If your shop sometimes works with plastics, you know how much of a challenge it can be. You can try dry machining these parts, but it’s so easy for heat to build up that is usually a good idea to use coolant or lubricant on some materials. When you are machining plastic parts in Washington, these helpful tips can make the process of choosing lubricants, a little easier.
Dry Machining
It’s possible to get by without lubricant for some types of plastic machining. However, boring or drilling can create an enormous amount of friction and so does parting (cutting your workpiece). Also, if you have experienced problems with machining plastic parts in Washington, it may be a good time to consider coolant. You have three basic types of coolants to consider:
Air
Flooding systems
Mist systems
Air Cooled Machining
Blowing compressed air directly at the operation is a good way to cool the cutting surface and eliminate heat building up. Because this is a dry method, you don’t have to worry about liquid coolants saturating the area, and there’s no need to dry or clean the part after the machining process.
Compressed air gives you another important advantage when machining plastic parts in Washington. As chips and debris buildup, the air keeps them blown from the cutting surface, and there are no buildup issues on the cutting edges.
Flooding and Misting
Whether you use a flooding or mist spray system, it’s important to use liquid coolant that is soluble in water when you machine acrylics or polysulfone. Many oil-based coolants may attack the material, and this can cause it to break down or crack. However, you can use oil-based coolants on nylon and thermoset plastics. Check with your coolant supplier to make sure you get the right products. They can recommend the perfect coolant for the job.
