If you are going to cut them with a parting off tool why not just cut them from ordinary steel stock?

If you get the height and tip angle right it will part the piece off, pip and burr free, then go on to trim the pip off the next one.

Position the tail stock so you can advance the stock just so, but put a piece of metal in between when advancing so the stock doesn't touch the centre when parting. The parting off tool might not like that because that part can't fall without twisting.