Motor shafts. Dowel pins. Precision turned.

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.