CNC Turned Anodized Shift Knob
Shift knobs turned from 6061-T6: Ø38 mm, 62 mm tall, a pressed and bonded M12 × 1.25 steel insert 14 mm deep, a laser-engraved gate pattern at 0.15 mm and a Ra 1.2 turned surface with no chatter. Each knob is anodized in red, blue or black and colour matched to its collar, with the insert masked through coating.
- Ø38 mm ±0.05
- M12 × 1.25 Insert
- Engraving Depth 0.15
- Weight 145 g
*Send the lever thread and the gate pattern. The insert depth and thread class decide whether the knob bottoms on the lever, and the engraving has to be laid out for the knob diameter.
Anodized Shift Knob Overview
A shift knob is a tactile part: it has to feel solid in the hand, sit straight on the lever and keep its colour through years of contact. The turned surface and the insert alignment are what make it feel like one piece rather than a shell over a thread.
The knob is turned from bar with a large nose radius and a light finishing pass to avoid chatter, the base is bored for a steel insert, and the insert is pressed and bonded on the same axis. The gate pattern is laser engraved after anodizing so the marking cuts through the coating to bare metal.
6061-T6 Aluminium
6061-T6 turns to a smooth Ra 1.2 body that feels warm in the hand and holds a 20 µm anodized skin that resists rings and keys in the console.
7075-T6 or Delrin
7075-T6 is used for a heavier, more solid feel, and Delrin is chosen for a plastic knob that stays cool in direct sun.
A steel insert pressed into a wall under 4 mm will split the knob at the base; the base wall is kept at 5 mm around the insert.
Shift Knob Specifications
Thread, insert and engraving data, measured on the assembled knob.
| Specification | Machining Data | Specification | Machining Data |
|---|---|---|---|
| Product | Threaded Shift Knob | Process | CNC Turning, Knurling, Laser Engraving |
| Material | 6061-T6 Aluminium | Knob Diameter | Ø38 mm ±0.05 |
| Height | 62 mm ±0.10 | Thread Insert | M12 × 1.25, Steel, 14 mm Deep |
| Insert Retention | Press Fit 0.03 mm + Adhesive | Engraving | Gate Pattern, 0.15 mm Deep |
| Surface | Turned, Ra 1.2, No Chatter | Weight | Approx. 145 g |
| Chamfer | 1 mm on Base Edge | Anodizing | Red, Blue or Black, 20 µm |
| Thread Concentricity | 0.05 mm to OD | Torque Rating | 20 N·m |
| Inspection | Thread Gauge, Engraving Sample | Batch Size | 100 to 5,000 Pieces |
| Finish | Anodizing, Colour Matched | Drawing Format | STEP, PDF, DXF |
Feels Like One Piece
Chatter-free turning, a bonded insert, a clean engraving.
Turned Without Chatter
A large nose radius and a 0.2 mm finishing pass keep the surface at Ra 1.2 without the ripple that a hand feel picks up immediately on a knob this size.
Insert Pressed and Bonded
The steel insert is pressed with a 0.03 mm interference and bonded, so the thread does not spin in the aluminium when the knob is tightened on the lever.
Engraved Through the Coating
The gate pattern is laser engraved after anodizing, cutting 0.15 mm into the coating to bare metal so the marking stays legible instead of wearing off with the dye.
Colour Matched to the Collar
Knob and collar are anodized in one tank load and checked against a chip, so the two parts of the same shifter do not arrive in different shades.
Knob that has to feel right in the hand?
Surface Finishes for Shift Knobs
Colour and feel are the product; the thread insert stays bare.
| Finish | Main Purpose | Finish | Main Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Anodizing | Colour match to interior trim | Blue Anodizing | Colour option |
| Black Anodizing | OE-style finish | Clear Anodizing | Machined-look finish |
| Hard Anodizing | Wear resistance on the grip | Bead Blasting | Satin before colour |
| Masked Thread Insert | Thread kept clean and to size | Laser Engraving | Gate pattern through the coating |
| Colour Match | Knob and collar in one shade | Ultrasonic Clean | Compound removal before sealing |
| Deburr Only | Knobs that will be polished | Foam Packing | No marks in transit |
*Anodizing inside the insert would stop the thread engaging; the insert is plugged, and the engraving is done after coating so it reads through the dye.
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How We Turn a Shift Knob
The knob is turned to a chatter-free Ra 1.2 and the steel insert is pressed on the same axis, so the knob sits straight on the lever instead of tilting.
01. Lever and Pattern Review
Check the lever thread, the knob height and the gate layout, then set the insert depth and the engraving position for the knob diameter.
02. Turn the Body
Turn the OD and the dome with a large nose radius, then take a 0.2 mm finishing pass to reach Ra 1.2 without chatter.
03. Bore and Fit the Insert
Bore the base for the steel insert with a 0.03 mm interference, press and bond the insert, and check thread concentricity to the OD.
04. Engrave and Deburr
Laser engrave the gate pattern to 0.15 mm, deburr the base chamfer and clean the thread with a tap.
05. Anodize, Seal, Match
Plug the insert, anodize in a matched batch, seal the dye and re-check the thread and the engraving depth.
Send the lever thread and the gate pattern, and we will quote a knob with a bonded insert and an engraving that cuts through the anodizing.
Shift Knob FAQs
Yes, from M8 to M16 and imperial sizes, with the insert depth set so the knob bottoms on the lever shoulder rather than on the thread end.
It is pressed with 0.03 mm interference and bonded with a structural adhesive, and the knob is rated for 20 N·m tightening.
Yes, any pattern or logo can be laser engraved, with the depth set to 0.15 mm so it cuts through the anodizing.
Red, blue, black, clear, gold, gunmetal and custom dye lots above 500 pieces.
The standard knob is 145 g in aluminium. A heavier version with a tungsten insert is available for a more solid feel.
Yes, machined and anodized as a matched pair so the colours match exactly.
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