How to Guides for Specific CNC Plastics machining Techniques
CNC machining is one of the most common machining methods. Prototypes and low volume production all rely on the advantages of CNC machining in terms of accuracy, size, and cost. Understanding cnc plastic machining technology will help you further understand whether your project requires cnc plastic machining and what plastic processing is required. With the modern industry, the precision requirements for processing parts in all applicable materials are constantly increasing. This is why specific cnc plastic machining techniques were developed. Now, it occupies a considerable position in the prototype manufacturing of high-precision low volume production of plastic parts.
Whether you need any plastic prototype or custom parts, the fusion of complex components, or low volume production, Anpllocnc can provide advanced CNC prototype services and high-temperature and high-strength plastic processing materials.
In this article, we’ll take an in-depth look at the various types of cnc plastic machining technologies, their benefits, and how to take advantage of them step by step.
What is cnc plastic machining?
CNC plastic machining utilizes a subtractive process to gradually cut plastic blocks to the desired shape and precision. However, the specific processing effect depends on the plastic material, design complexity, and precision requirements. The current plastic processing on the market usually uses 3, 4, 5 axis CNC machines to process the plastic parts customers require. The machining process with more machine axes allows the machine to move more cutting tools and cutting surfaces when machining parts; the faster the machining speed and the higher the precision of the parts.
Three-axis CNC machines: Produce the most common parts that don’t require multiple revolutions, usually for drilling holes, milling slots, or machining preformed edges.
Four-axis CNC machine: Allows the tool to access the opposite side of the part for milling, slotting, and other cuts.
Five-Axis CNC Machines: Capable of producing the highest precision parts and offering multi-faceted rotation to access all faces of the part. Through 360-degree cutting, it is possible to achieve intricate details and fine precision. Since its birth, five-axis CNC machining technology has been widely used in aerospace, medical, automotive, and industrial industries that have high requirements for parts precision.
Advantages of cnc plastic machining
cnc plastic machining has no upfront mold costs and is only suitable for low volume production of plastic parts. Once programmed, CNC plastic machining can replicate the same plastic part, but with few economies of scale possible. When the geometry of the workpiece is complex enough that the workpiece or tool must be rotated or reset, the cost and time to produce each part also increase.
When considering prototypes and low volume production, low-cost, fast delivery, and high-quality production methods are undoubtedly the ideal choice.
Advantage 1: Accuracy
Undoubtedly, CNC machined components have always been known for their precision. CNC machining controls the movement trajectory of the tool through the computer program, and each cutting can be achieved accurately.
Advantage 2: Component complexity
CNC can process many components with complex surfaces. But more complex parts requiring programmed tooling and movement paths add to labor time, which impacts price.
Advantage 3: Size
CNC processing machine tools for large scale parts are generally larger, occupy more physical space, and can be processed simultaneously.
Advantage 4: Strength
The internal structure of CNC processed parts is tightly integrated, which can show better mechanical and thermal properties.
Advantage 5: Material selection range
CNC machining can make almost all plastic materials.
CNC plastic machining has many benefits, including increased precision, reduced production time, and lower labor costs. Additionally, CNC machines can produce complex shapes and designs that would be difficult or impossible to create manually.
Different Types of cnc plastic machining
Many cnc plastic machining techniques include milling, turning, drilling, and milling. Each technology has its unique advantages and is suitable for specific applications. The cnc plastic machining method excavates and carves plastic materials such as ABS, PMMA, POM, PC, PA, PP, PTFE, PPS, PEEK, PVC, Nylon and PE into the physical samples we need. CNC processed samples have the advantages of large size, high strength, good toughness, and low cost and have become the mainstream of prototype production. cnc plastic machining mainly introduces several processing techniques below.
Process 1: Plastic CNC Turning
Simply clamp a plastic workpiece firmly to a rotating disc or mandrel, and as the workpiece rotates, the cutting tool rests in a clamp mounted on a moving slide. The slide can be moved up and down the length of the workpiece and closer to or farther away from the centerline. Turning is great for removing large amounts of material quickly. Lathes are used to make concentric circular shapes on the outer circumference of circular parts. Sockets, annular grooves, stepped shoulders, internal and external threads, cylinders, and shafts – many round or circular features are made on a lathe. They are also capable of producing a characteristically smooth and uniform surface finish.
Process 2: Plastic CNC Milling
Milling differs from turning in that the workpiece remains stationary, and the cutting tool rotates on a spindle. The workpiece is usually placed horizontally on the machine table and mounted on a table that moves in the X and Y directions. The spindle holds various cutting tools and moves on the X, Y, and Z axes. Although the mill also drills and drills holes, it excels at removing material from more complex and asymmetrical components. Milling cutters make squares/flats, notches, chamfers, channels, profiles, keyways, and other features that depend on precise cut angles. Milling and turning are responsible for the main CNC machining operations. As with all CNC machining operations, cutting fluid is used to cool the workpiece and tool, lubricate and flush away particles or chips.
Process 3: Optical Polishing
In addition to processing metal materials, CNC machining is also used to manufacture special optical components of glass or plastic. Optical components require very precise surfaces with tight tolerances so that special grinding equipment can be used in multi-axis. They are spinning the wheel onto a surface while spinning has the effect of averaging any deviation from the nominal. Abrasive pastes are also used as lubricants and to create polished finished surfaces. This is also one of the CNC machining processes, and the machining accuracy is higher than that of the general CNC machining process. There are relatively few factories on the market that can undertake this kind of processing orders, and Anpllocnc is one of them.
Process 4: Cylindrical Grinding
The workpiece is usually stationary, while the circular or cylindrical grinding wheel rotates relative to its surface. Cylindrical grinders can be used on the ID and OD, either through the entire part length or at partial depths. It can be manufactured with precise tolerances and has a very smooth surface texture.
A Step-by-Step Process for Plastic CNC Machining
To successfully mill plastic parts, you must prepare your material, set up your CNC machine and operate it properly. We’ll provide detailed instructions for each step, including common issues that may arise and how to resolve them. The step-by-step process of cnc plastic machining is as follows 19 steps.
1) Read drawings and program sheets
2) Transfer the corresponding program to the machine tool
3) Check the program header, cutting parameters, etc.
4) Determination of the processing size and allowance of the workpiece on the workpiece
5) Reasonable clamping of the workpiece
6) Accurate alignment of the workpiece
7) Accurate establishment of workpiece coordinates
8) Selection of reasonable tools and cutting parameters
9) Reasonable clamping of tools
10) Safe trial cutting method
11) Observation of the processing process
12) Adjustment of cutting parameters
13) Problems during processing and timely feedback from corresponding personnel
14) Inspection of workpiece quality after processing
15) Check for an error and correct the error in the program. If yes, proceed to the next step
16) If the workpiece needs to be finished, complete the process.
17) Post-processing.
18) Inspection
19) Finished product storage.
It should be emphasized here that no CNC machines are currently dedicated to plastic processing. Virtually all CNC machines used for plastic processing are CNC machines for metal processing. But their precise rigidity and power output allow them to easily machine hardened plastics. Therefore, the steps of CNC machining plastics are the same as those of metal CNC machining. The only difference is the difference in the processed material.
conclusion
cnc plastic machining technology has transformed manufacturing by enabling the efficient and precise production of plastic parts. By understanding the various types of cnc plastic machining technologies, their benefits, and how to take advantage of them, you can increase your manufacturing capabilities and produce high-quality parts. Now there is a very large demand for prototype manufacturing of plastic parts and customized plastic parts in the market, so the market is also flooded with a large number of cnc plastic machining service factories. However, their existence makes the product manufacturing process on the demand side faster and easier. But suppose you have any experience in cnc plastic machining. In that case, choosing a suitable plastic CNC processing factory will be a powerful help because such a plastic processing workshop gathers very good manufacturing experts, machinists, and manufacturability engineers. They can not only help you produce the plastic parts you need but also help you find design problems that may be defects in the design of potential parts. As long as the design problems are improved, it is believed that the manufacturing time and cost of parts can be significantly reduced and speed up—the product launch cycle.