JLYPT recently completed a challenging miniature needle project. The part measures approximately 3 mm overall, with selected features of 0.2–0.3 mm. The photographs below are from the actual delivered parts; tip, base and the complete magnified profile stay out of view to protect the design.

The project brief

The customer needed a miniature needle with sub-millimetre features. The 3 mm part size and the 0.2–0.3 mm feature dimensions describe geometry; dimensional tolerances are a separate requirement, defined on the controlled drawing and assessed for each project. At this scale, the useful discussion starts with how each feature will be held, cut and measured — not with the machine nameplate.

A closer look, with sensitive geometry protected

Why miniature features need careful planning

A small overall envelope can contain several different manufacturing problems. For a similar micro machining enquiry, the engineering review should address:

• Feature geometry and support. Slender sections, small transitions and the available holding area decide how the part can be supported during manufacture.
• Edges and handling. Burrs, edge condition and damage during handling deserve explicit requirements when the functional features are fractions of a millimetre.
• Inspection access. The drawing should identify which features need measuring, their tolerances and the required evidence. A magnified photograph and a dimensional report serve different purposes.

Project overview video

Evidence scope: photographs are of the delivered parts, cropped to protect the product geometry. Detailed dimensions, tolerances and customer identifiers remain confidential. This article reports project geometry and scale only, not measured results.

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