Custom Machined Bushings

Resolute Precision Manufacturing produces precision CNC turned bushings to drawing in brass, bronze, steel, stainless, aluminum, Delrin, and PEEK. Our bar-fed lathes and Swiss CNC machines produce bushings from 3/8 inch to 3 inch OD with tight ID and OD tolerances for press-fit, slip-fit, and bearing applications. Direct from the shop floor no distributor markup.
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What 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 and the tolerances on each dimension determine the fit class in the assembly.

Resolute Precision 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 for precision applications, ensuring every part shipped meets drawing requirements.

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Material Selection for Bushings

The right bushing material depends on the application: load, speed, temperature, chemical environment, and whether lubrication is available. Resolute Precision works in all common bushing materials — and our engineers can advise on material selection for your specific application if you share the operating conditions.

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.