How Manufacturers Select Precision Ground Materials for Different Component Requirements

Material selection rarely starts with the material. It starts with the part. A spindle has to carry load, a bushing has to handle repeated contact, and a connector has to carry current. Once you know what the component has to do, the list of sensible materials gets much shorter.

We’re Precision Ground Metals, Inc. in Palos Hills, IL. We’ve spent more than 30 years in the steel industry and grinding, supplying both ferrous and non ferrous materials, including round bars and precision ground bars. Here’s how we’d walk through choosing precision ground materials, one component requirement at a time.

Starting With the Requirement, Then Choosing the Material

Different components place different demands on the material used to manufacture them. Strength, dimensional tolerance, surface finish, weight, wear resistance, and electrical conductivity can each influence the selection.

When the part needs strength and hardness

Shafts, gears, spindles, and similar components that carry load usually point toward alloy steel. Our alloy steel precision ground bars are made for high strength and hardness and are ground to ±0.0005″ or better. Grades include 4140, 4340, 8620, 4130, 6150, and 52100. Our alloy steel selection includes round, flat, and square bars, along with custom cut lengths.

You’ll find them in aerospace and automotive shafts and gears, hydraulic and pneumatic systems, bearings, spindles, and bushings. If your component needs both high strength and close dimensional control, this is usually where the selection starts.

When the part needs a precise shaft at a tight tolerance

Not every precision shaft calls for alloy steel. Our carbon steel precision ground bars, in grades like 1018 and 1045, are also ground to ±0.0005″ or better. They’re used in precision shafts, linear motion components, guide rails, and die and mold components.

If your drawing calls for close dimensional tolerances, carbon steel precision ground bars are worth a look, depending on the material properties the part requires.

When the part needs a fine finish and tight fit

Stainless steel precision ground bars are offered with h6, h7, and h8 tolerance specifications and a surface finish of Ra ≤ 0.2 to 0.8 µm. They’re centerless ground, and the process runs from cold drawing to grinding, polishing, and inspection.

Stainless precision ground bars are used in shafts and bearings, linear motion components, medical instruments, aerospace and defense, and CNC precision machining. Our stainless steel selection includes 303, 316/316L, 440C, 2205, and 2507 Super Duplex.

When weight matters

Some parts need to be light. Aluminum is lightweight, corrosion resistant, highly machinable, and offers good thermal and electrical conductivity. Our precision ground aluminum bars are held within ±0.001″.

Applications include aerospace, marine, automotive, medical equipment, robotics, and hydraulic and pneumatic cylinders. For robotics or hydraulic and pneumatic components where material weight and dimensional accuracy matter, precision ground aluminum belongs on the shortlist.

When the part sees friction and wear

Bushings, bearings, and thrust washers often operate under conditions involving friction and repeated contact. Bronze is known for low friction, wear resistance, and high corrosion resistance, and precision ground bronze is available. Phosphor bronze grades are used for bushings, bearings, and springs, while bearing bronze grades are used for bearings, bushings, and thrust washers.

For linear motion shafts, our Bearing Shaft Quality Bars are another option, made for high wear resistance in those applications.

When the part carries current

Electrical components bring conductivity into the decision. Copper offers high electrical and thermal conductivity, corrosion resistance, and a smooth surface finish, and we supply it as round bars and precision ground bars. Brass also offers electrical conductivity, along with good machinability and corrosion resistance, and C230 red brass is used in electrical connectors.

The right family depends on the part and how it’s made. Tell us what the component does, and we’ll help you compare the two.

When the part is tooling

Dies, punches, cutting tools, molds, stamping tools, and gauges call for tool steel. Common types include O1, A2, D2, M2, and H13, and our precision ground tool steel is held to ±0.001″ or better.

When the application is aerospace, medical, or chemical processing

We also supply titanium as round bars and rods. Grades include commercially pure Grade 2 and alloy Grades 5 and 23, with applications across aerospace, medical devices, chemical processing, marine, and automotive.

Prep, compliance, and the quote

On the prep side, we can straighten bars to strict straightness tolerances, chamfer the ends smooth and burr free, cut custom lengths, package material for transit, and deliver to your location. We supply material with DFARS, REACH, and RoHS compliance, and most of our materials are domestically made.

When you request a quote, the special request notes are where the requirement goes. Tell us what the part has to do, the grade if you know it, tolerance, finish, shape, lengths, any prep you need, and any compliance requirements so we can confirm them for your material.

Bring Us the Requirement

If you know what the part has to do but aren’t sure which material fits, start there. Send us the print and the application, and we’ll help you match the precision ground material to the component. Call (708) 400-7217, email sales@precisiongroundmetals.com, or use our Request A Quote form.

FAQs

Which material should I consider for a part that sees friction and wear?
Bronze is known for low friction, wear resistance, and high corrosion resistance, and it’s used for bushings, bearings, and thrust washers. For linear motion applications, Bearing Shaft Quality Bars are made for high wear resistance.

Which materials do you offer as precision ground bars?
Stainless steel, alloy steel, carbon steel, tool steel, aluminum, brass, and copper are offered as precision ground bars, and precision ground bronze is available.

Do you supply titanium as precision ground bars?
Titanium is supplied as round bars and rods, in grades including commercially pure Grade 2 and alloy Grades 5 and 23.

What should I include in a quote request?
Include your material of interest and use the special request notes for the part’s function, grade, tolerance, finish, shape, lengths, and any straightening, chamfering, or cutting.