High strength-to-weight ABS Plastic CNC Machining Parts For Fitting Plumbing

What is ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene)?

ABS is a versatile engineering thermoplastic polymer with broad applications due to its cost-effectiveness, high toughness, impact strength, and electrical resistance. It also provides good strength and chemical and thermal stability.

Product designers commonly use machining ABS for general-purpose plastic prototyping and machined parts such as control panels, keyboards, pipes, etc. However, ABS melts in organic compounds. Heating ABS beyond 400 degrees Celsius can be harmful. Likewise, it exhibits poor weather resistance and response to ultraviolet rays.

What Are the ABS Plastic Properties?

ABS has many valuable properties, making it suitable for various industries. It offers high mechanical strength, impact strength, fatigue life, corrosion resistance, flame retardant, thermal stability, and more. Let’s discuss significant properties in more depth.

Mechanical strength

ABS is a strong thermoplastic with 29.6 – 48 MPa of tensile strength. It can withstand high loads without warping or cracking. The compact fullness of monomers in the internal structure provides high mechanical strength and load-bearing capacity.
Impact strength

It is capable of withstanding shocks or high-impact energy without losing its properties and any material form of material failure. ABS has an average impact strength of 20 kJ/m² for the notched sheet and 58 kJ/m² for the unnotched sheet which makes it an appropriate material choice for applications where parts need to withstand regular shocks, such as boarding stairs of aircraft

Chemical resistance

ABS plastic is resistant to most chemical compounds, such as acids, alkalis, mineral oils, and vegetative oils. However, it can react with concentrated glacial acetic acid, aromatic esters, and carbon tetrachloride

Hardness

ABS plastic is known for its hardness (200 – 215 J/m). Its rigidity and hardness make it resistant to scratches and abrasion, allowing it to be used in structural components for different applications

Electrical Insulation

ABS parts are not a problem for high-voltage shocks. They function flawlessly as electrical insulation and block current flow, an essential quality for insulating applications

Surface brightness

Surface brightness is an aesthetic property that gives the ABS parts an appealing look. The ABS surface’s brilliance and gloss make it helpful when aesthetic appeal is essential

Fire retardant

ABS can work in the temperature range of -50°C to 70°C without degrading any physical, mechanical, or chemical properties. It exhibits superior functionality in this temperature range. ABS is also known as excellent fire retardant plastic, which can slow down a fire and even stop it by preventing flames from spreading.
Table: Key Mechanical Properties of ABS.

Machining of ABS Plastic

The high machinability character of ABS facilitates all the CNC machining processes, including milling, turning, routing, drilling, and more. The high-precision can be maintained using appropriate tools. The high-carbon steel tools are best suited for ABS CNC Machining (carbide tools in some cases). It is compatible with almost every feed rate and cutting speed. Lowering the cutting speed and feed rate might cause heat generation and physical damage to the ABS workpiece. Meanwhile, the high cutting speeds (spindle speed) can result in a shred cut.
ABS CNC Milling is the most common operation for ABS to transfer the workpiece into the desired shape. Depending on the particular requirement, it can be milled with different tool sizes, from 1/8″ flat-end mill to 1/64″ flat-end mill. Other operating parameters of CNC machines, such as feed rate, spindle speed, and cutting depth, need to be adjusted according to the tool size.

Polestar Metal: Your Trusted Partner in Precision Plastic CNC Machining

Choosing our Plastic CNC Machining services ensures not only precision and quality but a partnership built on trust and reliability. At Polestar Metal, we are committed to delivering excellence in every aluminum component we produce. From prototyping to full-scale production, we are equipped to meet your specific needs and bring your designs to life.