Not all machining services have experience and expertise in working with plastics and composite materials. In fact, many machining companies do not work with plastics, largely due to the challenges these materials pose with older equipment and machining systems.
There are some unique aspects to CNC plastic machining. Understanding the differences in working with these materials as composed to metals and alloys is essential to not only create the precision shapes required but also to address the properties of plastics and the challenges they create during the machining process.
Material Stability
One of the benefits of working with most metals is that they can go through a stress relieving process after working or forming to remove any internal stress. Plastics cannot, so any internal stressors are going to remain in the plastic before, during and after the machining process.
This is essential to consider when creating the flat components on a shape or design. Different design elements, including concave or convex shapes, are more likely to warp with plastics with less internal stability. In these situations, choosing the right plastic or modifying the design is essential for precision part production.
Part Design
One of the advantages of CNC plastic machining is the ability to create highly complex designs that are more challenging to make from metal or alloys. Additionally, the final part produced through machining typically does not need to be finished, resulting in a lower cost of production per unit.
Working with a company with significant experience in CNC plastic machining is a must in these types of jobs. Incorrect setup of the machining process, using the wrong cutting tool or a dull cutting tool can result in surface issues on the parts and components.
Always check to make sure the CNC machining service under consideration for the production of plastic components and parts has decades of experience in working with plastics. This is not the same as metal machining, and experience really does make a difference in the quality of machined parts.
