PC (Polycarbonate) is a high-performance thermoplastic engineering plastic known for its exceptional impact resistance, glass-like transparency, and good heat resistance (typically 120–135°C). It also offers excellent electrical insulation, flame retardancy, UV resistance (with coating), and is easy to process via injection molding or CNC machining. PC is widely used in safety goggles, machine guards, medical devices, electronic housings, automotive lights, and components requiring high durability and safety.
Characteristics and Features:
Extremely High Impact Strength: Withstands large impact forces without breaking or cracking, much higher than glass and acrylic.
Good Transparency: Good light transmission, can be as transparent as glass.
Relatively Good Heat Resistance: Withstands higher temperatures than many common plastics (typically up to around 120−130°C).
Good Electrical Insulation: An electrical insulator.
Good Dimensional Stability: Less prone to shrinkage or deformation.
UV Resistance (some grades): Some PC grades are coated or blended to enhance UV resistance.
Easy to Machine: Can be cut, milled, drilled, turned, and thermoformed.
Corresponding CNC Technologies:
CNC Milling: Very suitable for creating high-precision parts, protective housings, lenses, and load-bearing components. Sharp cutting tools and appropriate cutting speeds are needed to avoid localized melting.
CNC Turning: Suitable for machining parts with rotational symmetry, bushings, and cylindrical components.
CNC Drilling: Precise drilling of holes is easily performed.
CNC Routing: Used to cut PC sheets into various shapes for partitions, control panels, and sheet applications.
Important Notes:
Scratch Easily: The surface of PC is softer than glass and acrylic, making it prone to scratching. Protective coatings are needed if high surface durability is required.
Sensitive to Some Chemicals: Can be affected by some strong solvents and alkalis.
Common Applications:
PC plastic is widely CNC machined in various industries:
Engineering: Machine protective housings, gears, bushings.
Electrical and Electronics: Insulation panels, connectors, equipment housings.
Medical: Surgical instruments, parts of medical devices.
Transportation: Windshields, windows.
Security: Bulletproof glass.
Lighting: Light lenses.
Conclusion: PC plastic is an excellent material for CNC machining when high impact strength and good transparency are required. Its good machinability and relatively high heat resistance also make it a popular choice in many engineering applications.
