CNC machining that respects how plastics behave

Acrylic machines cleanly but stresses easily; PEEK is abrasive and hates heat. Our CNC process is built around polymer-specific cutting data — not metalworking habits applied to plastic.

Capability 01 — CNC Machining

Micron-level geometry in transparent polymers

We run sharp, polished carbide and diamond tooling, climb milling at controlled chip loads, and stress-relieve every sheet before the finish pass — so your part stays flat and optically clear after machining, and stays that way after bonding.

3- and 4-axis milling on granite-bed machines with temperature-controlled coolant and vibration isolation.
Micro-tools from Ø0.2 mm for channels, ports, vias and fine slots in microfluidic and diagnostic chips.
Diamond fly-cutting for optical faces — mirror finish straight off the machine, no secondary polishing.
Part size range from 3 mm micro-features up to 600 × 400 × 120 mm plates and manifolds.

Discuss your part

CNC machining centre cutting a clear acrylic component

Process route

How we run it, step by step

Drawing & DFM review. We check wall thickness, channel aspect ratios, tool access and datum strategy before cutting. You get feedback within one business day.
Stock preparation & stress relief. Sheet is annealed before machining to remove residual stress, so the finish pass does not lock in warpage.
Roughing. Excess material removed with generous margins, keeping heat input low and geometry stable.
Finish pass. Climb milling with polished tooling at controlled chip load — this is where tolerance and surface quality are set.
Deburr, clean & inspect. Channels are flushed, edges deburred, then dimensional inspection per the agreed report level.

Specifications

Process envelope

Typical values. Tighter limits are available after a drawing review — share the functional requirement rather than a blanket tolerance.

Parameter	Standard	Precision / achievable	Notes
Dimensional tolerance	±0.05 mm	±0.005 mm	Feature- and size-dependent, confirmed at drawing review
Channel depth tolerance	±20 µm	±5 µm	Verified by white-light interferometry
Minimum tool / feature	Ø0.5 mm	Ø0.2 mm	Aspect ratio limits apply to deep channels
Surface roughness (as-machined)	Ra 0.4 µm	Ra 0.02 µm	Diamond fly-cutting on optical faces
Flatness	20 µm / 100 mm	2 µm / 50 mm	Requires stress-relieved stock
Max. part size	600 × 400 × 120 mm	—	Larger plates on request

Applications

Where this process earns its keep

Microfluidic chips & manifolds Multi-layer PMMA/COC parts with channels, ports and threaded fittings machined in one setup.
Optical housings & windows Machined seats that hold lens parallelism without post-machining distortion.
Instrument fixtures & jigs Dimensionally stable PEEK, PSU and POM fixtures for production and laboratory use.
Prototype to pilot lots From one part to several hundred, with process parameters locked for repeatability.

Multi-axis CNC machining of an engineering plastic block

Send the drawing, get a process answer

Every RFQ is reviewed by a process engineer — expect a reply within one business day, with the route we would run and where cost can be removed.

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