Key Guidelines for Plastic CNC Machining

Plastic CNC machining is a subtractive manufacturing process in which a solid block of plastic is placed against a moving cutting tool that removes material from the block. The cutting tool follows a set tool path, guided by a digital design file, in order to shape the final part. CNC machining is a popular manufacturing method for creating plastic components. With this manufacturing process, you can quickly create thousands of uniform and precise parts with incredibly tight tolerances.

You can make many different types of plastic parts using CNC machining, including:

• Medical devices, such as dentistry surgical guides and cardiac implants

• Food and beverage industry components, such as spray bars and assembly line pieces

• Semiconductor components, such as electrical insulators and watertight seals

• Automotive and aerospace industry components, such as fire blockers, valve seats, and pump gears

Based on the CNC machining method — CNC drilling, CNC turning, or CNC milling — engineers must adhere to different guidelines to produce superior plastic CNC machined parts. In this article, we’ll break each of them down.