Choosing the right plastic for CNC machining depends heavily on your specific project requirements. Here's a breakdown of some popular options and their suitability based on key factors:

Highly Suitable:

• Acetal (POM): Robust, robust, and resistant to wear—perfect for gears, bearings, and structural elements.
• Polycarbonate (PC): robust, resistant to impacts, with excellent optical clarity; ideal for lenses, housings, and medical equipment.
• Delrin (POM-C): Excellent dimensional stability and low friction acetal variant, ideal for precision parts and medical equipment.
• UHMW-PE: incredibly resilient to impact and wear; perfect for wear pads, bushings, and bearings.
• Nylon 6/6: Excellent for gears, bearings, and structural parts, it is robust, flexible, and resistant to abrasion.

Moderately Suitable:

• Acrylic (PMMA): Transparent and clear, frequently used for displays, prototypes, and ornamental pieces (brittle and easily scratched).
• Polypropylene (PP): Suitable for food containers and medical devices (with difficult surface finishes), chemically resistant, and lightweight.
• HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene): Sturdy and robust, ideal for structural parts and housings (because of its high melting point, it is challenging to machine).

Less Suitable:

• ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene): Often used in injection molding, it tends to melt and distort when machined.
• PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride): emits toxic fumes, is brittle, and is not a preferred option.
• Fluoroplastics (PTFE, PFA): High-performing, chemically resistant, but pricy; abrasiveness necessitates special tooling.