We machine ABS, PP, PC, PE and POM on the same 127-machine floor we use for aluminum and stainless. Send a drawing and we will tell you which of these five plastics actually holds your tolerance.
Most plastic machining problems are decided before the first cut. These four come up every week.
ABS and PE move after machining. A housing that measures on target at 9 a.m. can drift out of tolerance by afternoon if the stock was not stress-relieved or the finish cut removed too much material in one pass.
POM cuts clean but has low surface energy, so adhesives and some thread forms fail under torque. The fix is a coarser thread, a metal insert, or a switch to a different plastic. We flag this at DFM, not after shipment.
Soft thermoplastics smear instead of cutting when the tool is dull or the spindle runs too slow. You get a Ra 3.2 μm surface and a burr line that no amount of tumbling removes.
PC and PP shrink unevenly around thick bosses and thin ribs. Ribs that look fine on the drawing pull the adjacent face out of flatness once the part cools.
Five materials cover most plastic turning and milling work. Each one has a job it does well and a job it does badly.
ABS is the general-purpose choice. It machines to a clean matte finish, takes paint and laser marking well, and costs less than PC or POM. Use it for enclosures, brackets, covers and prototype housings where stiffness matters more than chemical resistance.
POM is the closest thing to a machinable metal among thermoplastics. It holds ±0.005 mm on turned diameters, has low friction, and resists fuels and solvents. Gears, bushings, rollers and valve bodies are typical. It does not bond well, so plan on mechanical fastening.
Plastic is not aluminum with a different color. It cuts at higher surface speed, takes a sharper edge, and pushes back against the tool. We run POM and PC on the same 5-axis and mill-turn centers used for metal, but with polished carbide, climb milling and lighter depth of cut.
For thin walls and long parts we rough, let the part normalize, then take the finish pass. On a 4,000 mm maximum processing envelope, that pause is often what separates a flat part from a banana. Coolant choice depends on the resin: some grades absorb moisture and grow, others crack under the wrong fluid.
Use this as a starting point. Send the drawing and we will confirm against wall thickness and load.
| Material | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| ABS | Enclosures, covers, brackets | Low stiffness, absorbs some moisture |
| POM | Gears, bushings, rollers | Poor bonding, hard to glue |
| PP | Chemical tanks, hinges, living parts | Very low stiffness, warps easily |
| PC | Impact guards, lenses, housings | Stress cracking, needs annealing |
| PE (HDPE) | Wear strips, insulators, food parts | Creeps under sustained load |
One shop for prototypes through 10,000+ part runs. Same machines, same inspection, same team.
POM and ABS bushings, spacers, rollers and threaded inserts turned to ±0.005 mm on diameters.
Housings, brackets and manifolds with pockets, slots and thin ribs. 3-axis through 5-axis.
Complex plastic geometry in one setup. Fewer re-fixtures means fewer tolerance stacks on soft material.
Turned features plus cross-drilled holes on one machine. Good for POM valve bodies and fittings.
One-off ABS and PC prototypes to check fit before committing to a run of 10,000.
Bead blasting, tumbling, polishing and laser marking. Minimum character height 1.5 mm.
| Item | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tolerance | ±0.005 mm (±0.0002 in) | On turned diameters, stable resins |
| Surface finish | Ra 0.2–0.8 μm to Ra 1.6–3.2 μm | Depends on resin and geometry |
| Maximum size | 4,000 mm | Long PE and PP profiles |
| Order quantity | 1 to 10,000+ | No minimum order quantity |
| Inspection | 100% before shipment | Reports on request |
| Certifications | ISO 9001, IATF 16949, ISO 13485, ISO 27001 | Audited quality system |
Fifteen years on thermoplastics and metals. We know which resin fights which feature.
Millimeters on turned plastic diameters, measured and reported, not assumed.
Material and geometry feedback comes back with the price, before you commit.
Once the drawing and material are locked, cutting can begin within a day.
7,600 m² across Dongguan and Singapore. Your file stays inside our walls.
Programmers and machinists who read drawings, not just job tickets.
PP and ABS brackets, clips and interior fixtures. IATF 16949 process control from first article.
POM and PC housings, manifolds and instrument covers. Clean handling and 100% inspection.
ABS and PC enclosures, bezels and insulating spacers with laser-marked labels.
POM gears, PE wear strips and PP guards. Runs held to the same drawing for repeat orders.
ABS is for covers, enclosures and parts that stay still. It is cheaper, machines easily and takes paint.
POM is for parts that move or need to hold a tight dimension over time. If the part sees load, friction or solvent, start with POM.
No. That tolerance is realistic on POM and PC with stable geometry and controlled temperature.
PP and PE creep and warp. On those we usually work to looser bands and tell you so in the DFM report.
Up to 4,000 mm on the long travel machines, within a 4,000 × 400 × 150 mm envelope.
Large thin parts in PE and PP need extra support and a stress-relief step, which we plan into the routing.
For PC, ABS and large PE parts, yes. We rough, let the part rest, then take the finish cut.
Skipping that step is the most common cause of a part that measures right in the shop and wrong at assembly.
ABS, PC and POM mark cleanly with a contrasting result. PP and PE give a low-contrast mark.
Minimum character height is 1.5 mm. Below that we recommend an engraved or printed label instead.
Yes. POM and ABS thread well with a coarse pitch and a relieved entry.
For parts that are assembled many times, we suggest a metal insert. Threads cut directly into PP or PE strip easily under torque.
One part. There is no minimum order quantity.
The same routing and inspection apply whether you order a single prototype or a run of 10,000+.
Uploads are handled as confidential and stay inside our three plants.
An NDA is available on request before you share files or CAD data.
Tell us the resin, or send the drawing and let us recommend one. You get a price and a DFM note within 12 hours.
12-hour quote100% inspectionNo minimum order quantityNDA on request
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Upload your 3D model or 2D drawing and get a quotation with a free DFM analysis. Maximum processing size 4,000 mm.
CNC Metals 13 grades
CNC Plastics 10 grades
Machines & processes 12 options
Surface & post-processing 10 options
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