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CNC Plastic Machining Services
Custom CNC Plastic Machining Services | Precision Parts
Certified CNC plastic machining services that operate under the ISO 9001 standards for prototypes and for production. We machine 30+ types of plastics, including PEEK and Delrin, to tight tolerances (±0.03mm). Get a quote today.
ISO 9001:2015
Quality Certified
AS9100D
Aerospace Standard
ISO 13485
Medical Devices
Understanding the Process
What is CNC Plastic Machining?
CNC plastic machining is an advanced manufacturing process that entails utilizing computer-controlled cutting tools to cut through a stock of plastic, formulating custom plastic parts that meet strict requirements. Unlike injection molding or 3D printing, CNC machining of plastic offers superior dimensional accuracy, better surface finish, and the opportunity to work with a wider variety of engineering plastics.
To begin, we feed a solid block, rod, or sheet of plastic-shaped material to one or several Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machines, such as 3-axis mills, 4-axis mills, 5-axis machining centers, or CNC lathes. These machines cut away layer by layer any material that is superfluous to the exact geometry found in the CAD specification. The process is subtractive manufacturing, whereas it may accommodate the following applications:
Technical Insight: Processing plastics requires a good understanding compared to metal CNC machining. Plastics have a lower melting point; have different thermal expansion rates or stress behaviors, eat proper cutting parameters, accurate setup procedures, and temperature control while machining.
Key Applications
- Precision plastic prototype machining – Prove designs with production-grade materials
- Low to medium volume production – Affordable runs from 1 to 10,000+ pieces
- High-performance plastic components are perfect of replacing metals in applications located in challenging scenarios such as PEEK, Ultem, and Torlon.
- Precision-engineered spare parts of plastics for use in the realm of high-end sectors like medical, aerospace, and semiconductor industries
Gallery of Custom Plastic CNC Machining Parts
Discover our range of cutting-edge custom plastic CNC machining parts. We provide accurate engineering and sustainable materials for a range of end-user industries.
Industries We Serve: CNC Plastic Machining Applications
Our services in CNC plastic machining provide outstanding support to mission-critical applications in extremely demanding industries. Simultaneously, we are efficiently and effectively complying with the certifications and quality standards for regulated markets.
Medical & Healthcare
Surgical instrument components, diagnostic equipment housings, implant trials, lab equipment, and patient-contact devices.
- Biocompatible PEEK & ULTEM
- USP Class VI materials
- FDA-compliant processes
- Full documentation & traceability
ISO 13485 Certified
Aerospace & Defense
Lightweight structural brackets, cable ducting, interior cabin components, sensor housings, and antenna covers.
- High-temp PEEK & Torlon
- FAR 25.853 compliant materials
- ITAR registered facility
- Flight-ready documentation
AS9100D Certified
Automotive
Functional prototypes, interior trim parts, under-hood components, EV battery housings, and fluid system connectors.
- Glass-filled nylon & PPS
- Prototype to bridge production
- PPAP documentation
- High-volume capacity
IATF 16949 Ready
Electronics & Semiconductor
Enclosures, connectors, insulators, wafer handling fixtures, and test equipment components.
- ESD-safe materials
- High-purity PEEK & PFA
- Cleanroom compatible
- Ultra-tight tolerances
ISO 9001:2015 Certified
Robotics & Automation
Custom end effectors, gripper jaws, articulating joint components, cable guides, and sensor mounts.
- Lightweight acetal & nylon
- Self-lubricating materials
- Complex 5-axis geometries
- Rapid iteration support
ISO 9001:2015 Certified
Oil, Gas & Chemical
Valve components, seals, pump parts, pipe fittings, and chemical-resistant housings.
- PTFE & PVDF materials
- Extreme chemical resistance
- High-pressure rated
- Material certifications
ISO 9001:2015 Certified
Common Challenges Resolved
Common Challenges And Solution in Plastic Part Sourcing
The sourcing of precision plastic machining causes a big ordeal for many engineers and procurement teams due to credibility. Our services in custom plastic machining are meant to step in to overcome these pains.
Plastic Parts with Really Tight Tolerances?
It is a big challenge to obtain precision tolerance for engineering plastics due to thermal expansion, material stress, and deflection every plastic CNC machining goes through.
✓ Our Solution: ±0.001″ achievable tolerances with material-specific machining parameters and CMM inspection
Unusually Long Lead Times Holding Up Your Project?
Most conventional plastic machining shops quote 4–6 weeks of lead time, which results in the slow down of product development or a loss in time-to-market initiatives.
✓ Our Solution: A first-time order shipment can be within 5 to 7 days and with a fast delivery of 2 to 3 days for rapid prototyping
Selecting the Correct Plastic Material Still an Issue?
With 30+ machinable plastics available from PEEK to Delrin to Ultem, the task of selecting the most appropriate material can be mind-boggling.
✓ Our Solution: Free material selection consultation with our engineers
Often the case of small volumes: Injection Molding is Expensive?
Tooling costs ($5K-$100K+) and minimum order quantities make the injection molding option quite uneconomical for making prototypes and/or producing low-volume plastic parts.
✓ Our Solution: No MOQ, No Tooling Costs—Order 1 to 10,000+ Parts Economically
Got Complex Geometries that Other Shops Cannot Handle?
Most CNC plastic machining companies shy away from complex geometries, undercuts, and tight-tolerance features that warrant advanced 5-axis machining capabilities.
✓ Our Solution: 5-axis CNC plastic machining for the most complex parts
Need Industry Certifications for Compliance?
Aerospace, medical, and defense applications are the kind that needs specific certifications (AS9100D, ISO 13485, ITAR), of which a lot of shops that provide plastic machining are devoid.
✓ Our Solution: Fully certified for aerospace, medical & defense projects
CNC Machining vs. Injection Molding vs. 3D Printing
Determining the most appropriate manufacturing process for a given case can be affected by quantity, tolerance, material, and delivery. How the processes can be related to CNC machining of plastics can be seen below compared with common processes:
| Factor | CNC Machining | Injection Molding | 3D Printing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best For | Prototypes, low-volume, precision parts | High-volume production (1,000+ parts) | Concept models, complex internal geometries |
| Tooling Cost | ✓ No tooling required | ✗ $5,000 – $100,000+ mold cost | ✓ No tooling required |
| Tolerances | ✓ ±0.002″ to ±0.005″ | ±0.003″ to ±0.005″ | ✗ ±0.010″ to ±0.020″ |
| Material Options | ✓ 40+ engineering plastics | ✓ Wide range of thermoplastics | ✗ Limited, often proprietary |
| Surface Finish | ✓ Excellent, as-machined or polished | ✓ Excellent with proper mold finish | ✗ Visible layer lines, requires post-processing |
| Lead Time | ✓ 2-7 days | ✗ 4-12 weeks (including tooling) | ✓ 1-5 days |
| Design Changes | ✓ Easy and free | ✗ Expensive mold modifications | ✓ Easy and free |
| Production Materials | ✓ Same as final production | ✓ Production materials | ✗ Often prototype-only materials |
When to Choose CNC Plastic Machining:
Prototyping
You can test the form, fit, and function with production-grade materials before committing to injection mold tooling.
Low-volume production
When quantities are in between 1 and 1,000 parts, with tooling costs not justified.
Tight tolerance requirements
Where top-level precision is more than that in basic injection molding.
Bridge production
To cater to the initial demand even while the injection molds are getting manufactured.
Design iteration
The design can change without depending on the tooling.
Large parts
These are parts that are usually too big in size or too thick compared to what injection molding can easily cater for.
How We Work
Our CNC Plastic Machining Process
From quote to delivery, we streamline every step to get your precision plastic parts faster.
1
Upload CAD File
Upload STEP, IGES, or SolidWorks files for instant analysis
2
Instant Quote
Get pricing in minutes with DFM feedback
3
DFM Review
Our engineers will optimize for manufacturability
4
Precision Machining
Machinists who are experts at operating advanced CNC equipment
5
Quality Inspection
CMM inspection with full dimensional reports
6
Fast Delivery
Standard or expedited shipping options
Our Capabilities
CNC Plastic Machining Capabilities
Advanced equipment and well-experienced machinists for the manufacture of precision plastic parts, even at the highest complexity.
3-Axis CNC Milling
Regular milling of machinable plastic, such as plain surfaces, pockets, holes, and simple geometries.
4-Axis CNC Milling
With the rotary feature, we are set for machined geometrically complex and angulated setups in plastic.
5-Axis CNC Machining
An entire system for use in well-contoured cutting systems, especially in complex shapes, with undercuts and aerospace plastic components in the work, or any product to be made from plastic.
CNC Turning / Lathe
Precision turning of plastic parts such as bushings, shafts, spacers, and cylindrical components.
Precision Plastic Machining Tolerances & Specifications
Industry-leading capabilities for CNC machined plastic parts
| Specification | Standard | Precision |
|---|---|---|
| Linear Tolerances | ±0.005" (±0.127mm) | ±0.001" (±0.025mm) |
| Hole Diameter Tolerance | ±0.005" | ±0.001" |
| Surface Finish (Ra) | 125 µin | 32 µin or better |
| Maximum Part Size | 60" x 30" x 24" (1524 x 762 x 610mm) | |
| Minimum Feature Size | 0.020" (0.5mm) walls, 0.040" (1mm) holes | |
| Thread Sizes | #0-80 to 4"-8, Metric M1.6 to M100 | |
CNC Plastic Engineering Toolkit
Filter by property to find the perfect thermoplastic for your machining project.
Interactive Material Guide
Find the perfect plastic for your project based on thermal and strength requirements.
Filter Properties
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CNC vs. 3D Printing Estimator
Estimate the break-even point for your plastic parts quantity.
Project Details
*Note: This is a rough estimation engine based on average US market rates.
Recommendation: 3D Printing
Plastic Tolerance (DIN ISO 2768)
Standard tolerances for machined plastic parts. Plastics expand/contract more than metals.
Recommended Tolerance
+/- 0.1 mm
Tip: For high-stability materials like PEEK or Delrin, you can often achieve "Fine" tolerances. For Nylon or PTFE, "Medium" or "Coarse" is realistic due to moisture absorption or thermal expansion.
CNC Machinable Plastics: A Complete Library of Materials
We are able to machine more than 40 different colors of engineering plastics, which satisfy the demands in aerospace, medical, automotive, and industrial applications. Each plastic has unique properties that run from high temperature resistance to biocompatibility, all the way to low friction.
High-performance engineering plastics
For the toughest applications which demand uniquely high thermal resistance, mechanical strength, or chemical resistance:
PEEK
Highest temp to 260°C, biocompatible
ULTEM (PEI)
High strength, flame retardant
Torlon (IAI)
Highest performance thermoplastic
PTFE (Teflon)
Ultra-low coefficient of friction, highly resistant to chemicals
Radel (PPSU)
Sterilizable under steam, impact resistant
Vespel
From very low to very high temperature, aerospace-grade
General purpose engineering plastics
Cost-effective materials for prototype and production parts of easy machinability:
ABS
Impacts resistant, easy to machine
Delrin (POM/Acetal)
Excellent stiffness with little frictional depreciation
Nylon (PA6/PA66)
Wear resistance, self-lubricating
Polycarbonate
Transparent, high resistance to impact
Polymethyl Methacrylate
Optically clear, UV stable
HDPE/UHMW
Chemical resistant, FDA compliant
PVC
Chemical resistant, either rigid or flexible
Polypropylene
Chemical resistant, lightweight
FR4/G10
Electrical insulation, PCB material
Glass-Filled Nylon
Enhanced strength and stiffness
CNC Plastic Machining Services FAQs
Our plastic machining services assist clients through the entire process, from concept to part. These services include machining of CNC custom parts, CNC-machined plastic prototypes, and CNC-machined plastic production parts with post-processing. The capabilities of machining include CNC machines with 3-5 axes, CNC lathes for cutting custom threads and shafts, high-precision finishing to deliver consistent quality for applications in industrial or commercial fields, select medical applications, and applications that demand materials with high strength and low friction.
CNC service machining costs depend on the choice of material (be it ABS, resins, high-strength plastics), finishing or part complexity, machining time on the milling or cnc lathe, the number of setups, and the required tolerances. To obtain an instant estimate or quotation today, upload your 3D model and specify your volume and finishing requirements. We will estimate the subtractive manufacturing steps, tooling, and inspection requirements to provide you with competitive prices for both prototypes and production runs.
Yes, we manufacture parts for aerospace, medical, automotive, electronics, and other industries. We have machining capacities for producing large parts, along with small precision machining CNC components made from materials that include standard plastics such as ABS, through engineered resins, and metal and plastic parts when an assembly requires metal inserts or hybrid constructions.
Customized CNC parts enable faster lead times from concept to final parts, making them well-suited for low-to-medium production volumes where injection molding tooling costs can be prohibitive. CNC subtractive manufacturing offers tight tolerances and the assurance of custom threads and complex geometries at significantly lower initial costs for prototyping, design validation, and related applications that demand custom mechanical parts or weight/friction reduction.
Our precision machining activities are used for manufacturing processes. With 5-axis cnc machines, for example, we produce complicated contours and undercuts. Multi-axis cnc lathe operations are used for concentric features, and advanced fixturing helps our firm to uphold tight tolerances. Our machine tools and inspection systems ensure consistent quality and repeatability for parts used in medical and other safety-critical applications.
We accept custom cnc orders provided that customers provide us with a CAD file (STEP, IGES, or native format) that will help expedite production. Please specify material selection, surface finish, tolerances, and estimated quantities of continuous output. Assembly drawings or notes regarding part machining are highly recommended; our team has them sent in for a review process to ultimately confirm manufacturability or further propose materials selected for a specific application or different machining methods, to cut down cnc machining service costs and boost resilience.
We offer parts in two material types and hybrid assemblies when combining plastic and metal parts. This enhances the strength and corrosion resistance of metal parts while maintaining their lightweight. Consequently, we have the full capability to machine metal parts in the same shop for final mechanical assembly, with quick lead times.
Lead times differ between prototype and production: prototype runs may require a few days, while production runs may take a few weeks, depending on the complexity and volume of each run. There are different methods of quality control/including in-process inspection, final dimensional check, and certification in critical uses. Uplift a CAD file to receive an evaluation of their lead times, inspection plans, and a constant quality in the mass production of lots.
Yes, we have been doing extensive CNC milling and CNC turning for plastic machine parts. CNC milling is a solid technique for creating intricate shapes and features on flat surfaces, while CNC turning is well-suited for producing cylindrical parts. Our CNC machining services are precise across all these areas and enable us to engineer plastic parts with diverse geometries and constraints. We use advanced cutting tools and machining techniques to meet your exact requirements. Our experienced staff of machinists covers every aspect of CNC milling and CNC turning to determine which manufacturing process best suits your specific application.
