Connector components
A ring-shaped turned part with slots: bore fit and slot indexing are more critical than the outside diameter.
Part family · Turned components
Pen barrels and grips
A long, thin cosmetic part: surface consistency, concentricity and weight distribution decide the feel.
What it is, and where it usually goes wrong
A pen barrel is a long, thin, visible turned part. The dimensions are easy; what the customer feels is the surface, the concentricity between the barrel and the grip thread, and whether the weight sits where the hand expects it.
How we machine it
- Turn between centres or with a steady so the barrel does not taper along its length.
- Cut the grip thread and the barrel bore in one set-up, otherwise the cap will not run true when screwed on.
- Take the finishing pass with a sharp tool and a fine feed; on brass and titanium the surface is the product.
- Deburr the thread ends by hand — a raised first thread is felt immediately when the cap is fitted.
Where it is used
Metal pens and tool pens, instrument grips, stylus housings, precision sleeves.
What we check before it ships
- Concentricity of the barrel to the thread
- Surface roughness along the full length under raking light
- Length and weight against the specification
- Thread fit with the mating cap, assembled
Measured against your drawing and written on the inspection sheet that ships with the parts. First article reports are available on request.
What to send for a quote
- Overall length and wall thickness
- Thread specification and the mating cap or section
- Material, since brass, stainless and titanium need different finishing
- Target weight, if the balance of the finished pen matters
A STEP file plus a drawing is ideal; a PDF with tolerances also works. Quantity, material and finishing are enough to give you a real price instead of a range.
Questions we get on this part
Can you hold a mirror finish on a long barrel?
A turned finish can be brought to a fine satin on the machine; a true mirror needs polishing, which risks rounding the edges. We agree the finish on a sample first, because 'polished' means different things to different customers.
Why does the cap feel tight on one end?
The thread is not concentric with the barrel, so the cap binds on one side. Cutting the thread and the bore in the same set-up removes that error; checking the assembly before shipping catches anything left.
Other turned components we machine
Motor housings
A thin-walled cylinder where bore coaxiality and face squareness determine how the rotor fits.
Long connecting rods
A slender tubular rod: straightness, bore alignment at both ends and end threads are the three control points.
Send a drawing, get a price within 24 hours
STEP, IGES, DWG, PDF or a dimensioned sketch — plus material, quantity and finishing. We reply with a price and any questions in one message.