What other materials (plastics, etc.) can be processed with the edge milling machine, and what needs to be taken into account when doing so?
Question:
What other materials (plastics, etc.) can be processed with the edge milling machine, and what needs to be taken into account when doing so?
Answer:
In principle, it is possible to machine any type of plastic. The prerequisite is that the material has a certain degree of hardness.
However, the hardness of a material with the same designation can vary depending on its composition and intended use.
PVC, for example, is available in soft and hard versions. PVC pipes are easy to machine. It is therefore very difficult to provide generally applicable information.
As a rule of thumb, any material that can be processed with a file can also be milled. Plexiglas is no problem. Sandwich panels with different compositions can also be milled. Plastics containing glass fiber or carbon fiber can also be processed. However, these materials are very abrasive, which leads to higher wear on the indexable inserts.
It is also possible to machine materials made of Teflon.
Common plastics that are milled include POM, PA, PP, PS, PET, PTFE, and the high-performance plastic PEEK. Fiber-reinforced plastics are often used in model making and can also be machined.
A high feed rate is generally used to prevent smearing.
The machining of materials such as plastics or wood should be tested on a sample piece beforehand, as the surface or structure may vary.