Introduction to plastic machining

Plastic machining is an industrial process that consists of modifying and shaping parts of plastic materials using cutting, milling, turning, drilling and other similar methods. This process allows us to obtain precise and customized components with specific characteristics for different industrial and commercial applications.

Unlike metal machining, plastic machining requires conditions and tools adapted to the particularities of polymeric materials, considering their lower hardness, greater sensitivity to heat and the elasticity of plastics. It is essential to control parameters such as cutting speed and cooling to avoid deformation or damage to the part.

Most common types of plastics

Plastic machining covers a wide variety of polymeric materials that can be classified as thermoplastics and thermosets. Among thermoplastics, polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polycarbonate (PC), acrylic (PMMA) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) stand out due to their ease of machining and balanced mechanical properties.

Thermosets, on the other hand, such as epoxy or phenolic resins, are less common in machining processes due to their fragility and difficulty in working, although they are used in specific applications that require high thermal and chemical resistance.

In addition, there are technical plastics such as polyacetal (POM), polyamide (PA) and polyetheretherketone (PEEK) that are used for parts that demand high precision, mechanical resistance and dimensional stability, being common in sectors such as automotive and aerospace.

Properties relevant to machining

The physical and chemical properties of plastics determine the behavior during machining. Low thermal conductivity and high thermal expansion coefficient are critical factors that influence the selection of cutting parameters to avoid deformations and burns.