Metal · Material guide
Custom bronze parts from independent machine shops
Bronze is the go-to for bearings and bushings: it runs against steel with low friction, carries load, and resists wear and corrosion. Upload a drawing and hear back from shops that turn and mill bronze bar, plate, and sleeve stock.
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Grades
Bronze grades shops run most
Bronze is a family of copper alloys tuned for bearing, strength, or corrosion duty. These are the ones you will see quoted.
C932 / SAE 660 bearing bronze
The classic leaded tin bronze for bushings and bearings. Machines beautifully, runs against steel with low friction, and tolerates marginal lubrication.
Best for Bushings, bearings, thrust washers, sleeves
C544 phosphor bronze
A tin-phosphor bronze with high strength, fatigue resistance, and good spring properties. Wear-resistant for gears and heavily loaded bearings.
Best for Gears, heavy-load bearings, springs, contacts
C954 aluminum bronze
An aluminum bronze with steel-like strength and excellent corrosion and wear resistance, including in seawater. The choice for tough, marine, and high-load parts.
Best for Valve parts, marine hardware, high-load bushings
C630 nickel-aluminum bronze
Adds nickel for even higher strength and outstanding seawater corrosion resistance, used for marine propellers and pump components.
Best for Marine propellers, pump and valve components
C864 manganese bronze
A high-strength brass-family bronze for heavily loaded structural bearings and gears where strength matters more than the lowest friction.
Best for Structural bearings, gears, heavy machinery
Specs
Material properties
Representative values for C932 bearing bronze. Exact numbers vary widely across the bronze family.
| Property | Typical value |
|---|---|
| Density | ~8.8 g/cm³ (0.318 lb/in³) |
| Tensile strength (C932) | ~35 ksi (240 MPa) |
| Tensile strength (aluminum bronze) | ~85 ksi (585 MPa) |
| Hardness (C932) | ~65 HB |
| Machinability (C932) | Excellent; free-cutting leaded bronze |
| Corrosion resistance | Good; aluminum and nickel bronzes excel in seawater |
| Friction / bearing | Low friction against steel; tolerates marginal lube |
| Conductivity | Moderate electrical and thermal conductivity |
Match the bronze to the duty: leaded tin bronze for easy-running bearings, phosphor or aluminum bronze for strength and heavy loads.
Stock
Forms we machine it from
Round bar
Turned bushings, bearings, shafts, and fittings.
Plate & block
Milled bearing pads, wear plates, and gibs.
Tube & sleeve
Continuous-cast sleeve stock for bushings.
Processes
Manufacturing methods for bronze
The right process depends on part geometry, tolerances, and production volume.
Finishing
Finishes for bronze
Bronze resists corrosion on its own, so most parts ship as-machined. Bearings are finished for fit and surface quality.
As-machined
Bare bronze needs no coating and ships as-machined for most parts.
Honed / ground bore
Bushing and bearing bores are honed or ground to a precise diameter and fine surface for the running fit.
Oil-impregnated (sintered)
For sintered bronze bearings, the porous structure is oil-impregnated for self-lubrication; a different process from machined bar.
Bead blast
A uniform matte texture that evens out machining marks on cosmetic parts.
For bearings, call out the bore diameter, running fit, and surface finish. Note the mating shaft material so the shop confirms the pairing.
Applications
Where bronze parts are used
Bronze shows up wherever parts slide, carry load, or sit in a corrosive environment.
Compare
Bronze vs other materials
How bronze compares to the other metals shops quote for bearing and fitting work.
Bronze vs Brass
Brass →- Bronze (a copper-tin alloy) is stronger, harder, and a better bearing material than brass
- Brass (copper-zinc) is cheaper, machines even faster, and is the choice for fittings and decorative parts
- Bronze resists seawater and wear far better; brass is easier and cheaper for non-bearing work
Choose bronze for bearings, bushings, and marine wear parts. Choose brass for low-cost fittings, connectors, and decorative parts.
Bronze vs Stainless Steel
Stainless Steel →- Bronze runs against a steel shaft with low friction where stainless would gall
- Stainless is far stronger and harder for structural parts
- Bronze is the bearing surface; stainless is the structure it often runs against
Choose bronze for the bearing or bushing. Choose stainless for the strong, corrosion-resistant structure or shaft.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
C932 (SAE 660) leaded tin bronze is the classic bearing bronze: it machines beautifully, runs against a steel shaft with low friction, and tolerates marginal lubrication. For heavier loads or higher strength, phosphor bronze (C544) and aluminum bronze (C954) are used. Note the load, speed, and lubrication so the shop confirms the grade.
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Get bronze part quotes
Upload a drawing once and compare quotes from independent shops that turn and mill bronze bearings, bushings, and fittings.
STEP · STL · IGES · DWG · DXF · PDF · and more
Uploads are secure & confidential