Engineering plastic material processing

Design and Preparation

CNC Program Setup

CNC Machining Process

Types of CNC Plastics

Quality Inspection

“Engineering plastic material processing” mainly utilizes CNC machines for high-precision and customized cutting and forming of plastic materials, suitable for manufacturing durable and precise plastic parts. Below is a detailed process of engineering plastic material processing:

1. Design and Preparation

• Product Design: Complete CAD model design based on customer requirements and confirm all dimensions and specifications.
• Material Selection: Choose suitable engineering plastic materials such as ABS, POM, PC, Nylon, etc., based on the required properties like heat resistance, wear resistance, and impact resistance.
• Tool Selection: Select appropriate CNC tools and fixtures. Different plastics have different cutting properties, requiring suitable tool selection.

2. CNC Program Setup

• CAM Programming: Use CAM software to generate CNC machining programs (G-code), specifying machining paths, speeds, and feed rates to ensure precision and surface quality.
• Process Path Planning: Consider the heat sensitivity of plastic materials to design machining sequences that prevent material deformation due to heat.

3. Machining Preparation

• Clamping and Positioning: Secure the plastic raw material on the CNC machine table to ensure accurate positioning. Special fixtures are often used to prevent deformation caused by machining pressure.
• Equipment Check: Ensure the CNC machine and tools are in good condition to avoid quality issues caused by tool wear or equipment malfunctions.

4. CNC Machining Process

• Rough Machining: Remove most material initially to form the rough shape. Control feed rate and cutting speed to avoid overheating.
• Semi-Finishing: Further approach the final size and prepare for finishing.
• Finishing: Use fine tools to achieve final shape and dimensions, ensuring high precision and surface smoothness.
• Cooling Control: Use gas or coolant to prevent plastic from overheating and deforming.

5. Quality Inspection

• Dimensional Inspection: Use calipers, micrometers, and 3D scanners to check dimensions.
• Surface Check: Ensure no scratches, roughness, or cracks.
• Functional Testing: Conduct pressure, heat resistance, or wear tests if necessary.

6. Types of CNC Plastics

CNC machining can be applied to various plastics, from soft polyethylene (PE) to hard POM and PC. Differences from metal machining include tool selection and machining parameters.