Premium tensile strength, light-weight custom CNC milling plastic parts

Can plastic be milled?

Yes. Plastics and their related materials can be milled. Depending on their rigidity, some plastics are more suitable than others for milling. Strong or rigid plastics hold still when machined, making them a more suitable choice for CNC milling.

Softer, flexible plastics are more challenging to work with because they don’t hold as easily as rigid plastics.

What plastic materials can CNC milling be used?

When you choose to manufacture your custom spare parts with plastics, you are choosing a more cost-effective and recyclable alternative without all the challenges of metal machining and milling.

CNC milling on plastics is completely reliant on the types of plastics used. Because it is easier to mill rigid plastics, some plastic materials are more suitable for CNC milling than others. These are;

ABS

Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) plastic has excellent impact resistance and is easy to machine.

Acrylic

Acrylic is strong, stiff and available in a wide range of colors.

PVC

Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) is strong, stiff, and easy to machine, fabricate, and weld. It is also a great low-cost plastic alternative.

Nylon

Nylon is a strong, stiff plastic capable of being engineered and suitable for bearings and bushings.

PET

PET is a strong plastic with high chemical and wear resistance.

PP

Polypropylene (PP) is lightweight, tough, and resistant to chemicals, electrolytes, and organic solvents.

PPS

PPS has high levels of corrosion and temperature resistance.

PTFE

Teflon is a low friction plastic with high temperature and chemical resistance.

Polycarbonate (PC)

Polycarbonate is a strong plastic with high impact resistance.

What sort of basic things should I know before buying CNC milling machines for plastic injection?

The most important thing to note is that there are no special machines for plastic milling. The machines used for metal milling are also what is used for plastic milling and machining. This is why strong, rigid plastics are preferred for plastic milling.

In the case of injection molding, it works by first melting thermoplastics in a large barrel before the molten thermoplastics are injected into molds. Once the plastic is set, the molds are ejected, and the process continues,

Before buying a CNC milling machine for plastic injection, understand that you need molding machines and not milling machines.

Their driving systems classify the machines you need for injection molding. They include;

• Hydraulic
• Mechanical
• Electric

What industries use CNC milling of plastic materials?

The need for precision parts transcends industries. Many high-performing companies and industries need a continuous flow of spare parts to ensure that their businesses run smoothly.

These industries include;

• Medical industry:
• Aerospace
• Transportation
• Oil and Gas
• Military and defense
• Electronics
• Marine
• Manufacturing

Why Choose CNC Milling Plastic Over Other Methods?

Though CNC milling plastics provide a wealth of benefits compared to other milling methods such as metal milling, CNC plastic milling has not seen as much rise in milling as its other metal milling methods.

CNC milling plastics is a better choice over other methods because;

• They have a high resistance property to rust and impact.
• They are also resistant to many chemical components
• There are stronger plastic alternatives that make substituting it for metal parts possible.

Choose CNC milling plastics over other methods because there is a wide range of plastics available to make your choice for custom spare parts.

What are the advantages of CNC milling for plastic?

With the amount of machine usage in companies and industries, machine parts are subject to damage through wear and tear. Because of this, it is essential to find excellent spare parts that will help your machine run perfectly.

CNC milling plastics provide the right balance between cost and functionality and are perfect for machinery because;

Easy to reuse and recycle

CNC plastic is a more sustainable spare part alternative due to its ease of use and recycling possibilities. During manufacturing, it is possible to recycle and reuse swarf and old plastic spare part materials.

A trial design is possible

With CNC milling for plastics, it is possible to request a trial design before making a complete order.

Saves time and costs

CNC plastic parts are a cost-effective alternative to spare parts manufacturing. With numerous cheaper plastic alternatives, you can save time and cost on manufacturing your custom spare parts.

Easy to clean and manage

Many industries such as medicine, food, pharmaceuticals, and transportation favor plastic parts due to their ease of use and cleanliness.

Easy to manufacture with shorter times

Unlike metal fabrication and machining, it is easier to machine plastics in a shorter time frame.

What are the applications of CNC milling for plastic?

CNC plastic milling can be applied in different sectors and for different uses.

These industries include;

• Medical industry:
• Aerospace
• Transportation
• Oil and Gas
• Military and defense
• Electronics
• Marine
• Manufacturing

CNC plastics such as POM, ABS, Nylon, Polycarbonate, and Teflon, can be used in fuel rails, fuel supply units, control valves, cars lock, seatbelt adjusters, HVAC control panel knobs, automotive clips, and more parts in the automobile industry; pipe couplings, shower head, water filters, pumps for industrial uses; fuel tank, caps, and hoses in consumer goods; electronic enclosures, bushings, bearings, and gears.

They can also be used in building materials, pipes & fittings, vacuum construction, keyboard keys, body panels, protective eyewear, electronic housing, toys, consumer products, parts of nebulizers, baby drinking bottles, catheter coatings, compressors, bulletproof glass, music instruments, mobile phone panels, sports equipment, food processors, control panels, headlamp lenses, refrigerator components, and lots more.

What are the best ways and practices to clean acrylic or plastic parts after precision CNC milling?

Follow the following steps to clean acrylic or plastic parts after precision CNC milling;

• Use a coolant to cool the newly molded plastic parts.
• Dip the spare parts in mineral spirits. This will help seal the edges and prevent them from sticking.
• You can also blow the spiral chips away using a compressed air feed attached to a spindle.

Are large quantities suitable for CNC milling plastic?

CNC plastic milling is one of the most preferred spare parts choices for manufacturing due to its ease of use, and as such, large quantities are also suitable for plastic milling.

Whether for direct plastic milling where plastics are cut and machined or injection molding where molten plastics are poured into a mold and extracted, it is possible to machine plastics in large quantities.

Are small batches suitable for CNC milling plastic?

Due to its cost-effective properties for machining and molding, it is also possible to manufacture small batches of plastic spare parts for your use.

It is important to note that once the initial prototype is machined, all other plastic spare parts become easy to manufacture. This is also true for injection molding, where the successful creation of the initial mold makes subsequent molding suitable, even in smaller quantities.

What is the difference between CNC milling plastic and plastic injection molding?

Injection molding works by injecting molten thermoplastics into molds. Once the mold is completed, the mold opens, and the part is ejected. While CNC milling plastics works by cutting layers of the plastic material using a computer numerical control machine (CNC Machine).

The significant difference between these two plastic manufacturing processes is the state at which each plastic material is used to create its designated spare parts. For injection molding, plastics are heated until ‘liquid’ before being used, and for CNC milling, solid, rigid plastics are used because they are easy to cut.

Why choose CNC milling plastic supplier in China?

China has been importing waste plastics and other materials since the early 1980s to build a recycling industry, and because of this, China became an inexpensive outlet for recyclable waste from U.S. and European cities.

When you choose a CNC milling plastic supplier from China, you get a wealth of recyclable plastic materials available for plastic manufacturing and machining at a low cost.

China also has all the machines used for CNC machining and injection molding, making the country the preferred choice for CNC milling plastic suppliers.

When compared with other suppliers, what is the advantage of CNC milling plastic in DEK?

DEK has years of experience machining plastics. We also have over 2300 engineers and specialists worldwide dedicating their experience and skills to machining high-quality custom spare parts services.

Aside from plastics, DEK also works with other materials such as aluminum, alloy steel, tool steel, brass, invar, copper, mild steel, titanium, Inconel, and other metals.

We keep abreast of advancing technologies and methods in the industry and are continuously educating ourselves on ways to provide outstanding services to our clients while setting ourselves apart in the industry.

How do I choose the CNC milling plastic supplier in China?

Choosing the best CNC milling plastic supplier in China should be determined by the years of experience and expertise the supplier has, how many materials they can work with, the extensive type of advice they provide for your custom projects, the manufacturing process, and technology used, and their ability and willingness to answer any inquiries you have at any time.

DEK provides an exceptional service that covers every aspect of CNC milling plastics supplies service in a way that leaves you feeling confident in our skills, the quality of products provided, and our willingness to serve you.

Does DEK offer CNC milling plastic service?

Yes, we do. DEK offers CNC plastic milling service to help save time and costs and extend your machine’s lifespan by providing extensive custom plastic parts service for various industries worldwide.

We partner with the best to provide high-quality plastic parts that stand the test of time. Our expert engineers work with specialized materials and machinery to carefully produce excellent plastic spare parts designed and manufactured to your specifications.