CNC Machined Gimbal Yoke U-Mount with 0.008mm Coaxial Bearing Seats, Preload Shim Pocket and Mirror Bores Ra 0.2

A gimbal yoke holds a camera axis on two bearings, and the difference between a smooth axis and a notchy one is usually preload. Tighten until it feels right and the bearings run hot; leave it loose and the camera nods. This CNC machining parts yoke machines a shim pocket behind each bearing seat so preload is a number, with the two seats line bored to 0.008 mm coaxiality and mirror finished to Ra 0.2.

Notchiness is almost never the bearing. It is preload set by tightening torque, or two seats that are not coaxial, so the shaft enters the second bearing at an angle and the balls skid on one side of the race. The third cause is a bore finish that looks fine but has a spiral tool mark acting as a tiny thread.

This yoke removes all three: the seats are line bored in one setup to 0.008 mm, the shim pocket behind each seat takes a ground shim so preload is a measured number, and the bores are finished to Ra 0.2 with a low-feed finishing pass so there is no spiral to feel.

• Preload by shim — 1.0 mm ±0.02 mm pocket, so preload is repeatable across builds.
• One bore line — 0.008 mm coaxiality, no shaft misalignment into the second bearing.
• Mirror bores — Ra 0.2 with no spiral tool marks to feel through the axis.
• Parallel arms — 0.01 mm, so the camera carrier does not bind at the extremes of travel.

1. Axis review — bearing series, shim stack, arm spacing and camera carrier width confirmed before machining.
2. Material verification — 7075-T6 received by heat number with ultrasonic check and 3.1 certificate.
3. Rough machining — yoke body and both arms roughed with 0.8 mm allowance, symmetric removal.
4. First stress relief — low-temperature relief so the arms do not splay when the U is opened.
5. Semi-finish — arms, seat bosses and shim pockets semi-finished with light radial engagement.
6. Second stress relief — a second cycle before the seats are finished, keeping the arm spacing stable.
7. Line boring — both seats bored through in one setup to H7 Ø12, 0.008 mm coaxiality, mirror finishing pass to Ra 0.2.
8. Hard anodizing — 25 µm outside only, bores and shim pockets masked.
9. Verification — CMM on coaxiality, arm spacing and parallelism, bore roughness check, preload trial with shim stack, FAI shipped.

Camera size, axis width, bearing series and mount pattern are set by the payload, so the yoke is built around the gimbal rather than a stock size. Send the axis drawing and camera mount and we return a DFM note on arm spacing, preload shim stack, bore finish and masking within 24 hours.

• Axis width — 20 to 80 mm, with matched shim stacks per build.
• Bearings — deep groove, angular contact, or crossed roller seats with a retaining shoulder.
• Mounting — bolt pattern, dovetail, or a clamped ring for the camera carrier.
• Finish — mirror bores standard, matte anodized exterior to cut reflections in shot.
• Sampling — 1 pc built with your bearings for a smoothness and backlash check.

Motor geometry, stator stack and winding data are competitive information, so access is limited from the drawing stage onward.

• NDA first — mutual NDA and non-circumvention signed before any file is exchanged.
• Isolated area — dedicated machines and authorized staff, no phones or photography inside.
• Codified routing — internal codes on travelers and labels instead of your part numbers.
• Data control — per-project folders on a permission server, destroyed on request with a record.
• No display — no drawings, part photos or logos in samples, catalogs, the website or social media.

Founded in 2008, with 90–102 staff, ISO 9001:2015 certified, annual sales USD 10–20 million, export share 50–60%, serving customers in Europe, North America, Japan and Southeast Asia.

Machining, stress relief, anodizing and metrology run in one plant: 5-axis and 4-axis machining centers, turn-mill centers, surface grinders, wire EDM, CMM, 2.5D vision metrology and automated anodizing lines. About 12,000 aluminum parts ship each month, most of them small precision parts where the fixture and the boring sequence decide the result.

• 01 Consumer Electronics — Phone, tablet and laptop housings · heat sinks · camera brackets · VR/AR headset structural parts · smart wearable housings
• 02 Automation & Industrial Equipment — Automation jigs · fixtures · module frames · transmission sliders · motor mounts · sensor housings · conveyor line components
• 03 Semiconductor & Vacuum Equipment — Vacuum chambers · vacuum fittings · semiconductor equipment precision bases · thermal insulation parts · inspection fixtures
• 04 Medical Devices — Surgical instrument bases · medical device housings · endoscope components · aesthetic equipment structural parts (medical grade aluminum / stainless steel)
• 05 Automotive — EV motor housings · battery end plates · sensor brackets · lamp structural parts · aftermarket parts · hydraulic valve blocks
• 06 Aerospace & UAV — Aircraft structural parts · UAV frames · landing gear components · avionics instrument housings (lightweight precision parts)
• 07 Optics & Photonics — Optical lens barrels · lens mounts · light source heat sinks · camera module brackets · inspection optical stages
• 08 Telecommunications — 5G heat sink cavities · filter housings · signal adapter brackets · telecom equipment enclosures
• 09 Robotics — Robotic arm joint parts · robot bases · reducer housings · AGV chassis structural parts
• 10 Instruments & Meters — Inspection equipment housings · precision gauge bases · flow meter parts · laboratory equipment components

Two shifts 07:30–22:00, six days a week, with weekend shifts in peak season. Capacity is locked weekly for volume programs, so a rush order never displaces a scheduled batch.

• Samples — 7–10 days, checked on your stator or bearing set before the batch is released.
• Batch — 15–20 days from deposit and drawing approval.
• Buffer stock — semi-finished stock for repeat models, cutting repeat lead time by about 30%.
• Shipping — DHL/FedEx/UPS in 3–5 days for samples; air or sea for volume; EXW Dongguan, FOB Shenzhen or CIF.
• Documents — FAI, 3.1 material certificate, CMM report and packing list with every shipment.