Welcome to the CNC machining discussion area. The topic discussed with you today is "The Advantages and Applications of Plastic Parts". In our daily lives, plastic products are everywhere, from the mobile phones and computers in our hands to various household appliances at home, to vehicles and equipment such as cars, airplanes, and medical equipment, all of which are inseparable from the existence of plastic parts. So, what are the advantages of plastic parts? Why are they so important?
Contet
Part One: Advantages and Applications of Plastic CNC Machined Parts
Part Two: Common Plastic Types and Properties Suitable for CNC Machining
Part Three: Key Technical Points of Plastic CNC Processing
Part One: Advantages and Applications of Plastic CNC Machined Parts
First of all, compared to metal parts, plastic parts have low density, light weight, and lightweight characteristics, which have advantages in many applications. For example, in the aerospace field, the use of plastic parts can significantly reduce the weight of aircraft, thereby improving fuel efficiency and flight speed. Secondly, plastic parts have good insulation properties and good chemical stability, which can maintain stable performance in various harsh environments and extend the service life of the product. In addition, compared with metal parts, the production process of plastic parts is simpler and requires less equipment and manpower, so production costs can be greatly reduced.
Plastic parts In the construction, machine manufacturing, shipbuilding, and automobile industries, plastics are also used to make ceilings, floors, decorative panels, sound insulation panels, ceramic tiles, various gears, bearings, cams and other machine parts, as well as steering wheels, indicators on cars Lampshades and various structural materials, etc. In the medical industry, plastic parts are used in many medical equipment and tools, such as syringes, suction tubes, scalpel handles, examination equipment, etc. These plastic parts can provide good durability, lightness and cost-effectiveness. In infusion systems, ventilators, and other medical equipment, plastic tubing and connections are used to transport liquids and gases. These parts require a high degree of transparency and chemical resistance. In recent years, with further breakthroughs in plastic material research, the material properties of modified engineering plastics have become increasingly superior, and the application fields of plastic parts have continued to expand, beginning to extend to aerospace, new energy and other fields.
Part Two: Common Plastic Types and Properties Suitable for CNC Machining
Nylon(PA)
Pros: Nylon has high strength and stiffness, holds up over a wide temperature range, has good electrical insulation, and has good chemical and abrasion resistance. Nylon is ideal for applications that require low-cost, strong and durable components.
Disadvantages: Nylon absorbs moisture, causing it to swell and lose some dimensional accuracy. Distortion can also occur if a large amount of asymmetric material is removed during processing due to inherent internal stresses in the material.
Common Applications: Nylon is most commonly found in medical devices, circuit board mounting hardware, automotive engine compartment components, and zippers. It is used as an economical replacement for metals in many applications.
POM
Pros: POM is a great plastic for these or any other applications that require a lot of friction, require tight tolerances, or require a high stiffness material.
Disadvantages: POM is difficult to glue. The material also has internal stresses that make it susceptible to warping in areas that are thin or have extensive asymmetric material removal.
Common applications: POM is often used in gears, bearings, bushings and fasteners, or in the manufacture of assembly jigs and fixtures.
PMMA
Pros: It's ideal for any application that requires optical clarity or translucence, or as a less durable but less expensive alternative to polycarbonate.
Disadvantages: PMMA is a brittle plastic, which fails by cracking or shattering rather than stretching. Any surface treatment on a piece of acrylic will lose its transparency, giving it a frosted, translucent appearance. Therefore, it is generally best to pay attention to whether PMMA parts should remain stock thickness to maintain transparency. If the machined surface requires transparency, it can be polished as an additional post-processing step.
Common Applications: After processing, PMMA is transparent and is most commonly used as a lightweight replacement for glass or light pipes.
PEEK
Pros: PEEK material has good high-temperature stability, can be used at temperatures up to 300°C, and is not prone to deformation and softening when used at high temperatures for a long time.
Disadvantages: PEEK has internal stresses that make it prone to warping in areas that are thin or have extensive asymmetric material removal. Additionally, the material is difficult to bond, which can be a limitation in some applications.
Common applications: PEEK has self-lubricating properties and low friction coefficient, which makes it an ideal material in friction applications such as sleeve bearings, sliding bearings, valve seats, sealing rings, pump wear rings, etc. Due to its excellent chemical resistance and biocompatibility, PEEK is widely used in manufacturing various parts of medical devices.
PTFE
Pros: The working temperature of PTFE can reach 250℃, and it has good mechanical toughness. Even if the temperature drops to -196℃, it can maintain a certain elongation.
Disadvantages: The linear expansion coefficient of PTFE is 10 to 20 times that of steel, which is larger than most plastics. Its linear expansion coefficient changes very irregularly with changes in temperature.
Common applications: Often used in the manufacture of various mechanical parts, such as automobile gears, oil screens, shift starters, etc. Teflon consumables (PFA, FEP, PTFE) can be made into many experimental consumables and are used in semiconductors, new materials, biomedicine, CDC, third-party testing, etc.
Part Three: Key Technical Points of Plastic CNC Processing
There are many ways to produce high-precision plastic parts, but when you need to achieve tight tolerances or produce a mirror-like surface finish on almost any type of part, CNC machining is the best choice. Approximately 80% of plastic parts can be CNC milled, which is the most widely used method for manufacturing parts without an axis of rotation. To obtain an excellent surface finish, CNC machined parts need to be polished or chemically treated.
During CNC machining of plastics, since the properties of the plastic may vary depending on its type and brand, it is crucial to select the appropriate plastic material to achieve the desired physical properties, wear resistance, and aesthetic effects. At the same time, the cutting tools need to be properly managed and replaced, as excessive clamping force or improper operation may cause excessive wear of the cutting tools. Since plastic processing is prone to thermal deformation, a special cooling system is required to maintain stable working conditions. During CNC processing, attention needs to be paid to minimizing the clamping force and avoiding common problems such as overcutting and centering of the workpiece to ensure that the parts are the quality of. To prevent chips from melting onto CNC machined parts, you need to keep the tool moving and prevent it from staying in one position for too long.
GPM has more than 280+ CNC machines for providing services including milling, turning, drilling, sanding, grinding, punching, and welding. We have the ability to manufacture high-performance plastic CNC machining parts in a variety of materials. Welcome to contact us.
Post time: Nov-09-2023