--- title: Making a Part That Is No Longer Made | Wolf Machine Reno url: https://wolfmachinenv.com/blog/making-a-part-that-no-longer-exists/ business: Wolf Machine & Fabrication, Inc. address: 4812 Longley Ln, Reno, NV 89502 phone: (775) 359-5570 hours: Shop Monday-Friday 7:00 am-3:30 pm; closed Saturday and Sunday type: Metal and plastic fabrication and machining (custom and CNC machining, welding, metal and plastic fabrication, gearbox and part repair, align boring, metal spray) --- [Photo: Stock photo: measuring a turned brass shaft with a vernier caliper] - [Home](https://wolfmachinenv.com/) - [Blog](https://wolfmachinenv.com/blog/) - Making a part that is no longer made # Making a part that is no longer made A part that is no longer made can be made again by measuring the original, choosing the material, drawing it up and machining one. Keep the drawing so the next one does not start from scratch. Stock photo: measuring a turned brass shaft with a vernier caliper Key takeaways - Send the original part, even if it is worn or broken. - Measure the fit areas, which are bearings, seals and threads. - Choose a material that matches or improves on the original. - Keep the drawing for the next time. Equipment lasts longer than the catalogs behind it. A pulley, a bushing or a shaft goes out of production, and the machine sits idle. A machine shop can make the part again, and the work follows the same few steps. ## Start with the original The old part is the most useful drawing there is, even when it is worn. We can measure the places that did not wear, such as the length, the thread, the keyway and the unworn shoulders, and use them to work out the size the worn places used to be. Photos of the machine it came from, the position it sits in and the parts around it fill in the rest. A photo with a ruler or a coin in it gives scale, and a photo of the mating part shows how the new one has to fit. If the part is broken, keep every piece, since the broken faces sometimes show how the part failed and what to change. If you have a part number or a faded print, send those too. We work from specifications, drawings or samples, and we can assist you in designing the part. ## Pick the material and the fit Match the material if you can find out what it is, such as steel, bronze or stainless. If the original wore or broke early, a better material may be the smart change. The pages on [steel](https://wolfmachinenv.com/materials/steel-and-steel-alloys/) and [bronze](https://wolfmachinenv.com/materials/bronze/) explain common choices. Fits matter more than any single size. A shaft that meets a bearing, or a bushing in a housing, has to match its mate. For the vocabulary, see the glossary entries on [tolerance](https://wolfmachinenv.com/glossary/tolerance/) and [interference fit](https://wolfmachinenv.com/glossary/interference-fit/). ## Draw it, make one, keep the drawing Once the sizes are settled, they go on a drawing with the dimensions and tolerances that matter, following the common ASME Y14.5 practice for dimensioning. Then one part is made, checked and fitted. It is the reason [prototypes](https://wolfmachinenv.com/services/prototypes/) and one-off parts often go together. The drawing is the valuable result. Write down the material, the sizes that matter and the date, and note the machine the part belongs to. A drawing kept in a binder next to the machine saves the next person a lot of searching. With it, the next part can be made without the old one, and a spare can be ordered before the first one fails. For a deeper look at the process see [part design from samples](https://wolfmachinenv.com/services/part-design-from-samples/). ## How to start Take photos of the part and the machine from several sides, write down any sizes you have and send them with the quote request, or call [(775) 359-5570](tel:(775)%20359-5570) Monday to Friday between 7:00 am and 3:30 pm. Free consultations are part of how we work, and we will be happy to provide a prompt estimate. ### Sources - [ASME Y14.5-2018, Dimensioning and Tolerancing](https://www.asme.org/codes-standards/find-codes-standards/y14-5-dimensioning-tolerancing) (2026-10-18) - [NIST Office of Weights and Measures, Unit conversion (inch and metric)](https://www.nist.gov/pml/owm/metric-si/unit-conversion) (2026-10-18) ### Talk to the shop [(775) 359-5570](tel:(775)%20359-5570) | Monday to Friday | 7:00 am - 3:30 pm | |---|---| | Saturday and Sunday | Closed | [Request a quote](#quote) ### Keep reading - [Part design and parts made from samples](https://wolfmachinenv.com/services/part-design-from-samples/) - [Prototypes](https://wolfmachinenv.com/services/prototypes/) - [I do not have a drawing. Can you still make the part?](https://wolfmachinenv.com/faq/no-drawing-what-now/) - [How to photograph and measure a broken part](https://wolfmachinenv.com/blog/photograph-and-measure-a-broken-part/) - [What to put on a drawing before you ask for a quote](https://wolfmachinenv.com/guides/what-to-put-on-a-drawing/) ### Terms on this page [Tolerance](https://wolfmachinenv.com/glossary/tolerance/) [Interference fit](https://wolfmachinenv.com/glossary/interference-fit/) [The full glossary](https://wolfmachinenv.com/glossary/) ## More from the blog Northern Nevada industry October 18, 2026 4 min read ### Nevada sales tax on repair work and fabricated parts According to the Nevada Department of Taxation, repair labor is a service and generally is not subject to sales tax when it is billed separately from parts, while parts and materials are taxable. Fabr Sending a job to the shop October 18, 2026 4 min read ### How to photograph and measure a broken part Photograph the part on a plain surface in bright light with a ruler or tape measure in every shot, cover every face, and add close-ups of the wear or break. Then measure the key diameters and lengths Machining October 18, 2026 4 min read ### From one prototype to a production run A prototype is made to learn whether a part works, and a production run is made once the design is settled. The steps in between are locking the drawing, building fixtures, checking a first part again [All posts](https://wolfmachinenv.com/blog/) [Photo: Stock photo: a lathe turning a bar, hot chips flying] ## Request a quote Tell us what you need, attach a drawing or photos of the part, and we will get back to you during shop hours. Free consultations; prompt estimates. [Call (775) 359-5570](tel:(775)%20359-5570) - From your specifications, drawings or samples. We can also assist you in designing your product or part. - Free consultations and prompt estimates - Stands behind the work: Our rates are very competitive and our quality is second-to-none. Wolf Machine stands behind the work we perform. - Company accounts: all major credit cards, or we can open an account for your company Shop hours Monday to Friday, 7:00 am to 3:30 pm. Send your request any time and we will get back to you during shop hours. Stock photo: a lathe turning a bar, hot chips flying