A common depiction of Usinage CNC, most times, involves working with a metallic workpiece. However, not only is CNC machining widely applicable to plastics, but plastic CNC machining is also one of the common machining processes in several industries.
The acceptance of plastic machining as a manufacturing process is due to the wide array of plastic CNC materials available. Furthermore, with the introduction of computer numerical control, the process becomes more accurate, faster, and suitable for making parts with tight tolerance. How much do you know about plastic CNC machining? This article discusses the materials compatible with the process, available techniques, and other things that can help your project.
Plastics for CNC Machining
Many machinable plastics are suitable for manufacturing parts and products several industries manufacture. Their use depends on their properties, with some machinable plastics, such as nylon, having excellent mechanical properties that allow them to replace metals. Below are the most common plastics for custom plastic machining:
ABS
abs plastic cnc material
Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene, or ABS, is a lightweight CNC material known for its impact resistance, strength, and high machinability. Although it boasts good mechanical properties, its low chemical stability is evident in its susceptibility to greases, alcohols, and other chemical solvents. Also, the thermal stability of pure ABS (i.e., ABS without additives) is low, as the plastic polymer will burn even after removing the flame.
Avantages
It is lightweight without losing its mechanical strength.
The plastic polymer is highly machinable, making it a highly popular XTJ prototyping material.
ABS has a low melting point suitable (this is important for other XTJ prototyping processes such as 3D printing and injection molding).
It has a high tensile strength.
ABS has high durability, which means a longer lifespan.
It is affordable.
Inconvénients
It releases hot plastic fumes when subjected to heat.
You need proper ventilation to prevent the buildup of such gases.
It has a low melting point which can cause deformation from heat generated by the CNC machine.
Applications
ABS is a very popular engineering thermoplastics used by many XTJ prototyping services in making products due to its excellent properties and affordability. It is applicable in the electrical and automotive industries in making parts such as keyboard caps, electronic enclosures, and car dashboard components.
Nylon
nylon plastic cnc material
Nylon or polyamide is a low-friction plastic polymer with high impact, chemical, and abrasion resistance. Its excellent mechanical properties, such as strength (76mPa), durability, and hardness (116R), make it highly suitable for CNC machining and further improve its application in the automotive and medical part manufacturing industries.
Avantages
Excellent mechanical properties.
It has a high tensile strength.
Cost-effective.
It is a lightweight polymer.
It is heat and chemical resistant.
Inconvénients
It has low dimensional stability.
Nylon can take in moisture easily.
It is susceptible to strong mineral acids.
Applications
Nylon is a high-performing engineering thermoplastic applicable to prototyping and manufacturing real parts in the medical and automotive industries. Component manufactured from the CNC material includes bearings, washers, and tubes.
Acrylique
acrylic plastic cnc material
Acrylic or PMMA (Poly Methyl Methacrylate) is popular in plastic CNC machining due to its optical properties. The plastic polymer is translucence and scratch resistant, hence its applications in industries that require such properties. Aside from that, it has very good mechanical properties, evident in its toughness and impact resistance. With its cheapness, acrylic CNC machining has become an alternative to plastic polymers such as polycarbonate and glass.
Avantages
It is lightweight.
Acrylic is highly chemical and UV resistant.
It has high machinability.
Acrylic has high chemical resistance.
Inconvénients
It is not that resistant to heat, impact, and abrasion.
It can crack under heavy load.
It is not resistant to chlorinated/aromatic organic substances.
Applications
Acrylic is applicable in replacing materials such as polycarbonate and glass. As a result, it is applicable in the automotive industry for making light pipes and car indicator light covers and in other industries for making solar panels, greenhouse canopies, etc.
PEHD
pom plastic cnc material
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Avantages
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Inconvénients
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Applications
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Avantages
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ABS has high durability, which means a longer lifespan.
Inconvénients
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Applications
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Avantages
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Inconvénients
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PTFE
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Avantages
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Inconvénients
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Applications
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PEEK
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Avantages
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Inconvénients
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Polycarbonate
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PC is a tough but lightweight plastic polymer with heat retardant and electrical insulating properties. Like acrylic, it can replace glass due to its natural transparency.
Avantages
It is more efficient than most engineering thermoplastics.
It is naturally transparent and can transmit light.
It takes on color very well.
It has high tensile strength and durability.
PC is resistant to diluted acids, oils, and greases.
Inconvénients
It degrades after prolonged exposure to water over 60°C.
It is susceptible to hydrocarbon wear.
It will yellow over time after prolonged exposure to UV rays.
Applications
Based on its light properties, polycarbonate can replace glass material. Hence, it is used in making safety goggles and CDs/DVDs. Aside from that, it is suitable for making surgical implements and circuit breakers.
Polyethylene
polyethylene cnc material
Polyethylene is a lightweight and strong plastic CNC material known for its impact resistance, stiffness, and flexibility. It has excellent dielectric properties. It has different grades, each with unique applications, including LDPE, HDPE, and UHMW PE.
Avantages
It is lightweight without losing its mechanical strength.
It has a high tensile strength.
It has low moisture absorption.
Non-staining and non-toxic.
It has high machinability.
Resistant to acids and alkalis.
Inconvénients
Its releases hot plastic fumes when subjected to heat.
You need proper ventilation to prevent the buildup of such gases.
It has a low melting point which can cause deformation from heat generated by the CNC machine.
Applications
Polyethylene is widely applicable in the pharmaceutical, construction, chemicals, and food industries. Examples of products and parts made using the material include squeeze bottles, wire and cable insulation, and toys.
PVC
pvc cnc material
PVC is commonly used in CNC machining. It is a highly durable and versatile material that is resistant to moisture, chemicals, and abrasion. One of the benefits of using PVC in CNC machining is its ease of machining. It can be easily cut, drilled, milled, and turned to create precise parts and components. Additionally, PVC is a low-cost material compared to other plastics, making it an affordable option for many applications.
Avantages
High corrosion and chemical resistance.
Electrical insulator.
High machinability.
Tasteless, odorless, and non-toxic.
Inconvénients
Poor heating stability.
It can release toxic fumes during machining due to high heat.
You need proper ventilation to prevent the buildup of such gases.
It has a low melting point which can cause deformation from heat generated by the CNC machine.
Applications
PVC is chemically unreactive, which makes it widely applicable in several industries. However, its application depends on the type. Flexible PVC is suitable for making electrical wire insulation and flooring. On the other hand, rigid PVC is suitable for making parts such as rings, rollers, pads, pipe and valve components.
If you’re unsure about which plastic material is best suited for your CNC machining project, don’t hesitate to reach out to XTJ Direct for assistance.
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Plastic CNC Machining Methods
CNC plastic part machining involves using a computer-controlled machine to remove part of the plastic polymer to form the desired product. The subtractive manufacturing process can create myriads of parts with tight tolerance, uniformity, and accuracy using the following methods.
Tournage CNC
CNC turning basics
CNC turning is a machining technique that involves holding the workpiece on a lathe and rotating it against the cutting tool by spinning or turning. There are also several types of CNC turning, including:
Straight or cylindrical CNC turning is suitable for large cuts.
Taper CNC turning is suitable for creating parts with cone-like shapes.
There are several guidelines you can make use of in plastic CNC turning, including:
Ensure the cutting edges have a negative back rake to minimize rubbing.
Cutting edges should have a great relief angle.
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Fraisage CNC
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Moulage par injection
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Impression 3D
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Moulage sous vide
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Industrie médicale
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Composants automobiles
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· If Plastic Prototype Design with Tight Tolerance
CNC plastic machining is the better method for making parts with designs requiring tight tolerances. A conventional CNC milling machine can achieve a tight tolerance of about 4 μm.
· If Plastic Prototype Requires Quality Surface Finish
CNC machine offers a high-quality surface finish making it suitable if your project does not need an additional surface finishing process. This is unlike 3D printing, which leaves layer marks during printing.
· If Plastic Prototype Requires Special Materials
Plastic CNC machining can be used to produce parts from a wide range of plastic materials, including those with special properties such as high-temperature resistance, high strength, or high chemical resistance. This makes it an ideal choice for creating prototypes with specialized requirements.
· If Your Products Are in Testing Stage
CNC machining relies on 3D models, which are easy to change. Since the testing stage requires constant modification, CNC machining allows designers and manufacturers to create functional plastic prototypes to test and troubleshoot design flaws.
· If You Need an Economical Option
Like other manufacturing methods, plastic CNC machining is suitable for making parts cost-effectively. Plastics are less costly than metals and other materials, such as composites. Furthermore, computer numerical control is more accurate, and the process is suitable for complex design.
Conclusion
CNC plastic machining is a widely accepted process industrially due to its accuracy, speed, and suitability for making parts with tight tolerance. This article talks about the different CNC machining materials compatible with the process, available techniques, and other things that can help your project.
Choosing the right machining technique can be very challenging, necessitating you to outsource to a plastic CNC service provider. At XTJ ,we offer custom plastic Usinage CNC services and can help you make different parts for prototyping or real-time use based on your requirements.
XTJ est un fabricant OEM leader dédié à fournir des solutions de fabrication tout-en-un, du prototype à la production. Nous sommes fiers d'être une entreprise certifiée ISO 9001 en gestion de la qualité et déterminés à créer de la valeur dans chaque relation client. Nous le faisons par la collaboration, l'innovation, l'amélioration des processus et un travail exceptionnel.
