Re: swiss turning in minature?

Dave, it is more the machine that I want to minaturise than the
parts. The roller I mentioned was to be about 1mm in diameter but
other parts may be smaller and accuracy is very important. It is for
a 100:1 planetary friction drive for a 4mm (that's not the shaft but
the diameter) motor.

Marcus, thanks. It sounds like you know your stuff. I had wondered
about using just a brass clock bushing that would be replaced often
and held in a ball race. Then I could use say silver steel as a
blank as it is fairly accurate. I can't help but feel there must be
a dirty solution. Maybe a makeshift airbearing. Make or obtain an
accurate bush, bore out some of the central section and apply
compressed air through a cross drilled hole. This would still need a
good blank material. I can buy hardened ground stock in the form of
drill blanks but are unhardened blanks available?

It sounds as if this might not be the simple solution I had hoped
for. Darn.

Cheers,

Graham