Plastic CNC.
Material differences.
Machining ranked.
Plastic machinability reference. Acetal best, PEEK premium, nylon difficult. Each plastic has different cutting behavior.
Key principles.
Best machinability
Excellent — clean chips, dimensional stability. Acetal is the gold standard.
Good with care
Premium plastic, machines well. Heat management critical.
Good
Clear plastic, machines well. Stress-craze if over-stressed.
Good
Brittle but machines well. Polish for clear finish.
Difficult
Absorbs moisture, dimensional changes. Stress-relieve required.
Difficult
Soft, gummy, melts easily. Sharp tools, slow speeds.
FAQ
Why is acetal best?
Low coefficient of friction, dimensional stability, clean chips, good chip evacuation. Standard prototype plastic.
Best speeds for plastics?
High speeds (300-500 m/min) and feeds. Plastics don't work-harden like metals.
Tooling for plastics?
Carbide or HSS — sharper better. PCD (polycrystalline diamond) for highest precision and longest life.
Machining moisture-absorbed plastic?
Pre-condition (dry) plastics like nylon before machining. Otherwise dimensions drift after.
Stress relief?
Pre-machining stress relief for some plastics. Prevents warpage during/after machining.
Tolerance achievable?
±0.025-0.05 mm typical. Better with care. Same as soft metal CNC.
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