As a leading CNC machine shop
in Pennsylvania (PA), John Prosock Machine, Inc.
is able to produce high quality precision plastic
product machining at an economic value for customers
for manufacturers in every industrial segment.
The demand for plastic parts is growing at a rapid
pace and John Prosock Machine is meeting the demand
through technologically advanced CNC machining
operations. The competition to meet demand is
fierce. John Prosock Machine, Inc. remains an aggressive
competitor by providing customers with tight tolerances
and short lead times.
Plastic properties such as heat
tolerance, hardness, resiliency, machinability,
and dimensional stability make plastic one of
the most versatile materials for a diverse range
of end-product applications. However, not all
plastics are suitable for machining operations.
Soft plastics cannot be cut to precise standards,
as they tend to bend or deform under cutting pressures.
Alternatively, rigid plastics are a viable option
to consider, as fine dimensional tolerances are
achieved with little difficulty.
Thermal
Expansion in Plastic Part Machining
Heat tolerance is an important property in achieving
exact specifications. Heat is generated through
CNC milling and turning operations, which causes
plastics to expand. When cooled upon completion,
the plastic workpiece may literally “shrink”
down to normal size and no longer exhibit the
same tolerances. At John Prosock Machine we take
plastic thermal expansion characteristics into
account during the precision machining process
and make the necessary adjustments to accommodate
varying degrees of thermal expansion.
Plastic
Molding vs. Plastic Machining
Plastic machining can almost be eliminated with
today’s molding techniques; however, this
process can be relatively expensive and can have
extensive lead times. At John Prosock Machine,
Inc. we take pride in delivering plastic parts
on time at a competitive cost. We are able to
run plastic workpieces through a trial operation
prior to committing to specific tooling, as in
the case of plastic mold making. Trial runs reduce
our production and labor costs, which enable us
to share our savings with our customers.
Cutting
tools used in
John Prosock’s Plastic Machining:
Carbide cutting tools are dense
and hard for optimum tool life and superior surface
finish.
Diamond cutting tools provide
optimum surface finish, especially for exotic
plastic formulations.
High-speed steel cutting tools
are a low-cost alternative and yield good results
for both soft and rigid plastics.
John Prosock Machine, Inc. employs
a host of cutting tools to machine parts from
plastic rods, sheets, and tubes. The type of plastic,
cutting speed, and operation dictates the specific
cutting tool used. For example, carbide or high-speed
cutting tools are ideal for rigid plastic materials,
whereas fiber-reinforced plastics are most often
cut with diamond cutting tools. Accumulated swarf
from any cutting tool is recycled to reduce waste
and keep the price of plastic low.
Certain CNC machining companies
struggle to produce tight tolerance parts from
soft plastic materials. At John Prosock Machine,
we see this as a challenge and strive to find
a way to provide our customers with exactly what
they ask for no matter the complexity. Along with
our experience in precision plastic machining,
we can offer an assortment of other high-performance
materials for your product or system. We work
with you to determine what material will perform
best based on your application requirements.
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