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Industries we have served include:

  • telecommunications;
  • medical;
  • high technology;
  • manufacturing;
  • aircraft;
  • home construction;
  • musical instrument;
  • chemical;
  • audio/home entertainment;
  • light and heavy industrial;
  • automotive;
  • and many others.

Plastic Machining- Art or Science?

Plastic machining is both an art and a science. Plastics can change dimensionally due to humidity, temperature and machining process and there is an “art” to keeping machined components within stated tolerances. All polymers and copolymers react differently to coolant and machining technique- the science required to properly machine plastic.

Plastic can be machined or molded to create plastic components. Plastic machining is typically used for low volume components or components that may have a short life span. While creating a mold is costly up front, each individual component created from the mold is a cost effective way to produce high volume, long life span components.

Machining a plastic component can allow an OEM to test certain materials for reactivity as well as tolerance to stresses. Parts can be turned or milled or both turned and milled. In selecting a shop for plastic machining, it is important that the shop have experience in both the science and art of plastic machining. Plastic only shops in particular will help to avoid contamination with coolants and metal fragments usually found in a metal shop. They are also familiar with both annealing and polishing of your plastic component.

In selecting a shop for your plastic machining, three criteria are important:

 

Plastic machining can be a smooth process if the correct shop is chosen for your plastic machining needs.