Watch & Micro Components
Miniature precision components at very small diameters. Watch parts, instrument components and micro-mechanical parts turned on Swiss-type sliding head machines, where the tolerance band is measured in single microns rather than hundredths.
The actual parts
Micro work at Jay Ashapura.
Watch and instrument components turned at very small diameters, where the tolerance band is measured in single microns.
Capability
- Down to Ø0.5 mm
- ±0.005 mm
- Swiss-type sliding head
- Vision inspected
- Deburred under magnification
Finishes
- As-machined
- Polished
- Nickel
- Gold flash
- Passivated
Mark the one feature that is genuinely critical rather than tightening the whole drawing. At this size that is what sets the price. Send your drawing →
Types we supply
Small parts, held to microns.
Below about 3 mm diameter, guide bush setup and tool wear matter more than the machine specification. This is a different discipline from general turning.
Watch Components
- Cases & Bezels
- Crowns & Pushers
- Pinions & Arbors
- Screws & Pins
- Dial Components
Micro Turned
- Micro Pins & Shafts
- Micro Bushings
- Miniature Screws
- Ferrules & Sleeves
- Contact Pins
Instrument Parts
- Sensor Components
- Optical Housings
- Medical Device Parts
- Connector Micro-Pins
- Custom Micro Parts
Where they’re used
Applications & industries served.
Applications
- Watch and clock movements
- Measuring instruments
- Medical devices
- Optical assemblies
- Miniature connectors
- Micro-mechanical assemblies
Industries served
- Horology
- Medical devices
- Instrumentation
- Optics
- Electronics
- Aerospace
See all the sectors we serve on our Industries page.
Metals for micro turning
Free-machining, or it will not hold.
At these diameters the material has to cut cleanly with almost no cutting force, or the part deflects before it is finished. See full quality & traceability →
Free-Cutting Brass
C36000, the standard micro-turning brass
Stainless Steel
303 / 316L, instrument and medical
Nickel Silver
Dial and movement components
Beryllium Copper
On request, springs and contacts
How they’re made
Manufacturing process.
Bar stock & guide bush setup
Ground bar selected for diameter consistency, with the guide bush set to the bar to control deflection.
Swiss-type sliding head turning
Turned close to the guide bush so cutting force is supported, which is what makes micron work possible.
Deburring & fine finishing
Deburring, polishing and edge treatment carried out under magnification.
Optical & vision inspection
Measured on vision systems rather than contact gauges, since contact would deform the part.
Finishes, inspection & packaging
Delivered ready to use.
Surface finishes
- As-machined
- Polished
- Nickel plated
- Gold flash
- Passivated
Inspection
- Vision measurement
- Dimensional (FAI)
- Surface finish (Ra)
- Concentricity
Testing
- Material verification
- Hardness
- Batch sampling
- Visual (magnified)
Packaging
- Compartment trays
- ESD bags
- Vials & tubes
- Custom-labeled
Documentation ships with the order. See our full quality standards →
Custom micro parts
Built to your micron.
Send the drawing with the tolerance you actually need held, not the default block tolerance. At these sizes the difference between five microns and twenty microns changes both the process and the price substantially.
- Swiss-type sliding head
- Down to 0.5 mm diameter
- Vision inspection
- Prototype to series
Watch & Micro Parts FAQ
Questions, answered.
What makes watch components different from ordinary turning?
Below about 3 mm diameter the guide bush setup, bar quality and tool wear matter more than the machine specification, and parts are measured optically because a contact probe would deform them. It is treated as its own discipline.
Do you make cases and dial components as well as movement parts?
Yes. Cases, bezels, crowns, pushers, pinions, arbors, screws and dial components are all produced to drawing. Horology work is dimensionally and cosmetically demanding at once, and both are inspected.
What is the smallest diameter you can turn?
Down to around 0.5 mm on Swiss-type sliding head machines. Below about 3 mm the guide bush setup and bar quality matter more than the machine specification, which is why this is treated as its own discipline.
What tolerances can you hold on micro parts?
Down to roughly plus or minus 0.005 mm on the right geometry and material. Tell us which single feature is critical rather than tightening the whole drawing, since that is usually what determines the price.
Do you make watch components?
Yes. Cases, bezels, crowns, pushers, pinions, arbors, screws and dial components are produced to drawing. Horology work is dimensionally and cosmetically demanding at the same time, and both are inspected.
How are micro parts inspected?
On vision measuring systems rather than contact gauges, because a contact probe can deform a part at these sizes. Inspection is done under magnification and reported with the shipment.
Can you supply micro parts for medical devices?
Yes, in 316L stainless and other medical-suitable grades, with material traceability by lot. Tell us the applicable standard and we will confirm what documentation can be provided.
Related: Precision Turned Parts · Threaded Inserts · Custom & OEM
Need micro components?
Send the drawing with the critical tolerance marked. We will confirm what is achievable and quote it honestly.
Request a Quote