BRONZE & POWDER METAL SPACERS
Precision Spacers for High-Volume Applications
Proform manufactures precision bronze and powder metal spacers for OEMs, distributors, and industrial manufacturers across a wide range of applications. Designed to maintain proper spacing, positioning, and alignment between components, our spacers can be produced in standard or custom dimensions using bronze, iron-based materials, iron-bronze blends, and application-specific material formulations.
Using powder metallurgy, Proform can manufacture spacers with consistent dimensions and repeatable quality while minimizing material waste and secondary machining. For high-volume applications, powder metal provides an efficient alternative to machining each spacer from bar stock or other wrought materials.
What Is a Bronze Spacer?
A bronze spacer is a precision component used to maintain a specified distance or position between parts within a mechanical assembly. Although cylindrical bronze spacers can look similar to sleeve bearings or bushings, their primary purpose is typically spacing, positioning, or alignment rather than providing a bearing surface for a rotating shaft.
Spacers can be manufactured in a variety of geometries depending on the application, including simple cylindrical designs as well as flanged, keyed, stepped, or other custom configurations.
Bronze Spacer vs. Bronze Sleeve Bearing
Bronze spacers and bronze sleeve bearings can have very similar cylindrical geometries, but they serve different functions within an assembly.
A bronze sleeve bearing is designed to provide a bearing surface for a rotating or sliding shaft. Bearing design therefore considers factors such as friction, wear, shaft clearance, load, speed, lubrication, and service life.
A bronze spacer is primarily used to maintain distance, positioning, or alignment between components. Its design is generally driven by dimensional, structural, and assembly requirements rather than its ability to support continuous rotational movement.
Proform manufactures both spacer and bearing components, allowing our engineering team to help determine the appropriate geometry, material, and manufacturing approach for the application.
PROFORM PRODUCT PORTFOLIO
Proform manufactures a wide range of standard and custom powder metal components for OEMs, distributors, and industrial applications. From bronze bearings, bushings, thrust washers, and spacers to iron-based components and custom-engineered parts, our product solutions combine proven powder metallurgy expertise with high-volume manufacturing capabilities. Explore our product lines to find the right solution for your application.
Benefits of Metal Spacers
Powder metallurgy is particularly well suited for producing spacers in medium- to high-volume applications. Components are compacted close to their final geometry before sintering, allowing many features to be incorporated directly into the part rather than created through extensive secondary machining.
Powder metal spacers can provide:
- Consistent dimensional accuracy
- Repeatable high-volume production
- Near-net-shape manufacturing
- Reduced material waste
- Reduced secondary machining
- Complex and application-specific geometries
- Multiple material and alloy options
- Cost-effective production at scale
For applications currently using machined spacers, Proform can also evaluate whether converting the component to powder metal could reduce machining time, material usage, or overall manufacturing cost.
Bronze, Iron & Custom Material Options
Spacer material can be selected around the mechanical, dimensional, environmental, and economic requirements of the application.
Bronze Spacers
Powder metal bronze provides excellent wear characteristics, dimensional consistency, corrosion resistance, and the ability to incorporate controlled porosity when required. Bronze spacers are used throughout industrial and OEM assemblies where dependable long-term performance is important.
Iron Spacers
Iron-based powder metal materials provide an excellent combination of strength, durability, wear resistance, and cost efficiency. Iron is particularly attractive for structural spacer applications requiring higher mechanical strength and economical high-volume production.
Iron-Bronze Blends
Proform commonly manufactures components using blended iron and bronze materials, including 60% iron / 40% bronze formulations. These materials can provide a useful balance of strength, wear performance, bearing characteristics, and cost depending on the requirements of the application.
Custom Alloys
For more specialized applications, Proform can work with customers to evaluate custom powder metal materials and alloy compositions. Material selection can be considered alongside component geometry, density, operating environment, secondary processing, and performance requirements to develop an appropriate solution.
Standard & Custom Powder Metal Spacers
Proform supports both established spacer designs and completely custom powder metal components. Existing designs can be modified for different dimensions, materials, features, or application requirements, while new components can be developed from a customer drawing, existing part, or application specifications.
Custom spacer configurations may incorporate features such as:
- Flanges
- Steps and shoulders
- Keyed profiles
- Flats
- Grooves
- Non-round geometries
- Application-specific inside and outside profiles
- Secondary machined features
Our engineering team can review part geometry and production requirements to determine which features can be produced through powder metal compaction and where secondary operations may be appropriate.
Custom Spacers for Your Application
Not every spacer starts with an existing catalog part. Proform works with customers to develop custom powder metal components around specific dimensions, materials, production volumes, and performance requirements.
From a simple cylindrical bronze spacer to a complex iron or blended-material component, our team can support the process from tooling and material selection through compaction, sintering, secondary operations, quality inspection, and final delivery.
With high-volume powder metal manufacturing capabilities and the broader engineering and manufacturing resources of MPP, Proform can support both established production programs and new component development.
Why Proform?
OEMs and distributors choose Proform because we combine engineering expertise with world-class manufacturing capabilities.
Our advantages include:
- World’s largest manufacturer of bronze powder metal bearings and bushings
- More than 200 million components produced annually
- Custom alloy development
- In-house tooling design
- High-volume OEM production
- Precision quality control
- Responsive engineering support
- Reliable North American manufacturing
Have an existing spacer you would like to convert to powder metal or a new component that needs to be developed?
Send us your drawing, specifications, annual volume, material requirements, or existing component. Our team can evaluate your application and determine whether a standard or custom powder metal spacer is the right solution.