What are Machined Plastic Parts?
Computer-controlled machines are able to cut and shape virtually any kind of material for prototyping purposes.
How It Works
Machined Plastic Parts start as a raw block of material that gets cut away and shaped
down to the final shape by CNC machines. The process is the same as the standard CNC metal prototyping process.
The advantages of using machined plastic parts instead of other rapid prototyping methods is that nearly any material
can be used, and it is sometimes cheaper.
Typical Uses
- Rapid Prototypes
- Fixtures
- Production Parts
Costs
Example quotes for a 2-inch sphere:
So, you can see how volume discounts can be a big factor, especially for processes that are slow in the vertical direction.
Example quotes for a 2-inch sphere:
| Process | Qty 1 | Qty 10 |
|---|---|---|
| SLA | $376 each | $109 each |
| SLS | $501 each | $121 each |
| FDM | $182 each | $154 each |
| PolyJet | $479 each | $139 each |
| Machined Plastic | $458 each | $139 each |
| Urethane Castings | N/A | $120 each |
For More Information
Wikipedia article
See the Next Article: Rapid Injection Molding