Plastic

milling

The process involves turning a cutting tool, known as a cutter, while it is in contact with the workpiece. The cutting edges of the cutter cut through the material and remove small chips, creating the desired shape.

When milling plastic, the same principle is applied as when milling other materials, such as metal or wood. However, when milling plastic there are some specific considerations that must be taken into account due to the unique properties of plastic.

Plastic is a relatively soft material, which means that the cutting speed can generally be higher than when milling metals. Using higher cutting speeds can increase productivity, but it is important to consider the properties of the specific type of plastic being machined, as some plastics can be sensitive to overheating.

When milling plastic, chip removal must also be taken into account. Plastic tends to form longer chips compared to metals, which can have a tendency to wrap around the cutter and become stuck. It is therefore important to ensure correct chip removal, for example by using suitable cutting tools with special geometries or by applying cooling lubricants to facilitate chip removal.

In addition, it is important to choose the right cutter when processing plastic. For example, low helix angle cutters, also called "upcut cutters", can help reduce the chance of fraying of the plastic surface.

Finally, accurate mounting of the workpiece is important because plastic tends to vibrate and deform during milling. This can be achieved by clamping the workpiece tightly or by using special clamping methods, such as vacuum clamping.

In short, when milling plastic it is important to take into account factors such as cutting speed, chip evacuation, cutter selection and workpiece attachment. By considering these aspects, precise and efficient operations can be performed when working with plastic.