CNC plastic machining in Washington is an affordable way to reduce your cost per part while maintaining consistency. CNC and plastic are a great combination to increase efficiency in your shop by using computerized control, which keeps errors to a minimum. At the same time, you can decrease production turnaround times for high-quality parts.
CNC Overview
A CNC, or computer numeric control, milling machine is a versatile machine used in milling and drilling workshops. It performs a variety of tasks, including drilling and turning. A single machine replaces the need for several mills and lathes thanks to technological advances.
The machine operates based on a series of codes sent to it via specialized software. The programming language uses commands called G-codes. Each G-code is an alphanumeric command and tells the machine to perform a specific function. Traditionally, only metal was used in CNC applications. Today, the applications have broadened to include wood and plastic parts, with CNC plastic machining in Washington growing rapidly.
Benefits of CNC Plastic Machining
CNC mills operate on multiple axes. So, the mill can perform tasks simultaneously, and it can perform multiple tasks in a row. For example, a machine can drill all the holes in a metal or plastic hinge without resetting the program or repositioning the part. Plastic is more pliable than wood or metal, giving it certain advantages in milling applications.
Washington CNC plastic machining can produce complex parts. As well as allowing the machining of large and small parts without requiring expensive molds, it can produce larger and smaller versions of the same parts simply by changing the CNC program. Since plastic is more forgiving than metal, it can be cut to higher tolerances. It’s also easy to cut through, reducing your total machine time per part.
Conclusion
CNC plastic machining in Washington can be beneficial when you have parts requiring a lot of drilling, cutting and beveling. Using plastic causes less wear and tear on the mills and lathes, presenting a softer material against the cutting edge for difficult contours, angles, or threading.
