Precision Plastic Machining Without Treating Plastics Like Metal
Engineering plastics can replace metal where low weight, insulation, chemical resistance, low friction or temperature performance matters more than maximum stiffness. But they cannot simply be machined like aluminum or steel: heat, clamping, moisture and internal stress can all influence the final dimension.
Common Engineering Plastics
Engineering plastics are usually specified by polymer family plus manufacturer grade, filler and certification rather than a simple country-standard equivalent.
| Material | Designation | Typical Variants | Why It Is Specified |
| POM / Acetal | POM-C / POM-H | Natural / black; homo- or copolymer | Dimensional stability, low friction |
| PEEK | PEEK | Unfilled / glass- / carbon-filled | Higher temperature and chemical resistance |
| PTFE | PTFE | Virgin / filled grades | Very low friction and chemical resistance |
| Nylon | PA6 / PA66 | Extruded / cast / filled grades | Toughness and wear |
| PC / PMMA | PC / PMMA | Clear / colored grades | Transparent or cosmetic parts |
| PPS | PPS | Unfilled / reinforced | Higher temperature and chemical resistance |
Supplementary note: Trade name, filler percentage, ESD / food / medical requirements and moisture condition can matter more than a country designation.
Selecting Plastics by Function
POM / Acetal — A practical choice for dimensional stability, low friction and precision mechanical parts.
PEEK — Used where higher temperature capability and chemical resistance are important.
PTFE — Chosen for very low friction and broad chemical resistance.
PA6 / PA66 — Useful for tough, wear-resistant mechanical parts; moisture behavior should be considered.
PC / PMMA — Used when transparency, appearance or impact performance is part of the design requirement.
PPS — A higher-performance option where temperature and chemical resistance exceed common plastics.
Dimensional Stability & Machining Control
Plastic dimensions are more sensitive to machining heat, fixture pressure and material condition. For tighter requirements, support, heat input and inspection timing should be considered together.
Low-stress fixturing — Reduce distortion on thin or softer sections.
Heat control — Sharp tooling and suitable cutting conditions help limit local heating and dimensional drift.
Material condition — Moisture, internal stress and filler content can influence final stability.
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We machine a wide range of metals, engineering plastics, and selected high-performance materials for custom CNC machined parts
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