In the world of precision manufacturing, machining tiny components presents a unique set of challenges-not just in cutting, but in how you hold the part. When dealing with components under 10 mm in size, even the slightest vibration or shift during machining can result in dimensional inaccuracy, loss of symmetry, or outright part failure.
This is especially true in industries like semiconductors, medical devices, and aerospace sensors, where many parts weigh less than a gram and require features within ±2 µm tolerances.
The Real Challenge: Holding What You Can Barely See
Traditional vises and clamping systems simply aren't made for components this small. Poor fixturing can cause:
Micro-movements during milling or drilling
Uneven pressure leading to part deformation
Tool deflection from unstable support
Take the case of a MEMS sensor housing: With outer dimensions of only 4 mm × 4 mm and wall thickness below 0.3 mm, even a 5 N clamping force can warp the part enough to fail final inspection.
So What Works?
There's no universal answer-but the best shops combine custom micro-fixturing, vacuum-based systems, and low-pressure soft jaws. These setups provide repeatability without damaging fragile parts, and often integrate optical alignment or probe-based verification to confirm positioning down to a few microns.
At BISHEN Precision, we've developed in-house micro-fixturing solutions for parts used in advanced photonics, lab-on-chip devices, and robotic surgical tools. In one recent project, our team delivered a 98.7% first-pass yield for a 300-piece run of aluminum MEMS enclosures, each with six micro-channels and critical tolerance zones under ±3 µm.
A Smart Start to Precision
If your production depends on tight tolerances, fragile structures, or non-standard geometries, it may not be your machine that's the issue-but your workholding. Fixturing is the foundation of precision.
Let's talk about how we can support your micro-part manufacturing-from rapid prototyping to high-mix production runs.
