The Most Cost-effective Materials for Plastic CNC Machining

CNC plastic machining is a versatile manufacturing process known for its high precision and accuracy. Another advantage of CNC plastic machining is that it is compatible with a wide range of plastics such as ABS and nylon.

Parts made with CNC plastic machining can fulfill a wide range of applications in the automotive, consumer electronics, and consumer goods industries, to name a few. In addition, their various properties – which we will discuss in more detail below – offer strengths for specific material applications. For example, an impact-resistant material like ABS is a popular choice for making car parts or protective cases. The next section discusses factors that can help in choosing the best CNC materials.

Factors to consider when choosing CNC plastic machining

When processing plastics, there is a whole range of materials that are used by the processors. As a customer, it can be exhausting to choose the best CNC material for a project yourself. However, with the help of experts like Winsun Proto, you can easily create a shortlist of the properties your material needs to have.

To create this shortlist, you must be able to satisfactorily answer a few questions about the part. In this way, you can determine which properties are particularly important and which you can do without. Examples of such questions are:

What will you use the part for?

The structure of a part is always a result of its function. Therefore, the function of your part ultimately determines the material you should use for CNC plastic machining. The environment in which you will be using the CNC plastic part will have the greatest impact on material selection. For example, POM is the best choice if your plastic part will be used in an environment where there is little or no friction. This is because the material is known to have low friction and is therefore suitable for the process.

Part design specifications also play a role in CNC plastic selection. For example, ABS or PMM are suitable for parts that require a high degree of tolerance. This is because both are among the most machinable plastics. Because of this property, they are therefore suitable for processing plastics of this type.

How strong and temperature-resistant does the plastic have to be?

There are several methods that machine builders use to measure the strength of plastic materials. These include wear resistance, tensile strength, and material hardness. Each of these terms has a different meaning for plastics. Determining which term is appropriate for your part will help you select the best material for your CNC plastic machining.

The temperature of the environment in which you will be using the part is also an important factor when choosing plastics. A wrong choice could cause the part to warp or lose its shape. This will definitely result in a loss of functionality. It is therefore important to choose a material with high-temperature resistance when manufacturing a part for use in high-temperature areas.

This rule also applies to environments where there are large temperature fluctuations. The use of materials with high-temperature resistance helps ensure that the material expands and contracts minimally, resulting in minimal changes in its dimensions over time.

The cost of the plastic

The cost of CNC plastic is as important as the above factors. Because the more expensive the plastic, the higher the production costs. This also affects the cost of the finished part, resulting in low sales of the finished part. Therefore, you should always consider your production budget before choosing any material.

Does the part need to be reworked?

Some parts may need post-processing after machining to increase their aesthetic value. However, not all plastics are readily compatible with all types of surface treatments. Therefore, you should also consider this when choosing plastic for CNC machining.

Various plastics for CNC machining

At Winsun Proto, we offer a comprehensive portfolio of CNC machining plastics that we have evaluated based on their cost-effectiveness. (Note that raw material prices may vary by market):

ABS

Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene, ABS for short, is a widely used CNC plastic that meets the needs of many industries due to its material properties and affordable cost. ABS is one of the most workable plastics with low raw material costs. These two factors have led to the material being used for many prototyping applications as well as certain end uses.

In terms of properties, ABS has excellent impact resistance and good temperature and chemical resistance. The good machinability of ABS results in parts with high-quality surfaces. Machined ABS parts can also undergo a range of post-treatments such as B. surface metallization, electroplating, bonding, and more.

POM

POM, also known by the names Acetal and Delrin, is one of the most easily machined plastics for CNC machines. Although high-strength engineering plastic is easier to machine than ABS, it is slightly more expensive as a raw material, which affects the overall machining cost.

POM is known for its excellent wear resistance, low friction, strength, and dimensional stability. These material properties have led to POM being used for various end-uses of CNC plastic machining, e.g. B. for the production of transmission bearings, automotive parts, consumer electronics, tubular components and much more.

PMMA

PMMA, also known as acrylic glass, is a transparent CNC plastic with good strength and rigidity properties. The plastic features good machinability and low raw material costs, making it an attractive option for many manufacturers.

As one of the most commonly used plastics, PMMA can be seen almost everywhere. Due to its transparency, it is widely used by machine builders as an alternative to glass in construction, interior design, and the chemical industry. Machine builders use this weather-resistant material to construct billboards and other signage.

PA

PA, also known as Nylon, is a widely used synthetic polymer with good mechanical strength, shock absorption, and wear resistance – among other properties. Although the cost of PA raw material is relatively low, the material’s moderate machinability can affect the cost of certain projects – particularly projects that require tight tolerances and fine features.

The material is widely used in the manufacture of all types of structural parts and is a cost-effective alternative to metal components. The good electrical insulation and chemical resistance of the material also make it interesting for manufacturers of plastic parts in many industries.

PC

PC, or polycarbonate, is a transparent thermoplastic with high strength and rigidity. The most desirable material property of PC is usually its excellent impact resistance. PC can also be edited well, i. H. the cost of CNC machining the material is relatively low. However, the cost of PC raw material, available in rod or plate form, is the highest among CNC-machinable plastics.

As for applications, the PC is widely used in plastic processing in the automotive industry. There it is used for the manufacture of various car parts such as instrument panels, pumps, and valves. In other sectors, this plastic is also used to make protective clothing, internal mechanical parts, medical devices, and more.

CNC machining of plastics

Overall, the prices for CNC machining plastics are significantly lower than those of metals due to the lower raw material costs. For this reason, CNC machining of plastics is widely used for prototyping. However, within the range of CNC-controlled plastics available from Winsun Proto, some are more cost-effective than others.

If cost is your main priority when producing a prototype or a finished product, you should also consider how design can affect CNC machining costs. Here are some useful design tips to keep your processing costs down.

Choosing the material to use for your CNC plastic machining can be a tedious task. This is especially true if you have to do it yourself.

However, when you need an expert opinion on choosing the best plastic for CNC machining processes, there is no better option than Winsun Proto. We have a team of CNC machining specialists made up of designers, machine builders, DFM specialists, and the like. They work on various CNC projects to ensure they get the best results for your plastic machining processes.

At Winsun Proto, we offer you only the best CNC machining services. Contact us today to get the best CNC plastic parts.