Machining Plastic

When machining plastic, remember...

• Thermal expansion is up to 10 times greater with plastics than metals
• Plastics lose heat more slowly than metals, so avoid localized overheating
• Softening (and melting) temperatures of plastics are much lower than metals
• Plastics are much more elastic than metals

Because of these differences, you may wish to experiment with fixtures, tool materials, angles,speeds and feed rates to obtain optimum results.

Getting Started

• Positive tool geometries with ground peripheries are recommended
• Carbide tooling with ground top surfaces is suggested for optimum tool life and surface finish. Polycrystalline diamond tooling provides optimum surface finish when machining
  
• Use adequate chip clearance to prevent clogging
• Adequately support the material to restrict deflection away from the cutting tool