PPS is known by a lot of different names due to various brands manufacturing it. Some common brand names are Durafide, Petcoal, Ecotran, and Fortron. It is a high temperature thermoplastic polymer.

PEEK (Polyether Ether Ketone) is among the hardest plastics to CNC machine. Its high thermal and chemical resistance, along with its strength, makes it difficult to machine but desirable in demanding environments like aerospace or medical fields.

This article will explore the applications of CNC machining of plastic materials. It will go into the details of different kinds of CNC machined plastic parts and their physical properties. You can decide which plastic materials best suit your job requirements based on the information provided here.

HDPE has better physical properties than LDPE. The main attractive points of HDPE are its high density and tensile strength. Plastic bottles and pipes are made of HDPE material.

In terms of plastic extrusion, this method was first used to process rubber in 1836. This is a technique in which molten plastic or a variety of alternative materials are constantly forced into a two-dimensional die aperture by feed screws. The molten form is then passed through a succession of templates or blocks, where it preserves the correct shape as it cools.

Yes, CNC machining plastics is possible. In fact, CNC machining is the best way to make plastic components. This is because of the high accuracy and speed of this process. The quality of plastic CNC machining is way ahead of other alternatives like injection molding or 3D printing.

PES plastic is available in blocks, sheets, and rods. It is also sometimes referred as PESU. These plastics have great physical properties and temperature handling. The color of PES is reddish brown with good transparency.

Poly Paraphenylene Terephthalamide usually goes by its common names kevlar and twaron. It is one of the most popular aromatic polyamides globally. It is a synthetic fiber developed by DuPont. Its physical properties are comparable to or even better than metals and alloys.

3ERP is the market leader for plastic CNC machining services and parts. 3ERP’s CNC machined plastics are high-quality parts that work better as intended. 3ERP uses the most advanced CNC machinery to fulfill any complex requirements that you might have. The manufacturing time is quite low, and you get your parts as soon as you require them. Contact 3ERP to get a quote for your project.

TPU is a wide class of Polyurethane (PU). It can exhibit a range of different properties. It is easy to machine with CNC, extrusion, and injection molding. It can also be shaped with calendering. Due to the wide range of manufacturing processes, TPU scrap can be recycled over and over.

Several plastics have a high impact and corrosion resistance. This makes them ideal for making parts that face extreme pressure, like valves and pumps. Plastics like thermosetting polyimide also make structural components for the aerospace sector.

ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) is typically the easiest plastic to CNC machine. Known for its excellent machinability, ABS is used frequently in prototyping and manufacturing applications due to its ease of use and strong, durable properties.

All CNC processes work well for plastic CNC machining. CNC mills and lathes are some of the most common machines used for these materials. Other processes like CNC drills and waterjet cutters also provide good results for plastic machining.

Plastic is used extensively in the food processing industry as a primary and secondary packaging material. Food-grade plastic containers are machined with CNC to provide a safe storage option. CNC-made plastic trays provide an impact-resistant transportation option for food items.

Polyethylene is also known by its common name Polythene. It is the most commonly used and produced plastic type. The high popularity of polythene has led to the emergence of several different types. Two of the commonly found polythenes for plastic CNC machining are LDPE and HDPE.

Because of the intricacy of the mold construction, injection molding generally has a higher initial design cost. Its cyclical manufacturing, on the other hand, usually results in a completed component that does not require additional assembly or secondary processing.

Getting a CNC machine can be a very costly investment. This is why there is a new trend where manufacturers choose to outsource the CNC machining of plastic materials.

Celcon is a high-performance acetal polymer that works in a wide range of temperatures. It is resistant to most adverse conditions and has a long service life. There are many subtypes of Celcon, like UV-resistant, wear-resistant, glass-reinforced, bleach-resistant, impact resistant. etc.

PVDF is a chemically inert thermoplastic. It is a special kind of plastic used in very niche applications. The main use case for this plastic is when a highly non-reactive material is required. PVDF can resist any chemical. It can be obtained in many different forms, like pipes, sheets, powder, tubes, plates, and films.

Teflon is a brand name of polytetrafluoroethylene. It is patented by Chemours. Interestingly, Teflon was also discovered by DuPont, which already holds the trademark for Styrofoam. Chemours was branched from DuPont and is the global manufacturer of Teflon.

Acetal is one of the most used plastics in CNC machining. It also goes by its other name Delrin. It is a very easy to machine plastic.

Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene is a subtype of Polyethene thermoplastic. It also goes by High Modulus Polyethylene (HMPE). It has a good load-handling capability due to long-chain polymers.

Polysulfone is another high performance thermoplastic like PPSU. PSU parts can be used in a wide range of temperatures. Common range is -100°C to 200°C. The temperature range makes them one of the highest service temperatures of plastic.

This is among the most used ways of molding polymers into 3D forms. It is founded on the molten die casting process and comprises a clamping unit and an injection unit.

Polyamideimide is the strongest plastic for CNC. It has a tensile strength of over 21,000 psi. Even with this extremely high strength, it is easy to machine with a CNC.

Kapton is a special type of polyamide film. DuPont invented it. It has one of the best temperature handling amng all plastics. It can sustain temperatures between -269°C to 400°C.

CNC machining plastics has become a great solution for these requirements. Plastics have a lot of variety, with differences in physical properties and chemical structure. All of these varieties are easy to machine with CNC machining.

Cases of appliances like TV, laptops, and smartphones are made with CNC-machined plastics. These CNC machines are accurate and provide the consistent results required in this sector.

In 1795, Joseph Brahman patented the first hydraulic press. However, the method was more thoroughly refined in 1820, when Thomas Burr invented the first hydraulically driven press for manufacturing firms. The method was not developed until 1894 to incorporate brass and metal alloys for non-continuous extrusion of final components. The injection molding method as we recognize it now would be eventually created in the 1930s.

PPO is a high-temperature thermoplastic. It is a hard-to-manufacture material. Therefore, it is generally used in its blended form. It is also known as Polyphenylene Ether (PPE). It has quite good performance characteristics. It is mixed with Polystyrene to improve its physical chacteristics.

Nylon has good chemical resistance and heat resistance. Therefore, nylon usage is commonly found in applications such as insulations and sheaths. Nylon spacers are used in circuit breakers for the electronics sector. Commonly used processes on nylon are CNC mills and lathes. There are many different grades of nylon. Nylon 6/6 is a common type used in plastic CNC machining.

Acetal (Delrin) is the most commonly used plastic for CNC machining. It offers superior strength, stiffness, and dimensional stability, making it a popular choice for precision parts in automotive, electronics, and industrial machinery applications.

PEI is an amorphous thermoplastic. Its color spectrum can vary from amber to transparent. It provides a cheaper alternative to PEEK thermoplastic with similar properties.

Carbon fiber is basically Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymers (CFRP). It has thin strands of carbon fiber added to a base plastic for improved properties. It is classified as a composite material.

PMMA goes by a lot of different names, such as Acrylic and Acrylic Glass. Many other brand names exist, like Lucite, Plexiglass, Perclax, Perspex, etc. Its high transparency is why Acrylic finds many applications in machining, replacing the traditional glass.

The completed result from the extrusion process has a two-dimensional shape that is continuous in length. Extrusion creates linear forms that may be cut to different lengths and/or notched, punched, or otherwise produced, frequently while the process is running.Extrusion and injection molding both have benefits. The capacity to generate complicated cross-sections is one advantage of employing the extrusion technique over other approaches. Furthermore, as compared to other techniques, both rigid and soft materials may be molded into any shape, and the final products have a flawless surface finish. There is little waste in both the injection molding and extrusion operations since the debris may be recycled again.

LDPE has low tensile strength, high ductility, and low density. Common applications of LDPE are for making trays and foils in the packaging industries. It has very low moisture absorption.

Plastics are widely used in the agriculture sector for a variety of equipment. They are applied for making irrigation and drainage solutions. Plastics are applied for making sillage and nets. Agricultural components like greenhouses, planters, and tools also increasingly use plastics.

While CNC machining technology supports a variety of materials, such as metals, alloys, glass, wood, and ceramics, this specific term refers to its application in plastic machining.

The polymer granules melt into fluid, which is then forced through a 2D die open tool. This pushes the materials into a hollow tube based on the die’s particular geometry. After chilling, the material solidifies into a tube shape. This item is now waiting to be cut into the desired sizes.

Injection molding and extrusion molding are two prominent plastic molding processes used throughout the industrial and manufacturing sectors to create items of various shapes and sizes. Both approaches offer distinct advantages based on the products and the consumer. Let’s look at the distinctions between injection molding and extrusion molding to help you decide which is ideal for your manufacturing needs.

CNC plastic machining is the go-to process for plastic materials when quality and precision are important. Injection molding fails tremendously in terms of consistency and precision. Additionally, additive manufacturing techniques work only for plastics that can be molded by heat. If you want to use plastic material for your next project, 3ERP CNC plastic machining services can be the perfect fit.

The chemical resistance of plastics has many applications in the oil and gas industry. Plastics make seals and containers for oil extraction and storage. Electrical connectors in heavy mining machinery are also made of plastic.

Polypropylene is also known by its common name Polypropene. It belongs to the thermoplastic polymer category. Its properties are a slight improvement to polythene.

Chlorinated Polyvinyl Chloride is derived from PVC itself. CPVC is obtained after successive chlorination of PVC resin. CPVC has improved properties than PVC plastics. The purpose of CPVC is to eliminate the vulnerability of PVC to temperatures during the plastic CNC machining process.

When a range of lengths of the same profile shape is required, extrusion is appropriate. Setup and design expenses for comparable products are minimized by creating a stock product with a continual production chain and cutting to length post-process per order.

This method drives things through a die to form shapes with consistent cross-sections such as window parts, drinking straws, pipelines, and seals. This approach is used to create two-dimensional shapes. The extrusion machine’s motor spins a screw that pushes plastic via a heater.

ABS is another popular CNC machining plastic. It is a thermoplastic polymer. It has impressive physical properties which lead to a lot of applications find different industries.

PVC is one of the most popular plastics used for its high strength. It is a very durable material with high tensile strength, lightweight nature, and chemical resistance. There are many different forms of PVC available for different applications.

Among industrial producers, injection molding and/or extrusion processes are defined to create items of various forms and sizes. The injection molding technique is built on the melted die-casting technology. The clamp and the injection unit comprise the injection-molding unit. Injection molding, as opposed to extrusion, produces three-dimensional structures.

Plastic molding is generally accomplished through two processes used by plastic producers. Plastic injection molding is the first method, in which producers “inject” molten polymer material into a mold and allow it to settle and cool into a specified form. Manufacturers push molten plastic through a die to generate the required form in the second process, plastic extrusion.

Plastic CNC Machining is a CNC machining process that uses Computer Numerical Control (CNC) technology to automate machining of plastic materials. This is achieved through computer programming guiding the machine tools.

The choice between plastic extrusion and injection molding does not have to be a contest. Both of these technologies serve distinct functions and have distinct advantages, and both are beneficial to plastic producers. Extrusion cannot generate the intricate 3D forms that injection molding can, nor can injection molding produce the unusual cross-sections that extrusion can. Each technique has a distinct position in the plastic production process.With that knowledge, we believe you’re well off on your journey to understanding the plastic molding process and can choose a molding form or manufacturer wisely. If not, do remember to read again, for valuable insights into the issue.

TPE is also sometimes termed as Thermoplastic Rubber. It is a mix of different polymers, often plastic and rubber. TPE is different from conventional elastomers, which is thermosetting in nature. However, the thermoplastic properties of TPE allow the application of many different manufacturing methods.

Plastics are used for making a lot of different parts in the automobile sector. Interior parts such as linings, handles, and dashboards are plastic. Even exterior components like bumpers use plastics. Other miscellaneous plastic components are engine covers. electronics housing, etc.

Polystyrene is a solid of foamed polymer. The foamed variety has been patented and the trademarked name goes by Styrofoam. Styrofoam is actually an Extruded Polystyrene (XPS). DuPont owns the trademark of styrofoam and manufactures it globally. 98% of styrofoam is air, leading to its foamy nature.

Polycarbonate is a type of thermoplastic polymer. More than one billion kg of Polycarbonate is manufactured annually. This is because of the high-grade physical properties and widespread PC applications.

Extrusion is capable of producing complicated cross-sections, including such multi-lumen tubing used in medical equipment or food processing. Extruded materials have flat surfaces that do not necessitate post-production “clean-up.”

CNC-machined plastics are used for making implants and many other devices. Electronics enclosures of medical devices like pacemakers, vitals monitoring, and others are made with high-grade plastics. Many plastics have a wear-resistant surface and resistance to stress cracking. This is why they are beneficial for making implants.

Plastic machining is one of the most common industrial processes due to the high usage of this material. However, modern-day plastic CNC machining isn’t what it used to be. Plastics nowadays can be built strong enough to stop a bullet’s impact. This calls for a very rugged machining method.

The plastic resin is placed in the hopper, which causes the plastic out from the feed portion to be released into the compressing area, where friction heat is applied. A reciprocating screw pushes the plastic through a long chamber. Melting, or molten plastic, is pushed via the injector into a sealed, cooled/hot mold. The melt may be readily shaped into the mold’s desired form and size.

Polyethylene (PE) is the cheapest plastic for CNC machining. Known for its affordability and excellent machining properties, PE is used widely in a variety of applications, including wear strips, gears, and consumer goods.

Specialize in CNC machining, 3D printing, urethane casting, rapid tooling, injection molding, metal casting, sheet metal and extrusion

There are many different plastics to choose from for whatever you manufacture. The choice of plastic should be done by evaluating the various parameters that influence the decision. Some of these factors are:

PEEK is a very popular CNC machining thermoplastic. It is colorless in pure form. Its melting point is 343 °C, which makes it good for high-temperature applications. Operating temperatures of many PEEK subtypes easily go up to 250 °C.

Polysiloxane is a colorless, rubber-like substance also called Silicone. It is used for many plastic CNC machining applications in electronics, household, electrical, automobile, and aviation manufacturing industries.

Polyphenylsulfone is an aromatic ring polymer. It is an easy-to-machine plastic. It is also moldable with injection molding. It is a high-performance thermoplastic.

Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) is in the subclass of polyester plastic materials. It is the major constituent of packaging in the food and beverage industries. It is a hygienic, water-resistant, and lightweight material. It is also one of the easy-to-machine plastics used in plastic CNC machining projects.