Wexmar provides precision boring and reaming services for holes that have to meet tight diameter, roundness, and position requirements. Bearing bores, dowel holes, valve bores, and seal bores are finished on our Mazak and Doosan CNC lathes and on Mazak horizontal machining centers, then verified on coordinate measuring machines. Buyers searching for a precision boring machine shop or CNC reaming services near Syracuse or anywhere in the Northeast can work directly with our Canastota, New York shop.
What boring and reaming are
Drilling makes a hole quickly but not precisely. Reaming follows drilling with a multi-flute tool that removes a small amount of stock to bring the hole to a controlled size and a smooth finish. Reaming is fast and repeatable, but it follows the existing hole, so it does not correct position. Boring uses a single-point tool that the machine moves to a programmed path, which lets it correct position and straightness and reach any diameter within the boring bar's range. Fine boring heads can be adjusted in tenths to hit a tight size band. We choose between the two, or combine them, based on the tolerance, the quantity, and the hole geometry.
When a buyer needs precision boring or reaming
- Bearing bores and housings for pumps, gearboxes, and power transmission equipment
- Dowel and locating pin holes that set assembly alignment
- Valve and spool bores in fluid power components
- Seal bores that need a controlled finish for O-ring or lip seal performance
- Coaxial bores on opposite faces that must share a common axis
Wexmar machines used
Bores in round parts are finished on our CNC lathes: Mazak Nexus QT200, Nexus 250, Nexus 100-II, 200 MS, Multiplex 6300Y, and Nexus 450-II, Doosan Lynx 2100A, and the Boss 552. Turning a bore in the same setup as the outside diameter holds concentricity between them. Bores in housings and blocks are finished on our six Mazak horizontal machining centers, where the rotary pallet lets us bore from one side, index 180 degrees, and bore the opposite side on the same axis. See the machine list and our horizontal machining page.
Line boring on a horizontal
When two bores on opposite walls of a housing must be coaxial, a horizontal machining center can bore both from one side with a long bar, or bore from both sides with a pallet index. Either way, both bores come from one clamping and one datum scheme, which is the most reliable way to keep them aligned.
Typical tolerances and finishes
| Process | Typical diameter tolerance | Typical finish |
|---|---|---|
| Drilled | +0.003 / -0.000 in | 125 Ra |
| Reamed | ±0.0005 in | 32 to 63 Ra |
| Bored (standard) | ±0.001 in | 63 Ra |
| Fine bored (by review) | ±0.0002 to ±0.0003 in | 16 to 32 Ra |
| Coaxial bores, one setup | 0.0005 to 0.001 in coaxiality | per callout |
Values are typical and depend on bore length, material, and wall thickness. Thin walls and interrupted bores are reviewed before quoting.
Materials
We bore and ream carbon and alloy steels, 300-series, 400-series, and PH stainless, Nitronic 50, Inconel, Monel, Hastelloy, aluminum, brass, bronze, copper, titanium, and engineered plastics. Bronze bushings, aluminum housings, and steel bearing housings are common; plastic bores need attention to heat and material movement, and we account for that in setup.
Quantity fit
Precision boring and reaming fit prototypes and production. For prototypes, adjustable boring heads avoid the cost of special reamers. For production, a dedicated reamer can make sense when it shortens cycle time without affecting quality. Second-shift capacity supports repeat releases.
Bearing bore machining tips
For bearing bores, the fit class on the print matters more than a single plus or minus number. Tell us the bearing and the intended fit if the drawing does not state it, and we will confirm the bore limits before quoting. Where bores sit in thin housings, clamping pressure can distort the part, so we plan fixturing to hold the part without squeezing the bore out of round.
Inspection deliverables
Bores are measured with calibrated bore gages and pin gages at the machine, and diameter, roundness, position, and coaxiality are verified on our Brown & Sharpe Gage 2000 and Gage ONE CMMs when the print calls for them. We provide CMM reports, AS9102-format first articles, material certifications, and heat-lot traceability. See CMM inspection.
Getting a quote
Send a drawing with bore sizes, tolerances, finish, and any coaxiality or position callouts. You can upload a drawing for an instant estimate, and a human estimator confirms every quote. Call (315) 400-2654 or email ron@backwell.com, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern.