CNC engineering plastic materials suitable for precision plastic structural parts, wear-resistant sliding parts, gears, shaft sleeves, guide parts, fixtures and jigs, and low-friction mechanical functional parts.
Acetal (POM) is a polyoxymethylene engineering plastic material produced by CNC machining, featuring good dimensional stability, rigidity, wear resistance, low friction, mechanical strength, and processing performance. It is commonly used in gears, sliders, shaft sleeves, bushings, guide rails, rollers, fixtures and fixtures, precision plastic structural parts, and functional parts requiring low friction, wear resistance, and dimensional stability. Compared to nylon Nylon (PA)6/Nylon (PA)66, Acetal (POM) has lower water absorption and better dimensional stability; Compared to ABS, Acetal (POM) is more wear-resistant and better suited for mechanical moving parts.
By focusing on application scenarios, boundaries of advantages, and non-recommended scenarios, it helps sales, customer service, and quoting staff quickly determine whether the material meets current part requirements.
Good dimensional stability, low water absorption, good wear resistance, low coefficient of friction, good rigidity, good mechanical strength, good machinability, and good surface quality, suitable for precision assembly and replacing some light-load metal moving parts.
Gears, sliders, guide rails, shaft sleeves, bushings, rollers, guide blocks, spacers, wear-resistant plates, mechanical brackets, fixtures and fixtures, conveying equipment parts, automation equipment parts, packaging equipment parts, precision plastic structural parts, low-friction moving parts, insulating structural parts, and small-batch functional parts.
High-temperature long-term use parts, high-strength load-bearing parts, high-impact structural parts, strong acid and alkali environment parts, long-term outdoor exposure parts, high-elasticity snap-on parts, food direct contact parts, medical implant parts, high conductivity parts, high thermal conductivity parts, transparent parts, high-gloss appearance parts, and structural parts requiring long-term high-load creep stability.
The following parameters come from product information and material knowledge fields, used for design review, quotation communication, and preliminary judgment before material selection.
| Material positioning | CNC engineering plastic materials suitable for precision plastic structural parts, wear-resistant sliding parts, gears, shaft sleeves, guide parts, fixtures and jigs, and low-friction mechanical functional parts. |
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| Precision performance | CNC Acetal (POM) can achieve better machining accuracy, with dimensional stability generally superior to materials like Nylon (PA), Polypropylene (PP), and Polyethylene (PE), and is more suitable for precision movement and assembly than ABS. Actual accuracy is affected by part dimensions, wall thickness, clamping method, tool condition, machining heat, internal material stress, and post-processing. For gears, bushings, sliders, positioning holes, and assembly surfaces, tolerances and surface roughness should be controlled separately. |
| Dimensional tolerances | The standard dimensional tolerances for CNC machined Acetal (POM) can be referenced ± 0.03mm to ±0.15mm, while ordinary plastic structural parts can be evaluated at ± 0.05mm to ±0.20mm. Large parts, thin-walled parts, elongated parts, and complex slot parts may experience greater deviation. These values are standard reference ranges and are not absolute guaranteed tolerances for all structures. Precision shaft holes, gears, sliding surfaces, positioning holes, and assembly surfaces should be separately marked with tolerance requirements. |
| Minimum Wall Thickness | For ordinary CNC machining Acetal (POM) the wall thickness of the structure is recommended not less than 1.0mm. Small non-load-bearing areas can be appropriately optimized according to the structure, but it is not recommended to make large areas that are too thin. The load-bearing positions, thread positions, press-fitting positions, shaft sleeve wall thickness, and sliding wear areas should be appropriately thickened to avoid machining deformation, thread slippage, cracking, or long-term wear failure. |
| Recommended wall thickness | For ordinary structural parts, 1.5mm-3.0mm is recommended; for bushings, bushings, sliders, gears, rollers, and load-bearing assembly positions, it is recommended to be at least 2.0mm; for large plate-shaped parts, elongated parts, and parts requiring flatness, increased thickness, ribs, or support structures are recommended to reduce deformation and improve stability. |
| Minimum aperture | CNC drilling can achieve smaller hole diameters, but both small and deep holes still require consideration of chip evacuation, burrs, and tool strength. For general designs, the recommended aperture is no less than 1.0mm. For precision holes, screw holes, positioning holes, and shaft holes, it is recommended to leave machining allowance. If necessary, improve hole quality by drilling followed by reaming, boring, or secondary finishing. |
| Assembly clearance | For ordinary assemblies, it is recommended to reserve 0.05mm-0.20mm on one side; for sliding fits, 0.10mm-0.30mm is recommended on one side; for high-speed movement, temperature changes, or large parts, appropriately increase the gap. Due to the low coefficient of friction in Acetal (POM), it is suitable for sliding fits, but the assembly should not be too tight, otherwise it may cause sticking, thermal expansion interference, or abnormal long-term wear. |
| Detailed performance | CNC Acetal (POM) is suitable for machining holes, grooves, steps, chamfers, fillets, tooth profiles, sliding surfaces, guide surfaces, positioning surfaces, and general structural details. Acetal (POM) materials have clearer processing details, and edge quality is usually better than softer materials like Polypropylene (PP), Polyethylene (PE), and PU. Fine text, logos, and markings can be achieved through engraving or laser marking, but it is not recommended to design complex decorative textures on high-wear surfaces, precision mating surfaces, or tooth surfaces. |
| Surface effect | The raw machined surface of CNC Acetal (POM) is usually white, black, or natural plastic surfaces, with a relatively fine surface and visible slight blade marks. Acetal (POM) has a smooth surface and a low coefficient of friction, making it suitable for functional and mechanical components. After chamfering, deburring, and finishing, the edges and surface finish are relatively neat. However, Acetal (POM) is usually not used as high-end exterior paint parts, nor is it suitable for transparent display pieces. |
Based on material characteristics and suitable product ranges, customer needs are broken down into easier application directions to determine.
Gears, sliders, guide rails, shaft sleeves, bushings, rollers, guide blocks, spacers, wear-resistant plates, mechanical brackets, fixtures and fixtures, conveying equipment parts, automation equipment parts, packaging equipment parts, precision plastic structural parts, low-friction moving parts, insulating structural parts, and small-batch functional parts.
CNC engineering plastic materials suitable for precision plastic structural parts, wear-resistant sliding parts, gears, shaft sleeves, guide parts, fixtures and jigs, and low-friction mechanical functional parts.
The Acetal (POM) of CNC has good mechanical strength, rigidity, and dimensional stability, making it a very commonly used functional material in CNC engineering plastics. It has low water absorption and is less affected by humidity, making it suitable for making precision assemblies, sliding parts, and low-friction moving parts. Acetal (POM) material surface is relatively hard and feels delicate to the touch, and the surface quality after processing is usually good. However Acetal (POM) adhesive and paint adhesion are poor, making them unsuitable as high-end painted exterior parts, nor for long-term high temperatures or strong acidic and alkaline environments.
Based on wall thickness, hole position, assembly clearance, dimensional tolerances, and material usage risks, determine in advance whether the part structure is suitable for Acetal (POM).
Post-processing of Acetal (POM) affects appearance, dimensions, hole position, assembly clearance, and usage validation results, and should be explained in advance during quotation, DFM review, and sample confirmation stages.
Post-processing should focus on appearance display, dimensional fitting, connection assembly, and testing verification. Parts involving assembly positions need to be reserved in advance for machining, coating, and trial assembly allowances.
For common issues such as threads, snaps, strength, temperature resistance, and weather resistance, identify in advance whether the material needs to be replaced or if another processing method should be used.
When customer demand exceeds Acetal (POM) material boundaries, it is necessary to combine strength, temperature resistance, toughness, long-term stability, and mass production goals to promptly recommend alternative materials or processing technologies.
If higher toughness and impact resistance are needed, nylon Nylon (PA)6 or Nylon (PA)66 can be chosen; If higher temperature resistance and strength are required, Polyether Ether Ketone (PEEK), PPS, or Polycarbonate (PC) can be chosen; If you need better appearance and paint finish, you can choose ABS; If higher chemical resistance and low friction are required, PTFE or PVDF can be chosen; If higher rigidity and load-bearing capacity are required, aluminum alloy, stainless steel, or other metal materials can be chosen; If lower-cost ordinary plastic structural parts are needed, Polypropylene (PP), HDPE, or ABS can be chosen.
If customers require wear-resistant, low-friction, dimensional stability, precision assembly, and medium- to low-load mechanical moving parts, CNC Acetal (POM) is an excellent choice. If customers mainly focus on the appearance of paint, transparency, or high-toughness housings, Acetal (POM) not a preferred material; If customers require long-term high temperatures, heavy loads, or highly corrosive environments, priority should be given to Polyether Ether Ketone (PEEK), PPS, PTFE, or metal materials. Acetal (POM) is suitable for "precision moving parts and wear-resistant structural parts," but not for "high-temperature heavy-duty parts and exterior painted parts."
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