature, chemical-resistant plastic; medical and aerospace applications
Specifications
| OD Range | 3/8″ to 3.2″ bar-fed production; larger ODs on chucking machines |
| ID Range | Any ID that can be bored—from clearance drill size to near-wall thickness limits |
| Tolerance | Standard: ±0.001″; precision: ±0.0005″ or tighter on ID and OD |
| Fit Classes | H7/p6 press fit, H7/g6 clearance fit, H7/f7 sliding fit, custom tolerances available on request |
| Flanged Bushings | Flanged OD profiles available; turned in one setup with live tooling |
| Metals | Brass (360), bronze (932/954), steel (1018/4140), stainless steel (303/304/316), aluminum (6061/7075) |
| Plastics | Delrin, PEEK, nylon, HDPE, PTFE |
| Volume | 10 pieces to 500,000+ parts per year |
| Certifications | ISO 9001:2015 |
Common Bushing Applications From RPM
Precision machined bushings from Resolute Precision are used across many industries and applications:
Pivot and hinge bushings — press-fit bronze or brass bushings for door, gate, and linkage pivots
Linear guide bushings — precision ID bushings for shaft and rod guide applications
Electrical isolation bushings — Delrin and nylon bushings for bolt isolation in electrical assemblies
Hydraulic cylinder rod bushings — stainless or bronze bushings for sealing and guiding
Gear and bearing housings — precision steel or aluminum bushings for bearing outer race location
Medical device components — PEEK or 316L stainless bushings for implant and instrument applications
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a bushing and a bearing?
A bushing is a simple cylindrical sleeve that provides a bearing surface through direct contact between the bushing material and the mating shaft. A rolling element bearing uses balls or rollers to reduce friction. Bushings are lower cost and more compact; rolling element bearings are preferred at higher speeds and loads.
What tolerance is required for a press-fit bushing?
A standard press fit (H7/p6 fit class) requires the bushing OD to be larger than the housing bore by approximately 0.001″ to 0.003″ depending on diameter. Resolute Precision machines press-fit bushing ODs to ±0.0005″ to ensure reliable retention force across the production lot.
Can RPM produce flanged bushings?
Yes. Flanged bushings with an integral flange on one or both ends are produced in a single turning setup using live tooling. The flange face, bore, and OD are all machined in one cycle, maintaining concentricity and perpendicular between features.
What is the best bushing material for a lubrication-free application?
For dry-running, lubrication-free applications, self-lubricating materials are preferred: Delrin (acetal), PTFE-filled bronze, oil-impregnated sintered bronze, or PEEK. The best choice depends on load, speed, and temperature. Contact us with your application details for a recommendation.