Custom Shafts & Pins

Motor shafts.
Dowel pins.
Precision turned.

Custom precision shafts and pins in any material and configuration. Motor shafts with bearing journals, precision dowel pins, threaded shafts, splined shafts, ground finish for bearing fits. Swiss turning for small-diameter, centerless grinding for production volume.

Shafts & Pins Quote Swiss screw machining

±0.005 mm Ground finish Hardened options Swiss capable

01 · Shaft categories

Shaft types we build.

Different shaft categories have distinct tolerance, material, and finishing requirements. Here's what we manufacture most often.

Motor shafts

4140 · hardened

Electric motor and rotating machinery shafts. Bearing journals ground to tolerance, keyways or splines as required.

Precision dowel pins

8620 · hardened

Alignment pins for tooling and assembly. Ground to tight tolerance (±0.005 mm). Chamfered ends for easy installation.

Bearing shafts

52100 · hardened

Shaft for bearing inner races. 60 HRC hardened and ground — bearing-grade surface finish.

Threaded shafts

4140 QT · customizable

Threaded shafts for actuators, lead screws, ball screws. Thread rolling for production.

Splined shafts

4140 · involute splines

Splined drive shafts. Custom spline geometry (ANSI B92.1 or metric). Broached or hobbed splines.

Transmission shafts

8620 · induction hardened

Automotive and industrial transmission shafts. Induction hardening for selective surface hardening.

Pump shafts

316L / K-500 Monel

Corrosion-resistant pump shafts. K-500 Monel for marine and aggressive chemistry.

Precision ground pins

O1 / D2 · ground

Tool-steel ground precision pins for dies and fixtures. Polished finish, tight tolerance.

Stepped shafts

Multiple materials

Complex stepped shafts with multiple diameters, features at each section.

02 · Shaft applications

Where our shafts are used.

Electric motor manufacturers

Motor shaft production for industrial and consumer motors

Automotive drivetrain

Transmission shafts, driveshafts, differential shafts

Industrial pumps

Pump shaft production for centrifugal and positive-displacement pumps

Precision instruments

Instrument shafts for test equipment, lab automation, scientific instruments

Robotics manufacturers

Robot joint shafts, gear reducer input/output shafts

Hydraulic cylinders

Piston rods for hydraulic cylinders — chrome plated for wear and corrosion

Agricultural equipment

Tractor PTO shafts, implement drive shafts, harvest equipment

Aerospace actuators

Ball screw shafts, linear actuator drive shafts for aerospace

Medical devices

Surgical robot drive shafts, medical device actuator shafts

FAQ

Shafts & Pins questions.

Turned finish: Ra 0.8 µm typical — adequate for most bearings. Fine-turned: Ra 0.4 µm — good for precision bearings. Ground finish: Ra 0.2 µm or better — required for precision ball bearings, angular contact bearings, high-speed applications. Turning is faster/cheaper; grinding is precision. Production workflow typically: CNC turn to near-final, harden if required, then cylindrical grind to final tolerance and finish.

Induction hardening selectively hardens surface without affecting core. Standard for automotive shafts — hardened surface for wear at bearing journals, tough core for impact/fatigue. Case depth adjustable 1-6 mm. Hardness 55-62 HRC surface. Process: induction coil heats surface to 850 °C, quench, temper. Our workflow: CNC turn to slightly oversize, induction harden, grind to final dimensions.

Keyway: simple, cheap, fine for moderate torque and lower RPM. Uses external key that fits in machined slot. Installed/removed easily. Limitation: torque concentrated at key — can shear under high torque. Spline: complex geometry, handles high torque, better for high-speed (balanced). Standard involute splines per ANSI B92.1. More expensive to produce. For aerospace and motorsport: splines. For general industrial: keyways.

Hydraulic cylinder rods and precision shafts often chrome plated: 25-50 µm hard chrome, 60+ HRC hardness, Ra 0.2 µm finish, corrosion resistance. Process: CNC turn + precision grind + chrome plate + polish. Chrome provides simultaneous wear resistance (bearing durability) and corrosion resistance (seals last longer). For marine/chemical service, stainless steel substrates alternative.

Swiss turning (sliding headstock): ideal for small-diameter (< 32 mm), long (L/D > 3:1), precision (±0.005 mm). Examples: dowel pins, precision instrument shafts, medical screws. Conventional CNC turning: larger diameters, shorter parts, wider tolerance. Swiss is more expensive per hour but faster per part for suitable geometry. We quote both approaches and recommend the more economical.

Standard turned shafts in stock material: 5-7 days. Hardened shafts with grinding: 2-3 weeks (includes heat treatment). Chrome-plated shafts: 3-4 weeks. Production volumes (500+ parts): 3-4 week initial setup, then ongoing weekly deliveries possible. For urgent shaft production, expedited service available at premium.