How a Precision Ball is Made

Heading: To begin, heading machines cut wire into short lengths and shape it into spherical shapes between sized dies.

Deflashing: The flash line, the lip left by the forming dies, is ground off as balls roll between heavy, cast iron plates.

Soft Grinding: Similar to deflashing, except that a fine grit grinding stone is used to improve precision.

Heat-treating: Carbon steel balls are next carburized and hardened. Heat treatment allows for the desired hardness and case depth.

Descaling: This step takes away the residues and small burrs from the heat-treating process.

Hard Grinding: Slow, methodical grinding ensures proper sizing and sphericity, with tolerances as close as ±.0001".

Lapping: There are different types of proprietary lapping processes can finish balls to the requirements of ISO 3290 Grade 10 - 48.

Finishing: State of the art chemical and mechanical processes give the precision balls their final smoothed finish for increased durability and product longevity.