Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Machining Engineering Plastics
Machining Engineering Plastics
Machining Engineering Plastics
Machining Recommendations
for Semi-Finished Engineering Plastics
1-888-CURBELL
www.curbellplastics.com
7 Machining
8 Cutting
9 Turning
9 Milling
10 Drilling
11 Cutting threads
11 Planing/Plane milling
12 Grinding
13 Surface quality, reworking and de-burring
15 Machining guidelines
19 Annealing
20 Morphological changes and post-shrinkage
21 Dimensional stability
PI
High-temperature 572F
plastics PAI
PEKEKK
PEEK, PEK
LCP, PP
PES, PPSU PTFE S
, PFA
PEI, PSU ETFE 300F
, PCTFE
PPP, PC-HT PV
DF
Engineering
plastics PC PA 46
PET, PBT 212F
PA 6-3-T
PA 66
PA 6, PA 11,
PA 12
POM
PMP long term service
temperature
Standard
plastics PPE mo
d.
PMMA
PP
PE
PS, ABS
, SAN
amorphous
semi-crystalline
Polymer
Abbreviation Ensinger Nomenclature Polymer Name
PI TECASINT Polyimide
PEEK TECAPEEK Polyether ether ketone
PPS TECATRON Polyphenylene sulphide
PPSU TECASON P Polyphenylsulphone
PES TECASON E Polyethersulphone
PEI TECAPEI Polyetherimide
PSU TECASON S Polysulphone
PTFE TECAFLON PTFE Polytetrafluoroethylene
PVDF TECAFLON PVDF Polyvinylidene fluoride
PA 6 C TECAST T Polyamide 6 cast
PA 66 TECAMID 66 Polyamide 66
PA 6 TECAMID 6 Polyamide 6
PC TECANAT Polycabonate
PBT HYDEX 4101 Polybutylene terephthalate
PET TECAPET Polyethylene terephthalate
PPE TECANYL Polyphenylene ether
POM-C TECAFORM AH Polyoxymethylene Copolymer
POM-H TECAFORM AD Polyoxymethylene Homopolymer
PMP TECAFINE PMP Polymethylpentene
Processing of plastics
Dimensionally stable, functional and durable components The specific properties of plastics have a decisive influence
can be manufactured from plastics using professional upon their machining ability. Materials can be classified
machining and processing techniques. The general term into different groups:
Plastic Processing suggests that all plastics can be Amorphous thermoplastics
machined with the same parameters and tools. With metals, (e.g.: TECASON S, TECANAT)
on the other hand, one speaks not only of metal proces- Partly crystalline thermoplastics
sing, but a difference is made between aluminium, steel or (e.g.: TECAFORM, TECAPET, TECAPEEK)
stainless steel. In an analogous way, it applies that the Fibre reinforced thermoplastics
individual characteristics of plastic materials have to be (e.g.: TECAPEEK PVX, TECAMID 6 GF 30,
taken into consideration when processing them. TECAMID 66 CF20, TECADUR PBT GF 30)
Fabric reinforced thermoplastics
(e.g.: TECATEC PEEK CW 50)
PTFE modified thermoplastics
(e.g.: TECAPET TF, TECAPEEK TF10 blue)
4
Differences between
plastics and metal
5
What role does extrusion Tools and machines for
technology play in processing plastics
machining?
Manufacturing processes, especially the extrusion of semi- For the machine processing of plastics/semi-finished
finished goods, have an impact on the properties and the goods, normal commercially available machines from the
workability of a material. wood and metal working industries can be used with tools
made of high-speed steel (HSS).
Plastic semi-finished goods made of PTFE or polyimides
can be manufactured by compression and sintering. An In principle tools with cutting edge angles like those used
important processing technology for other thermoplastics with aluminium are suitable. But we recommend the use
is the extrusion process. In this shaping process, materials of special tools for plastic with sharper wedge angle.
are melted and compressed in a cylinder via a screw conveyor
and homogenized. Using the pressure arising in the cy- Hardened steel tools should not be used for processing re-
linder and the appropriate tooling semi-finished goods inforced plastics, due to the low holding times and the long
are delivered in the form of sheets, round rods and tubes processing times. In this case, the use of tungsten carbide,
and calibrated via a cooling system. ceramic or diamond-tipped tools is advisable. Similarly, cir-
cular saws fitted with carbide tipped saw blades are ideal for
Impact cutting plastics.
Internal tension develops
Fibres take up a specific orientation (if available) u Recommendations
Use tools which are specific for plastics
Ensinger offers a broad product portfolio of semi-finished Have a suitable cutting geometry
engineering plastics and high-temperature plastics. Stan- Very well sharpened tools
dard plastic materials round off the portfolio. All these
materials are manufactured so they may be processed
optimally by machining.
Internal tension
The resulting pressure in the extrusion process produces a
shear movement and flow of the plastic molten mass. The
semi-finished goods discharged by the tool slowly cool
from the marginal layer to the center. The poor thermal
conductivity of plastics results in different cooling rates.
Whereas the margins have already solidified, the center
still contains plastic in the liquid state or fused plastic. Plas-
tics are subject to a typical shrinkage pattern for that mate-
rial. During the cooling phase, the plastic center is hinde-
red from contracting by the rigid boundary layer.
Possible solutions
Material-specific annealing to minimise stresses Center:
Stress peaks
( p. 19)
6
Machining
7
Cutting
Circular saws
Mainly suited for cutting plates to size with straight
cutting edges
Table circular saws can be used with the right power
drive for straight cuts of plates with thicknesses of
up to 4"
Saw blades should be made of hardened metal
Use a sufficiently high enough feed rate and adequate
offset
hh Leads to good chip deflection
hhAvoids sticking of the saw blade
hhAvoids overheating of the plastic in the saw cut
hhLeads to good cutting edge quality
u Recommendations
Use a corresponding tensioning device:
hhAvoidance of vibrations and unclean cutting edges
What sawing processes are best suited to cut plastic parts? which can result from this, or even lead to breakage
Plastics can be cut using a band saw or a circular saw. The Warm cutting of very hard and fibre-reinforced
choice depends on the shape of the stock shape. Generally materials (preheat to 175 250F)
speaking, heat generated by the tooling when processing Tungsten carbide saw blades wear well and provide an
plastics and hence damage to the material is the greatest optimum surface finish
danger. For this reason, the right saw blade must be used
for every shape and material.
Sgen
Band saws
Most suitable for cutting to size round rods and tubes t
It is recommended that support wedges are used
Sharp and sufficiently set saw blades should be used clearance angle []
rake angle []
hhGood chip removal t pitch [in]
p Advantage:
Heat generated by sawing is well dissipated thanks to Bohren
Key facts at a glance
the long saw blade
Band saws allow versatile application for straight, Ensure that set, sharp saw blades are used
continuous or irregular cuts when sawing plastics.
Produces a good cutting edge quality
Frsen
8
How are plastics best Milling recommendations
processed on a lathe?
(turning)
Plastics can be processed on commercially available lathes. Plastics can be milled using customary machining centres.
For optimal results, however, specific plastic cutters should This should be done using tools with adequate chip space
be used. in order to guarantee reliable discharge of chips and
prevent overheating.
Cutting tools
Use tools with small cutting radii Tools
Broad-nosed finishing cutting edge for high quality Suitable for thermoplastics
finish requirements hhSlot milling cutter
Knifelike cutting geometries for machining flexible hhFace milling cutter
workpieces hhCylindrical milling cutter
Use favourable geometries for fixing hhSingle cutter tools
Special chisel geometry for parting off hhFly cutter
Cut circumferences and polished surfaces Single cutter tools
p Advantage: p Advantage:
Optimal, groove-less surface hhOptimal average high cutting performance
Reduces the build-up of material on the application hhHigh surface quality with good chip removal at the
same time
u Recommendations
Select a high cutting speed u Recommendations
Use a cutting depth of at least 0.020" High cutting speeds and medium feed rates
Compressed air is well suited for cooling Ensure good attachment:
Use of a lunette due to reduced rigidity of plastics hhRapid method for the table and a high spindle speed
hhStabilize the component coupled with correct fixture alignment lead to higher
hhAvoidance of deformation quality machined finish
p Advantage: Thin work-pieces can be secured using a suction fixture
Good cooling of the material or dual-sided adhesive tape on the router table
Overcomes flow chipping which can arise with some For flat surfaces, end milling is more economical than
plastics. Prevents jamming and rotating with the lathe peripheral milling
part of the blade During peripheral milling, tools should not have more
than two cutting edges in order to minimize vibrations
caused by a high number of cutting edges, and chip
spaces should be adequately dimensioned
Polished section
avoids scrap
Stepped milling is recommended where heat
accumulation has to be avoided by improved heat
dissipation
9
Drilling engineering plastics
When drilling plastic components, select a method suitable u Recommendations for drilling
for plastic materials in order to avoid defects. Otherwise, small diameter holes (<1")
there is a danger of breaking, tearing, overheating or Use of high-speed steel drills (HSS drills)
dimensional deviations of the drill holes. Use a spiral drill
Twist angle of 12 25:
When drilling, particular attention must be paid to the hh Very smooth spiral grooves
insulating characteristics of plastic. These can cause plas- hhFavours chip deflection
tics (especially semi-crystalline ones) to quickly build up Frequent removal of the drill (intermittent drilling)
heat during the drilling process, particularly if the drilling hh Better removal of the chips and avoidance of thermal
depth is more than twice the diameter. This can lead to build-up
smearing of the drill and an inner expansion arising in In the case of thin-walled components it is
the component, which can lead to compressive stress in the recommended to use:
part (especially when drilling into the center of round rod hhHigh cutting rates
sections). The stress levels can be high enough to cause a hhIf possible, select a neutral (0) chipping angle in
high level of warping, dimensional inaccuracy, or even order to avoid drill catching in the component and
cracks, fractures and bursting open of the finished compo- thus tearing of the drill and/or lifting of the work-
nent or blank. Appropriate processing for the material will piece by the drill
prevent this.
u Recommendations for drilling
large diameter holes (>1")
Carry out a trial drilling with large drill holes
Select a pre-drilling diameter which is no larger than 1"
Carry out finishing subsequently with an inner cutting
Stress curve Stress curve chisel
in blunt drill in sharp drill
Introduce drilling into long rod sections only from
one side
Tools hhIn the case of drilling attempts which meet in the
Well-sharpened commercially available HSS drills are middle (bilateral drilling), unfavourable tension
normally sufficient characteristics may arise, or even tearing
Use drills with a narrow bridge (synchronized drilling): In extreme cases/in the case of reinforced materials, it
hh Reduced friction and avoidance of a build-up of heat may be advisable to carry out the drilling on a pre-
warmed component at approx. 250F (heating time
u Recommendations approx. 1 hour per 0.04" cross-section)
Use a coolant hhTo ensure dimensional accuracy, finish machining
Frequent withdrawal of the drill: then takes place after the blank has cooled down
hhChip removal completely
hhAdditional cooling
Avoid the use of a manual feed:
hhEnsures that the drill does not become caught
hhPrevents cracking
Key facts at a glance
10
Cutting threads Planing/plane milling
Threads are best introduced into engineering plastics using Planing and plane milling are chip production methods
chasing tools for male threads or milling for female threads. with geometrically determined cutting for the manufacture
of certain cuts to produce equal surfaces, grooves or pro
Tools files (using shaping milling).
Use of a chasing tools
Two-dentate chaser avoids burr formation Both procedures differ only in that with planing a straight
Dies are not recommended. In the case of a return, line of material removal is made across the surface using a
re-cutting is possible planing machine cutting tool. In the case of plane milling,
on the other hand, the surface is processed using a milling
u Recommendations head. Both processes are well-suited to produce even and/
Taps often have to be provided with an allowance or equalized surfaces on semi-finished goods. The main
(dependent upon material and diameter, approx. difference is that optically different surfaces arise (surface
value: 0.004") structure, gloss).
Do not select a pre-setting which is too high,
in order to avoid squashing of the thread
beln Frshobeln
Milled surface HobelnPlaned surface
Hobeln
11
Grinding
Sgen Ho
In grinding, the overall effect of cutting, work-piece, delive- Optimally adjusted machinery and the right choice of para-
ry and feed movements results in a continuous chip remo- meters for the corresponding material ensure that very
val from the surface being processed. The grinding result is good surface quality with slight roughness, roundness
influenced by and straightness can be achieved.
the grinding machine
the tool being used Grinding at Ensinger
the grinding medium We are able to provide ground round rods via our cutting
the working parameters of the grinding process service. Thanks to a high surface quality and narrow tole-
the material to be processed rances, ground round rods are easily further processed and
the roundness/straightness of the semi-finished goods are suitable for continuous production processes.
12
Surface quality,
reworking and de-burring
13
De-burring Typical de-burring methods
After milling, grinding, drilling, turning or engraving, a for engineering plastics
small piece of the material to be processed remains on the
work-piece or its edges. This flash negatively influences the Manual de-burring
quality of the surface of the component. In plastics proces- Most common method of de-burring
sing, burr formation depends in particular on a number of Flexible, but most work intensive
different parameters. At the same time, visual control of the component can
be performed
Tooling
Select tooling which is specific for a particular material Jet de-burring
Condition of the tool: Jet of abrasive material at high pressure used on the surface
hh Blunt tools cause a much higher level of heat of the component; common blasting methods: sand, glass
development and burr formation balls, soda, dry-ice and nutshell blasting
Also, represents surface treatment methods
Material hh Smoothing
Poor thermally conducting plastics: hhRoughening
hhLocal increased temperatures, reduction hhRemoval of contamination
of rigidity and hardness
hhMelting burrs/flash Cryogenic de-burring
There is a tendency for soft, tough plastics Removal of burrs at temperatures around 320F via the
(e.g.: PE, PTFE) to show more burr formation; hard, use of a jet or drum tumbling of the components
stiffer materials (e.g.: PEEK, PPS, fibre-reinforced Frequent coolants: liquid oxygen, liquid carbon dioxide,
material) less dry-ice
Low temperatures lead to brittleness and hardness of
Processing parameters the materials
Material advancement rate
Cutting speed: Flame de-burring
hhHigher advancement rates and cutting speeds lead to De-burring using an open flame
higher temperatures Danger: damage may be caused to the component due
hhGreater burr formation to excessive heat development
Ensure adequate cooling
Hot-air de-burring
For the reasons mentioned, it is important to select a The flash melts under the influence of heat
suitable tool for each material and to establish the right Very safe and well controllable process
parameters, in order to achieve the best possible and flash- Avoidance of damage or warping of the component
free surfaces and edges. when using process management suitable for the
material
Infrared de-burring
Process is comparable to hot-air de-burring, instead of hot
air, an infrared heat source is used for heating
Rumbling/Trovalising
Treating the parts together with abrasives in rotating/
vibrating
14
Sgen
Machining Guidelines
t
Drehen
Milling Turning Drehen
Frsen
clearance angle [] clearance angle []
rake angle [] rake angle []
Tangential feed side angle []
Feed rate can be up The nose radius r
must be at least 0.02"
to 0.02"/tooth
number cutting feed rate clearance rake side cutting feed rate
of teeth speed [fpm] [in/rev] angle angle angle speed [fpm] [in/rev]
TECAFINE PE, PP Z1Z2
Z1Z2 820
250500
1640 0.004
0,10,45
0.018 6610
1 0 005
5 454560
6 0 820
250500
1640 0.0040,10,5
0.018
TECAFINE PMP Z1Z2
Z1Z2 820 1640 0.004
250500 0.018
0,10,45 6610
1 0 005
5 454560
6 0 820 1640 0.0040,10,5
250500 0.018
Drehen
TECARAN ABS Z1Z2
Z1Z2 985 1640 0.004
300500 0.018
0,10,45 5515
15 25 3 0
2530 15 15 655 1640 0.008
200500 0.018
0,20,5
TECANYL Z1Z2
Z1Z2 985
300 0.006 0.018
0,150,5 5510
1 0 668
8 454560
6 0 985
300 0.0040,10,5
0.018
TECAFORM AD, AH Z1Z2
Z1Z2 985
300 0.006
0,150,5
0.018 668
8 005
5 454560
6 0 985
300600
1700 0.0040,10,4
0.016
TECAMID, TECARIM, TECAST Z1Z2
Z1Z2
820 1640 0.004
250500 0.018
0,10,45 6610
1 0 005
5 454560
6 0 820 1640 0.0040,10,5
250500 0.018
TECADUR/TECAPET Z1Z2
Z1Z2 985
300 0.006 0.018
0,150,5 5510
1 0 005
5 454560
6 0 985 1310 0.008
300400 0.016
0,20,4
TECANAT Z1Z2
Z1Z2 985
300 0.006 0.016
0,150,4 5510
1 0 668
8 454560
6 0 985
300 0.0040,10,5
0.018
TECAFLON PTFE, PVDF Z1Z2
Z1Z2 490
150500
1640 0.004
0,10,45
0.018 5510
1 0 558
8 10 10 490
150500
1640 0.0040,10,3
0.012
TECAPEI Z1Z2
Z1Z2 820 1640 0.004
250500 0.018
0,10,45 10
10 0 0 454560
6 0 1150
350400
1310 0.0040,10,3
0.012
TECASON S, P, E Z1Z2
Z1Z2 820
250500
1640 0.004
0,10,45
0.018 66 0 0 454560
6 0 1150
350400
1310 0.0040,10,3
0.012
TECATRON Z1Z2
Z1Z2 820
250500
1640 0.004
0,10,45
0.018 66 005
5 454560
6 0 820
250500
1640 0.0040,10,5
0.018
TECAPEEK Z1Z2
Z1Z2 820 1640 0.004
250500 0.018
0,10,45 668
8 005
5 454560
6 0 820 1640 0.0040,10,5
250500 0.018
TECATOR Z1Z2
Z1Z2 197 325
60100 0.002 0.014
0,050,35 668
8 005
5 7710
10 325 395 0.002
100120 0.003
0,050,08
TECASINT Z1Z2
Z1Z2 295 325
90100 0.002 0.014
0,050,35 225
5 005
5 7710
10 325 395 0.002
100120 0.003
0,050,08
Reinforced/filled TECA products* Z1Z2
Z1Z2 26080450
1475 0.002 0.016
0,050,4 668
8 228
8 454560
6 0 490 655 0.0040,10,5
150200 0.018
*Reinforcing agents/fillers: Preheat material to 250F
Glass fibres, glass beads, carbon
Caution when using coolants:
fibres, graphite, mica, talcum, etc.
susceptible to stress cracking
15
Interview:
with Hufschmied Zerspanungssysteme
What is your experience in the field of machining plastics Programming Tool clamping
in general?
Hufschmied has been present in the market for more than
25 years. Very early on we have concentrated on the machi-
ning of plastics, as it was evident that this is where high What philosophy do you follow in plastics processing?
growth was to be expected. Plastics continue to develop We always design our plastic tooling for dry machining. It
rapidly and new high-tech materials are added to the mar- is relatively seldom that we are able to machine under "wet"
ket every day. As we work with different material manu conditions: The application or the purpose of the compo-
facturers and universities, we always have the possibility to nent often does not allow this.
come into contact at a very early stage with novel materials.
These are then machined in our own laboratory. In this Additives are included in all coolants and can adverse reac-
way, we can support our customers at an early stage with tions during the machining of plastics and additives. Our
appropriate tools and processes. tools are designed for machining at high feed rates. High
feed rates are used to ensure that there is no temperature
How do you react to the new challanges involved with the dissipated into the component, but into the chips. These
new materials? parameter adjustments are often made on site, because the
To date, we have been able to machine all plastics, even if customer does not want to risk cutting corners due to a
sometimes several optimization loops were needed for the lack of experience.
tooling. Plastics are becoming more diverse, so that we need
to adjust the tool geometries accordingly. A material data What do you see as the main problems in the plastics
sheet is helpful, especially with "filled" materials. As we do processing market?
not manufacture the plastics ourselves and are not able to In my opinion, the customer is still focused too much on
analyze them in every detail, we have to be able to rely on the metalworking industry. This often results in problems
this information. If these then fit the general conditions with "smeared" effects, warpage, cracking or burr formati-
such as machine set-up, tools and parameters, we are able to on. In particular, the burr formation is a concern for our
achieve the desired result fairly quickly. All our trial results customers, as this makes a lot of reworking time necessary.
are brought together in a knowledge database and analyzed. We often then change only a few essential small things in
This database is a cornerstone of our processing knowledge the machining program to avoid rework. Many customers
and supports us in the tool and process development. want a universal tool with which a majority of components
and materials can be processed. Unfortunately, this is rare-
ly possible, since different materials also require respective
tool geometries. The tool has to be adapted especially for
high-end applications, to match the material and the part.
Only in this way is appropriate processing possible which is
reliable and cost-effective.
16
Which plastics in your opinion are from a technical What properties do you take as a benchmark to determine
machining point of view particularly critical or non-critical the machining ability of plastics?
in their workability? In order to limit the machinability to some extent, we
Carbon or glass-fibre filled plastics are definitely challen- mostly need the following details:
ging. Currently, more and more plastics with ceramic fillers Material identification which is as accurate as possible
are being used. This can make life difficult for a tool! But if Is the material filled or further modified?
we know what is contained in the material, we can respond Does the material come from a rod or a sheet?
accordingly. Materials such as PE, POM, PC, and PTFE can What is the final product to look like?
be handled without any major problems arising with the What machine is available?
right tools, the right parameters and a good machine. But How is the work-piece clamped?
the framework of conditions must also agree in detail.
Based on these statements, the machining ability can pos-
Do you have a specific recommendation how to determine sibly be determined. We shall be pleased to also carry out
the optimum machining method for plastics? tests on our own machinery. In this respect, a test protocol
I need to know definitely how the machine works. How it is prepared with parameters, photos and a demonstration
copes with small radii or rapid feed rates? If this has all video.
been determined, I can refer to the drawings, go to the
available speeds, feed rates and work-piece clamping on the What parameters can be used to optimise the machining
selected tool. As soon as the tools are defined, the programs processes?
can be adapted. Basic values can be found on our home- As already mentioned, the following parameters are impor-
page www.hufschmied.net. The counter rotation is always a tant for good machining:
big issue in this respect. Many people program the machi- Turning speed
ne as used in the processing of steel in counter rotation Feed per tooth
and then have major problems with burrs and a poor sur- The clamping of the work-piece and tool
face finish. Synchronised and counter rotation
Cooling
Are there industries where the special needs in plastics Program structure
processing have to be particularly taken into account? The most important parameter is nevertheless the machi-
Every industry has its own terms of reference to which we ning tool.
have to adapt ourselves. For example, the medical device in-
dustry. Dry machining is mostly carried out here. Very small Temperature
parts also often have to be produced. These usually require
special tools. We often work with micro-drills and extreme Softening
temperature
lengths in cutting. On smooth surfaces a minimum depth
of roughness has to be produced. A small advantage is that Machining
highly accurately working machines are used. temperature
Rotation speed
17
Cooling and
cooling lubricants
Currently there is a trend towards using dry machining with p Advantages of dry machining
engineering plastics. As there is now sufficient experience No media residues on the components
available in this area, it is frequently possible to do without hhAdvantageous for components used in medical
the use of cooling lubricants. Exceptions for thermoplastic device technology or in the food industry
machining processes are: (nomigration)
Deep drill holes hhInfluence of cooling lubricants on the material can be
Thread cutting excluded. (Swelling, change of dimensions, tension
Sawing reinforced materials tearing, )
hhNo interaction with the material
However, it is possible to use a cooled cutting surface to hhFalse assessment/treatment from machinist is
improve both the surface quality and tolerances of the excluded
machined plastic parts, and also to allow faster feed rates s Note
and consequently reduced running times. especially with dry machining, cooling is essential to
achieve good dissipation of heat!
Machining with coolants
If cooling is required, it is recommended to cool
Via the chippings
Using compressed air
hhAdvantage: Cooling and removal of the chips at the Key facts at a glance
same time from the working area
Use of water soluble coolants Generally speaking, dry processing is to be recommended
Commercially available drilling emulsions and cutting with heat dissipation via the machining chips.
oils can also be used
hh Spray mist and compressed air are very effective
methods
18
Annealing
Polymer
Material Abbreviation Heating-up phase Maintaining phase* Cooling down phase
TECASINT PI 2 h to 320F 6 h to 540F 2 h at 320F / 10 h at 540F at 30F/h to 100F
TECAPEEK PEEK 3 h to 250F 4 h to 430F 1,5 h per cm wall thickness at 30F/h to 100F
TECATRON PPS 3 h to 250F 4 h to 430F 1,5 h per cm wall thickness at 30F/h to 100F
TECASON E PES 3 h to 212F 4 h to 390F 1 h per cm wall thickness at 30F/h to 100F
TECASON P PPSU 3 h to 212F 4 h to 390F 1 h per cm wall thickness at 30F/h to 100F
TECASON S PSU 3 h to 212F 3 h to 330F 1 h per cm wall thickness at 30F/h to 100F
TECAFLON PVDF PVDF 3 h to 194F 3 h to 300F 1 h per cm wall thickness at 30F/h to 100F
TECANAT PC 3 h to 175F 3 h to 265F 1 h per cm wall thickness at 30F/h to 100F
TECAPET PET 3 h to 212F 4 h to 355F 1 h per cm wall thickness at 30F/h to 100F
HYDEX 4101 PBT 3 h to 212F 4 h to 355F 1 h per cm wall thickness at 30F/h to 100F
TECAMID 6 PA6 3 h to 194F 3 h to 320F 1 h per cm wall thickness at 30F/h to 100F
TECAMID 66 PA66 3 h to 212F 4 h to 355F 1 h per cm wall thickness at 30F/h to 100F
TECAFORM AH POM-C 3 h to 194F 3 h to 310F 1 h per cm wall thickness at 30F/h to 100F
TECAFORM AD POM-H 3 h to 194F 3 h to 320F 1 h per cm wall thickness at 30F/h to 100F
19
An intermediate annealing step can help to reduce these Morphological changes and post-shrinkage
tensions and alleviate the risk of warping. In this respect, The heat treatment of plastics always has direct effects on
care should be taken that the required dimensions and the materials and their processing:
tolerances are observed: Annealing
Components prior to intermediate annealing should Machining (frictional heat)
first be dimensionally pre-worked with an approximate Use (service temperature, hot steam sterilization)
safety margin (roughening)
hh Annealing can lead to a certain shrinkage of the Partially crystalline plastics
components Annealing process leads to equalization of material
Subsequently, the final dimensioning of the parts properties
should be made hh Increase in the crystallinity
Support the component well during the intermediate hhOptimization of mechanical properties
annealing step: hhImproved dimensional stability
hhAvoidance of warping during annealing hhBetter chemical resistance
Machining can lead to local overheating through
frictional heat. Consequence:
Representative annealing cycle
hhMicrostructural changes
Temperature [F] hhPost-shrinkage
Particularly critical in this respect is TECAFORM
hhImproper machining can lead to severe deformation
and/or warping of the component
Amorphous plastics
Are less critical with regard to their post-shrinkage and
Time warping
[h]
t1 t2 t3 t4
Warming Holding Cooling down Additional
period time phase time Exemplary warpage issue due to one-sided machining
20
Dimensional stability hh Partly crystalline thermoplastics exhibit high post-
Dimensional stability is to be considered a characteristic in shrinkage (up to ~1.02.5%) and are critical with
every system in each process step from the manufacture regard to warping
of semi-finished plastics to the final end use. There are hh Amorphous thermoplastics show only slight post-
various causes which can influence the dimensional stabi- shrinkage characteristics (~0.30.7%) and are more
lity of a component. dimensionally stable than partly crystalline thermo
plastics
Moisture uptake: In many cases, higher thermal expansion (compared to
Plastics with lower moisture uptake are generally very metal) must be taken into consideration
much more dimensionally stable. Example:
TECAFORM AH/AD, TECAPET, TECATRON, u Processing
TECAPEEK Ensure good heat dissipation in order to avoid local
hh Can be achieved with narrow tolerances temperature rise
Plastics with high levels of moisture uptake show a In the case of higher machining volumes it may be
marked influence on dimensional stability advisable to introduce an intermediate annealing step,
Example: TECAMID, TECAST in order to reduce the development of tension
hh Moisture uptake/release leads to swelling or Plastics require greater production tolerances than metals
shrinkage of the material Avoid higher tensional forces, in order to avoid distortion
hh Conditioning is possibly recommended prior to In the case of fibre-reinforced materials in particular,
processing attention should be paid to the position of the
component in the semi-finished goods (observe
Tension relaxation extrusion direction)
Internal or frozen in tension acts only partly or has When machining, a component optimized procedure
little effect on the dimensional stability of the finished should be chosen
part during processing at room temperature.
hhDimensionally stable finished part
During storage or in use, this frozen in tension can
break down
hhDimensional changes.
Particularly critical: Use of components at higher
temperatures:
hhTension can be reduced suddenly.
hhChange of shape, warping or in the worst case
tension tearing when using the component
Heat input
All processes are critical in which heat develops in the
material
hh Example: Annealing, machining, use at high
temperatures, sterilization
Temperatures above the glass transition temperature
have an effect on microstructural changes and thus
post-shrinkage after renewed cooling down
hhShrinkage and warping are particularly apparent in
asymmetrical component geometries
21
Product groups and material characteristics
TECAFORM AH/AD, In the most unfavorable case, the center is of a brittle and
hard character. Added to the internal tension produced by
TECAPET, TECAPEEK extrusion technology, machining can carry a certain risk of
producing tension cracking.
Semi-crystalline, unreinforced materials
TECAFORM AH/AD, TECAPET and TECAPEEK are very In addition, it should be remembered that as a consequence
dimensionally stable materials with balanced mechanical moisture uptake can change the dimensions of the material.
properties. These materials are very easy to machine and This swelling has to be allowed for in the processing and
basically tend to produce short chips. They can be machi- design of components made of polyamide. The moisture
ned with very high delivery and high feed rates. uptake (conditioning) of semi-finished goods plays an im-
portant part in the case of machining. Especially thin-
Fundamentally, however, it is important to pay attention walled components (up to ~0.40") can absorb up to 3%
during processing to a low heat input as far as possible, as moisture. As a rule of thumb:
TECAFORM as well as TECAPET in particular have a high A moisture uptake of 3% causes a dimensional change
tendency to undergo post-shrinkage by up to ~2.5% - of about 0.5%!
warping can arise thereby due to local overheating.
Machining of TECAST T
In the case of the materials mentioned above, very low sur- Tends to produce short chips
face roughness can be achieved with optimized machining Is therefore good to machine
parameters.
Machining of TECAMID 6 and TECAMID 66
Form a flow of chips
22
TECANAT, TECASON, Avoid re-cutting with the milling machine
hhAlso leads to rougher surfaces
TECAPEI A further re-cutting process may be necessary in order
to smooth spikes to the desired surface quality
Amorphous thermoplastics De-burring is often also necessary
TECANAT, TECASON, TECAPEI are amorphous materials, Select a suitable tension, in order to avoid the component
which are very prone to develop tension cracking in contact dying away and as a result components that are not true
with aggressive media, such as oils and fats. Also, cooling to size.
lubricants often contain media, which can trigger tension
in the material. For this reason, avoid using cooling lub-
ricants when machining these materials as far as possible
or, for example, a water-based medium should be used.
TECASINT
Similarly, material specific machining parameters should Polyimide products produced by a sintering process
be selected as far as possible. The TECASINT product groups 1000, 2000, 3000, 4000 and
Do not use feed rates which are too high 5000 can be processed dry or wet on standard metal wor-
Avoid the use of higher pressures king machinery.
Avoid excessively high tensions
Preferably select a higher rotational speed s Recommendations
Use suitably sharp tools Tools
Use fully hardened metal tools
s To be observed with construction designs Tools with a cutting angle as used for aluminium
Construction designs should be adapted to match amor- processing are very suitable
phous materials. For highly filled TECASINT products with e.g. glass
Avoid shearing forces (constructive and in processing) fibres, glass beads, use tools fitted with diamond or
Design edges/geometries according to the type of ceramic tips
material (preferably choose inner edges which are
slightly rounded-off) Processing
High cutting speeds and low feed rates coupled with
The materials can be used to manufacture very dimen dry machining improve the result
sionally stable prefabricated parts with very narrow toleran- Wet processing increases the cutting pressure and
ces, taking suitable machining parameters into account. promotes the formation of flash, but is recommended
to extend the tool life
Synchronous milling to prevent chipping and cavities
Materials containing a PTFE component (e.g. TECAFLON s Due to the increased tendency of polyimides to absorb mois-
PTFE, TECAPEEK TF, TECAPEEK PVX, TECATRON PVX, ture, it is advisable to seal these parts in a vacuum barrier film.
TECAPET TF, TECAFORM AD AF) frequently exhibit In order to avoid dimensional changes to very high quality parts
slightly lower mechanical strength. Due to this PTFE content, due to moisture absorption, these are opened just before use.
several aspects should be remembered when processing.
23
Fibre reinforced Final manufacture after cooling down to room
temperature
TECA materials Tooling should also be heated before processing
hhAvoid heat dissipation from the material
Fibre reinforced materials include all types of fibres.
We are concentrating on the most important products in Processing
these machining recommendations, including carbon-fibre Even fly-cutting of the bilateral edge zones of the
reinforced products (amongst others, TECAPEEK GF30, semi-finished part:
TECAPEEK CF30, TECAPEEK PVX, TECATRON GF40, hh Ideally, each fly-cutting process should have a max.
TECTRON PVX, TECAMID 66 GF30, TECAMID 66 CF20) cutting depth of 0.02"
and glass-fibre reinforced products. hhResults in more homogenous distribution of tension
in the semi-finished part
u Recommendations hhLeads to a higher quality of the component
Tooling
Use hardened steel tools (carbide steel K20) in any case, Example
or ideally polycrystalline diamond tooling (PCD) We recommend, for example, with final dimensions of 1"
Use very well sharpened tools to use a 1.25" thick sheet, which is to be fly cut 0.125" on
Regular control checks of tools, due to the abrasive both sides prior to machining. In this case, the sheet should
effects of the materials be turned over several times and max. 0.020" removed per
hhHigher standing times working step. Ideally, this preliminary work should be car-
hhAvoid too much temperature input ried out on a pre-warmed semi-finished part. Subsequently,
the final processing is carried out on the cooled, pre-pro-
Clamping semi-finished goods cessed product. This process ensures in any case an opti-
Clamp in the extrusion direction (highest compression mal component quality with low tension and minimum
strength) warping of the component.
Use the lowest possible tensions
hhAvoid sagging and flexural strain
hhReduced warping and/or the danger of tension Key facts at a glance
cracking in the component
For better tooling stand times and dimensional stability,
Pre-heating the use of carbide steel or PCD tools is recommended
Pre-heating of semi-finished goods may be with fibre reinforced materials.
recommended for their further processing
hhGreater material durability
Semi-finished goods should be moderately heated for
this purpose
We recommend a heating rate of 30F per hour to
175 250F.
For even temperature distribution in the semi-finished
goods cross-section, we also recommend a holding time
of at least 1 hour per 0.40" wall thickness.
At this temperature, the semi-finished parts should be
prefabricated with oversize
24
Special case TECATEC Besides higher standing times, these tools help to minimise
the feed forces, when the specific material is also conside-
red in the design.
Composite Select a moderate cutting sharpness
TECATEC is a composite based on a polyarylether ketone Establish a good balance between surface quality (with
with 50 and/or 60% by weight carbon fibre fabric. The very sharp blades) and tooling standing times (blunter
machining of TECATEC is considerably more complex cutting blades)
than the machining of short fibre-reinforced products. Due Design milling geometries so that the fibres are cut.
to the layer structure of the material, incorrect machining Otherwise there is a danger of fibre fringing
can lead to different effects: Due to the higher abrasiveness of the carbon fibres,
Edge chipping regular changing of the TECATEC tools is necessary
De-lamination hh Avoid too much heat input and warping due to
Fringing blunt tools
Breaking through of fibres
For this reason, specific processing is required for this Machining
material. This has to be established case for case, according There is a greater risk of chipping and burr formation
to the component in question. during the machining process with the fibres running
parallel to the woven fabric than when processing is
Design of semi-finished goods vertically to the woven fabric
The suitability of TECATEC for a certain use and the quality For narrower tolerances, the components can also be
of the finished part primarily depends upon the position of tempered several times during manufacture
the component in the semi-finished part. In the develop- Due to relatively good heat dissipation thanks to the
ment phase, the directionality of the fibre fabric must already higher fibre content, good heat distribution in the work
be urgently considered, especially with regard to the type of piece can be expected. For this reason, we recommend
load (pulling, compression, bending) on the application that the material be dry machined.
and the later machine processing.
Machining and tooling parameters
Machining tools and tooling materials We recommend that attention is paid to the following
For higher standing times in comparison to HSS or carbide parameters:
steel tools, we recommend the use of Avoid using high feed forces
PCD tools (polycrystalline diamond) Very high point angles (150 180)
Ceramic tools Very low feed rates (approx. < 0.002"/min)
Titanium coated tools High cutting rates (approx. 980 1,300 ft/min)
Tools with functional coatings (plasma technology)
This information is intended to provide initial assistance in
the machining of TECATEC - detailed information depends
on the individual case.
25
Machining errors
causes and solutions
Surface has Blunt tool Surface has Blunt tool or shoulder friction
started to melt Insufficient lateral play / clearance started to melt Insufficient lateral play/clearance
Insufficient coolant feed Feed rate too low
Spindle speed too high
Rough surface Feed rate too high
Tool unprofessionally sharpened Rough surface Feed rate too high
Cutting edge not honed Incorrect clearance
Sharp point at the tool
Spiral marks Tool friction during withdrawal
(slight spur radius required)
Burr on the tool
Tool not centrally mounted
Concave and Point angle too great
Burr on corners of No space in front of the cutting
convex surfaces Tool not vertical relative to
cutting edge diameter
the spindle
Blunt tool
Tool is deflected
Insufficient lateral play/clearance
Feed rate too high
No lead angle at the tool
Too mounted above or below
the center Cracks or flaking Too much positive inclination
at the corners at the tool
"Stumps" or burr Point angle not large enough
Tools not sufficiently run-in
at the end of the Blunt tool
(action of tool is too hard on
cutting surface Feed rate too high
the material)
Burr on the Blunt tool Blunt tool
outside diameter No space in front of the cutting Tool mounted under the center
diameter Sharp point at the tool
(slight spur radius required)
26
Drilling
Tapered drill holes Incorrectly sharpened drill bits Nonconcentric Excessively high feed rate
Insufficient play / clearance drill holes Spindle speed too low
Excessively high feed rate Drill penetrates too far into
next part
Burnt or melted Use of unsuitable drill bits
Parting-off tool leaves "stump"
surface Incorrectly sharpened drill bits
which deflects the drill bit
Insufficient feed rate
Land too thick
Blunt drill bit
Drilling speed too high at the start
Land too thick
Drill not clamped centrally
Surface splitting Excessive feed rate Drill not correctly sharpened
Excessive play / clearance
Burr left after Blunt cutting tools
Excessive incline (thin land as
parting off Drill does not travel completely
described)
through the part
Chatter marks Excessive play / clearance
Drill quickly Feed rate too low
Insufficient feed rate
becomes blunt Spindle speed too low
Drill overhang too great
Insufficient lubrication due to
Excessive incline (thin land as
cooling
described)
Please do not hesitate to contact our technical application advise service for technical information
by telephone on 800-896-4029
27
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