There are many plastics out there made for CNC plastic machinery and molding. Many products composed of these plastic polymers have traits unique to themselves. It isn’t easy to categorize most of them based on how competitive they are with one another.
Out of the many, we gathered three of the top polymers used to make these products. With that said, let’s explore which plastics create the best CNC machined products.
Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS)
This particular polymer is a highly popular thermoplastic, meaning that it can be molded and shaped using CNC plastic milling or heat for virtually any purpose. It has superior impact strength among its competitors. Because it’s so heat resistant, it has excellent machining capabilities.
ABS can also be used as an insulator, and for grounding applications for electrical appliances. It also has excellent application in mechanics as it remains reliable over long periods, and can be used for prototypes, keyboards, dashboards, and exteriors. This is why industries choose ABS over other plastics for various projects.
Polyamide 66 (Nylon)
This particular polymer falls under the low-friction engineering category. Nylon is a thermoplastic with high impact strength, so many automotive and medical devices use this type of thermoplastic. It’s highly resistant to abrasion and chemicals. One of its only hang-ups is that it doesn’t tolerate mineral acids well.
Polyetheretherketone (PEEK)
This thermoplastic chosen has high-performance standards. PEEK has many mechanical properties, which are its most utilized abilities.
It’s resistant to chemicals, fire-retardant up to 260 degrees Fahrenheit, and won’t wear out easily. It’s extremely lightweight and has the strength to endure harsh conditions. Most solvents have no effect on PEEK, which is also recyclable and biodegradable.
If you’re asking yourself what plastics create the best CNC machined products and have no idea where to start, use this guide to get a general idea of what to look for, and reach out to Miller Plastics’ professionals to get started!
