Plastic CNC Machining

plastic-cnc-machining-part

Plastic CNC Machining Services Supplier – Custom Precision Parts Machining Manufacturer in China Factory Find V1 Company

In plastic CNC machining (Digital Computer Control), the part is manufactured by machining in the mass of a plastic block by digital milling machines. This rapid prototyping technology is suitable for unit production in the context of functional testing.

Plastic CNC machining of plastic prototype parts is a so-called “subtractive” method because there is the removal of material. A wide selection of resins allows parts to be obtained in the “right material”, thus allowing mechanical properties close to the injection-molded part (ABS, PC, PP, PVC, POM, PMMA, PA 6/66).

This is the most efficient and economical technology for the rapid manufacturing of fewer than ten prototypes or plastic models.

Plastic CNC Machining Technical details

The machines used in CNC plastic machining are milling machines with 3 axes with digital control. They are automated and controlled by a computer that determines the path of the cutter according to the 3D file to be created. In plastic CNC machining, no molds are needed, thus reducing the costs and startup times. The machines can design several identical copies and thus obtain the same quality for all copies of a lot, but few economies of scale are possible. The wide choice of thermoplastics and metals allows parts to be obtained with the desired physical properties.

Plastic CNC Machining Applications

The most distinctive aspect of this process is the fact that the parts are manufactured from the “right material”. They, therefore, respect the mechanical properties of the injection-molded part (ABS, PC, PP, PVC, POM, PMMA, PA 6/66) as closely as possible. Plastic CNC machining is, therefore, suitable for unit production in the context of not only visual but also functional tests. In addition, we are able to offer a wide range of finishes. After machining, the parts are polished to remove any rough edges. Our workshop can paint the parts in all colors of the RAL and PANTONE ranges. Our team also provides parts machined from metals, such as aluminum or brass. Transparent parts can also be made with PMMA or PC Plastic CNC machining. For more information on the capabilities of our workshop in plastic parts machining, please visit our pages “materials”, “finishes”, “standards” and “applications”.

CNC Machining Precision Part

Automotive Manufacturing Parts
Medical Equipment Parts
Consumer Electronics Parts
Precision Mold Parts
Communication Parts
Industrial Robotics Parts
Semiconductor Industry Parts
Mechanical Industry Parts

CNC Machining Production Equipment

5-axis turning milling compound machining
CNC Machining center workshop
CNC Lathe Center
CNC automatic lathe workshop
Lathe workshop
WEDM WorkShop

Plastic CNC Machining Part types

Plastic CNC machining is a subtractive manufacturing process in which a solid block of plastic is placed against a moving cutting tool that removes material from the block. The cutting tool follows a set tool path, guided by a digital design file, in order to shape the final part. Plastic CNC machining is a popular manufacturing method for creating plastic components. With this manufacturing process, you can quickly create thousands of uniform and precise parts with incredibly tight tolerances.

You can make many different types of plastic parts using CNC machining, including:

  • Medical devices, such as dentistry surgical guides and cardiac implants
  • Food and beverage industry components, such as spray bars and assembly line pieces
  • Semiconductor components, such as electrical insulators and watertight seals
  • Automotive and aerospace industry components, such as fire blockers, valve seats, and pump gears

Based on the Plastic CNC machining method — Plastic CNC drilling, Plastic CNC turning, or Plastic CNC milling — engineers must adhere to different guidelines to produce superior plastic CNC machined parts. In this article, we’ll break each of them down.

CNC turning of Plastic CNC Machining Service

Plastic CNC turning involves holding a plastic piece in place on a lathe, which is then rotated against the cutting tool in a spinning or turning motion. There are many different forms of CNC turning, each with its own unique purposes and results. For instance, straight or cylindrical CNC turning is best for large cuts, while taper CNC turning creates a distinct cone-like shape.

Specific guidelines for creating plastic parts with Plastic CNC turning machines include:

  • Minimizing rubbing by making sure cutting edges have a negative back rake
  • Plastic CNC Machining Using generous relief angles for cutting edges
  • Polishing top surfaces to help reduce material buildup and yield a better surface finish
  • Using fine C-2 grade carbide inserts

For rough cuts, we recommend using a feed rate of 0.015 IPR. For more precise final cuts, we recommend a feed rate of 0.005 IPR. Product teams should also know that clearance angles, rake angles, and side angles will change depending on the material used in Plastic CNC turning.

CNC Machining Testing Equipment

Ultra High Precision CMM
Touch CMM
Zeiss-CMM
Zeiss CMM
Large Gantry Measuring Machine
Roundness Measuring Instrument
Quality Inspection

CNC milling of Plastic CNC Machining Service

Plastic CNC milling is a computer-controlled milling process that uses a cylindrical rotating tool, called a milling cutter, to remove material from a solid workpiece and reveal a finished part. CNC milling machines can be broken down into two broad categories — 3-axis mills and multi-axis mills. 3-axis mills move the cutting tool or the workpiece along three linear axes — left to right, back and forth, up and down — and are best for creating simpler designs. Multi-axis mills, including milling machines with four axes or more, Plastic CNC machining are best for creating plastic parts with complicated geometries.

Specific guidelines for creating plastic parts via Plastic CNC milling include:

  • Using carbon tooling if you’re machining with a thermoplastic that has been reinforced with glass or carbon fibers
  • Using clamps to achieve higher spindle speeds

Creating rounded internal corners and pockets with end mills to mitigate stress concentration

CNC Drilling of Plastic CNC Machining Service

Plastic CNC drilling involves using a drill bit to drill holes into a plastic block. A spindle, which secures the block and CNC drill, lowers onto the block and then drills the appropriately-sized holes. Plastic CNC Machining Service are multiple kinds of drill presses you can use with a CNC drilling machine, including upright, bench, and radial CNC drill presses.

When you’re creating plastic components via CNC drilling, Plastic CNC Machining is critical that you keep CNC drill bits sharp. Dull or incorrectly shaped drills can put too much stress on the part, causing tooling problems and performance issues. For most thermoplastics, we recommend using a 90 to 118° drill bit with a 9 to 15° lip angle. If you’re drilling with acrylic, you should use a 0° rake.

The ejection of the CNC drill is also essential as poor chip ejection can cause friction and build heat. Since CNC drilling generates more heat than any other Plastic CNC machining process, heat reduction is critical to minimizing stress and damage. To safely remove a CNC drill without damaging the part, try to make sure the drilling depth isn’t more than three or four times the drill diameter and reduce the feed rate when the drill has almost exited the material.