Easy to Machine
Machinable plastics for milled, turned, and drilled parts
When a part will be milled, turned, drilled, or otherwise machined, material choice has a direct effect on finished-part quality and process consistency. Compared with metals, many plastics can support higher feed rates and create less wear on machines and cutting tools. The materials below are commonly selected for machining characteristics such as dimensional stability, clean cutting, and finished-part performance.
Use this page as a starting point to compare plastics for machining, then review plastic fabrication and machining services, the plastic selection chart for reliable machinery and parts, or get a quote for your application.
Curbell Plastics can help you:
- Evaluate dimensional stability during machining.
- Compare machining characteristics across listed plastic materials.
- Match material properties to tolerance, wear, and finished-part requirements.
Acrylic
Outstanding strong, stiff, clear plastic available in a variety of brilliant colors and finishes.
Aluminum Composite Material (ACM)
Low-cost ACM offers good dimensional stability and a metallic look, at half the weight of aluminum.
DuPont™ Vespel® Polyimide
Extremely high temperature creep resistant plastic with excellent friction and wear characteristics.
KYDEX® Thermoplastic Sheet
High impact, thermoplastic sheet that is tough, durable, and easy to form.
Noryl®
Engineering plastic with outstanding strength, stiffness, and electrical insulating properties.
Torlon® PAI
Extremely stong, stiff, dimensionally stable plastic material often used in elevated temperature environments.
PBT
Strong, stiff plastic, excellent machining characteristics, bearing and wear, and chemical resistance.
PCTFE
Fluoropolymer with outstanding dimensional stability, mechanical properties, and temperature range.
PEEK
Strong, stiff plastic with outstanding chemical resistance; performs over a wide range of temperatures.
PET
A strong, dimensionally stable plastic with outstanding chemical resistance and wear properties.
PETG
Transparent plastic sheet with good impact resistance and outstanding thermoforming characteristics.
PFA
Flexible fluoropolymer that performs well in extreme temperature and harsh chemical environments.
PPSU
High temperature thermoplastic material with outstanding impact resistance that is autoclavable.
PTFE
Low friction engineering plastic with outstanding chemical, high temperature, and weathering resistance.
UHMW
Extremely tough abrasion resistant, low cost plastic, used for a wide range of wear applications.
Acrylic
Outstanding strong, stiff, clear plastic available in a variety of brilliant colors and finishes.
Aluminum Composite Material (ACM)
Low-cost ACM offers good dimensional stability and a metallic look, at half the weight of aluminum.
DuPont™ Vespel® Polyimide
Extremely high temperature creep resistant plastic with excellent friction and wear characteristics.
KYDEX® Thermoplastic Sheet
High impact, thermoplastic sheet that is tough, durable, and easy to form.
Noryl®
Engineering plastic with outstanding strength, stiffness, and electrical insulating properties.
Torlon® PAI
Extremely stong, stiff, dimensionally stable plastic material often used in elevated temperature environments.
PBT
Strong, stiff plastic, excellent machining characteristics, bearing and wear, and chemical resistance.
PCTFE
Fluoropolymer with outstanding dimensional stability, mechanical properties, and temperature range.
PEEK
Strong, stiff plastic with outstanding chemical resistance; performs over a wide range of temperatures.
PET
A strong, dimensionally stable plastic with outstanding chemical resistance and wear properties.
PETG
Transparent plastic sheet with good impact resistance and outstanding thermoforming characteristics.
PFA
Flexible fluoropolymer that performs well in extreme temperature and harsh chemical environments.
PPSU
High temperature thermoplastic material with outstanding impact resistance that is autoclavable.
PTFE
Low friction engineering plastic with outstanding chemical, high temperature, and weathering resistance.
UHMW
Extremely tough abrasion resistant, low cost plastic, used for a wide range of wear applications.
Not sure which materials best fit your needs?
Our experienced sales and technical teams are available to assist you with material selection challenges.
