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.

Common raw material prices: PEEK > PA66 > PC > PA6 > ABS > PS > LDPE > HDPE > PBT > PET. Specific prices can be referenced based on local market prices.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Some plastic injection molding factories also provide finishing services, including surface treatments such as coating, printing, painting, and electroplating.

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.

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.

Employee wages are a relatively easy part to calculate. The wages of employees involved in mold design, mold processing, etc., are calculated as part of the mold cost. However, the wages of employees in the injection molding production workshop are only calculated as part of the company’s operational costs when the customer commissions injection molding production. For example, depending on the characteristics of different products, some products may require workers to be stationed at the injection molding discharge position for processing. Common processing steps include trimming runners, visual inspections, packaging, etc.

Different products have different tolerance standards, with higher precision leading to higher costs. The cost of a mold with a tolerance of ±0.2mm will certainly differ from that of a mold with a tolerance of ±0.02mm.

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.

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:

The operational costs of a company are very complex and include employee wages, rental costs, electricity bills, administrative expenses, etc.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Of course, there is also a certain percentage of waste (e.g., 3%) during the injection molding process, but because the proportion is relatively small, it can be ignored when estimating costs.

We have previously detailed the costs of injection molds. For product design companies or companies outsourcing plastic part production, they are more likely to commission injection molding factories to provide plastic injection molding services for their products, rather than just commissioning the factory to produce injection molds. After all, the mold is one part of the entire injection molding production process. Therefore, they are more concerned with the injection molding costs.

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.

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For example: Assuming ABS plastic pellets cost $1500 per ton (this is an example, please refer to the actual local price). If the shell weight of a product after injection molding is 200 grams, then the raw material cost of the product is $1500 / 1000000 * 200 = 0.0015 * 200 = $0.3.

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.

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.

If the product needs to be produced in large quantities, it is recommended to develop a mold with multiple cavities. Although the cost of mold development may be relatively higher, the production efficiency will be faster. Additionally, due to large-scale production, the unit price of the product can be reduced. Comparisons based on the number of cavities can be seen in the table below: The number of cavities represents the quantity of products produced at once, with lower costs for higher production quantities. If you are still unsure, just tell the plastic injection molding factory the estimated production volume, and an experienced plastic injection molding factory will help you calculate the most suitable number of mold cavities.

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.

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.

The cost of plastic molds, like all products, is “you get what you pay for.” The more complex, precise, and durable the mold, the higher the cost.

We can calculate the annual injection molding cost based on a 5-year depreciation of the injection molding machine. For example, if the industry’s startup rate for the injection molding machine is 50% (i.e., 180 days per year), divide the annual depreciation of the injection molding machine by 180 days to calculate the daily machine cost.

It is worth mentioning that if the quantity of plastic parts produced is not large, the cost of the mold will account for a relatively large proportion of the total price; if the quantity of plastic parts produced is large enough, many factories may even waive the mold cost.

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.

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.

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.

It is also important to note that there is a basic operation time for mold setup and removal. The time required depends on the size and function of the mold. If the order quantity is lower than the cost of changing the mold, there may be additional costs. However, plastic injection molding manufacturers usually clarify the minimum purchase quantity in advance.

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 more cavities on a mold, the higher the complexity and precision of mold development, and consequently, the mold price will be higher.

As for other complex company operational costs, each company will have its own calculation standards. These costs are usually calculated by the factory’s finance department, with a rough formula to distribute the results evenly among each injection molded part.

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.

The cost of plastic injection molding depends on the size of the machine and the molding cycle. There are differences in processing costs, so injection molding costs can also be said to be part of the injection molding machine’s cost. The larger the machine, the more energy it consumes, which can increase the molding cost. Additionally, the shorter the production cycle, the faster the production speed.

If the product structure is simple and the quantity to be produced is small, a one-to-one cavity mold can be used, which will be relatively cheaper.

General-purpose plastic raw materials are relatively inexpensive. If the plastic raw material has high strength and strong chemical resistance, the cost will be higher (including some modified materials).

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.

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.

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.

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.

A more complex example: Assuming the cost of ABS plastic pellets is $1500 per ton. A mold produces parts in a 1-to-4 ratio, with each part weighing 200 grams and the runner material for 1-to-4 being 100 grams. What is the cost of raw materials per part? The calculation method is to account for each part’s weight as 200 grams + 25 grams of runner material, totaling 225 grams, and then calculate the cost as described above.

Today, we will mainly introduce the cost structure of injection molding factories. If you are a peer in the injection molding industry, you are also welcome to read the latter part of the article about how injection molders can reduce injection molding costs.

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.

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.

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.

The packaging of plastic injection molded products generally includes plastic bags and cardboard boxes for semi-finished parts. For assembled components, there is the cost of assembly equipment. The more complex the product, the longer the assembly time, which may result in higher costs and affect the overall expense.

The volume and weight of the packaged plastic products, as well as the method of transportation, will affect transportation costs.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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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.

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.

Factors affecting the cost of plastic molds include: size, complexity, material, expected quantity, and different mold cavity numbers and tolerance requirements also affect cost. For detailed mold costs, please refer to the article “Injection Mold Costs”.

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.

Assuming the price of an injection molding machine is $100,000, then the daily machine cost is $100,000 / 5 / 180 = $111. If the injection molding machine works 22 hours per day, the hourly cost is approximately $5. Based on the hourly output of one injection molding machine (related to the layout of the mold and the molding time), the injection molding cost per part can be calculated.

Regarding the specific cost of raw materials consumed by injection molded products, this part of the raw material cost can be deduced from the weight of the molded shells in injection molding.

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.

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.

Note: If the mold used for injection molding has a cold runner system, there will be residual material in the runners after each injection molding cycle. When calculating, the weight of the runner material should also be included.

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.

Some clients who frequently outsource injection molding production also often feel confused about how to evaluate the cost of plastic injection products, and they may doubt whether the quotations from plastic injection manufacturers are reasonable. This confusion stems from a lack of understanding of the cost structure of plastic injection products, leading to clients spending a lot of time and energy when asking for quotes from manufacturers, and sometimes they have to pay the cost of trial and error to gain experience.

With the development of digital marketing, the prices of injection molding processes online are becoming more transparent. Understanding the costs of injection molding processes helps product design companies create better products and encourages injection molding factories to adhere to industry standards, creating a positive atmosphere for the injection molding industry.

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 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.

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.

For example, for a mold with a 1-to-1 layout and a molding time of 60 seconds, only 60 parts can be produced in one hour. So, the machine cost per part is $100,000 / 60 = $0.08.

The cost composition of injection molding is actually quite transparent in the industry, mainly including: plastic mold costs, molding costs, secondary processing costs, raw material costs, packaging and transportation costs, and factory operation costs.

The cost of raw materials depends on the functionality and requirements of the product. Common plastic raw materials include PP, PE, PC, ABS, PBT, and dozens of others. All plastic raw materials are influenced by fluctuations in the price of petroleum raw materials. If the product requires blending or colorants, the costs will be calculated separately.

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.

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

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.

Controlling injection molding costs is a shared responsibility between factories and product designers. The majority of methods to save on injection molding costs come from the injection molding factory. Here are some suggestions for reducing injection molding costs provided to injection molding factories as peers.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Because this process produces semi-finished products that require further processing, there may be an increased risk of defects in the coating process. An economically viable suggestion is, if you want to save costs and achieve a beautiful finish, consider adding colorants directly to the raw material. This eliminates the need for secondary processing while still allowing for the production of products in various colors.

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.