Polycarbonate (PC) CNC Machining Service
Get precision Polycarbonate (PC) CNC machined parts with excellent impact resistance, dimensional stability, and optical clarity. Our CNC machining capabilities produce complex PC components with tight tolerances, clean finishes, and consistent accuracy, making them ideal for functional prototypes, transparent components, enclosures, and production parts across a wide range of applications.
Polycarbonate (PC) in CNC Machining
Polycarbonate (PC) is a durable engineering thermoplastic known for its exceptional impact resistance, optical clarity, strength, and dimensional stability. It can be CNC machined into precise and complex components while maintaining reliable mechanical performance. PC is particularly suitable for transparent housings, protective components, prototypes, electrical parts, and industrial applications where strength and visibility are important.
| Available PC Grades | PC Black, PC Transparent, PC White, PC Yellowish White, PC + GF30 Black |
| Price | $ |
| Lead time | Under 10 days |
| Wall thickness | 0.8 mm |
| Tolerances | ±0.005″ (±0.125mm) |
| Max part size | 1200 × 500 × 150 mm |
PC CNC Machining Materials
Machined (PC) Properties
Polycarbonate (PC) is a strong and transparent engineering thermoplastic widely used in CNC machining. Its excellent impact resistance, toughness, and dimensional stability make it suitable for producing reliable parts for demanding applications.
General CNC Machining Tolerances
| Description | General Tolerance or Standard |
|---|---|
| General Dimensional Tolerances | ±0.005″ (±0.127 mm) for metals; ±0.010″ (±0.254 mm) for plastics in line with ISO 2768-mK unless otherwise specified |
| Tight Tolerances | Down to ±0.001″ (±0.025 mm) available upon request, with detailed 2D drawings and GD&T specifications |
| Minimum Feature Size | ~0.020″ (0.50 mm), depends on part geometry, tool diameter, and material |
| Hole Diameter Tolerance | ±0.002″ (±0.05 mm) typical; tighter tolerances with boring or reaming |
| Flatness/Parallelism | ≤0.002″ per 6″ (≤0.05 mm per 150 mm), varies by material and fixture setup |
| Thread Tolerances | Standard metric and imperial threads per ISO/ASME; custom or fine threads available on request |
| Angular Tolerance | ±0.5° typical |
| Edge Condition | Sharp edges are broken and deburred by default unless noted otherwise |
| Surface Finish (Standard) | Ra 3.2 μm (125 μin) as-machined; improved finishes available via polishing, bead blasting, anodizing, etc. |
| Maximum Part Size | Milling: Up to 80″ × 48″ × 24″ (2,032 × 1,219 × 610 mm) Turning: Up to 62″ length × 32″ diameter (1,575 × 813 mm) |
Advantages and Limitations of PC CNC Machining
Polycarbonate (PC) is widely used in CNC machining for its combination of high impact strength, transparency, dimensional stability, and relatively low weight. These properties make it suitable for many precision applications, although factors such as scratching, UV exposure, and chemical compatibility should be considered during material selection.
- Exceptional Impact Strength:
Polycarbonate offers excellent toughness and impact resistance, making it suitable for protective components and parts exposed to mechanical stress. - Excellent Optical Clarity:
Transparent PC grades provide high visibility, making them ideal for covers, windows, lenses, guards, and viewing components. - High Strength-to-Weight Ratio:
PC provides dependable mechanical strength without adding excessive weight, making it useful for lightweight yet durable components. - Good Dimensional Stability:
Polycarbonate maintains consistent dimensions under normal operating conditions, supporting accurate and reliable CNC-machined parts. - Good Temperature Performance:
Compared with many common thermoplastics, PC can maintain its mechanical properties across a relatively broad operating temperature range. - Good CNC Machinability:
Polycarbonate can be milled, drilled, and turned into complex geometries with precise features and high-quality surface finishes when appropriate machining parameters are used.
- Susceptible to Scratching:
PC surfaces can scratch relatively easily, particularly when optical clarity is required. Protective coatings or careful handling may therefore be necessary. - Limited UV Stability:
Prolonged exposure to sunlight can cause discoloration and gradual material degradation unless a UV-stabilized grade or protective treatment is used. - Chemical Sensitivity:
Certain solvents and aggressive chemicals can cause cracking, crazing, or surface damage, so chemical compatibility should be checked for the intended operating environment.
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Polycarbonate (PC) CNC Machining FAQs
How Does Vapor Polishing Enhance CNC-Machined Polycarbonate Parts?
Vapor polishing helps smooth minor machining marks and surface imperfections on polycarbonate components. When properly applied, the process can improve surface clarity, gloss, and overall appearance, making it particularly useful for transparent PC parts.
Can CNC-Machined Polycarbonate Be Used for Optical Components?
Yes. Clear polycarbonate can be used for certain optical and visibility-related components because of its transparency and excellent impact resistance. CNC machining combined with suitable finishing techniques can improve surface quality for protective windows, covers, light guides, and viewing panels. However, applications requiring high optical precision may need specialized finishing and tighter material specifications.
What Is the Difference Between Polycarbonate and Acrylic?
The achievable size and complexity depend on the CNC machine capacity, tooling access, wall thickness, tolerances, and component geometry. Complex PC parts can be machined successfully, but very thin walls, deep cavities, and delicate features may require additional process control to prevent deformation or surface damage.
Does brass offer easier machinability than aluminum?
Polycarbonate is generally tougher and offers significantly better impact resistance, while acrylic is typically more rigid and provides excellent optical clarity and scratch resistance. The better choice depends on whether the application prioritizes impact strength, transparency, surface hardness, or dimensional requirements.
Does Polycarbonate Yellow Over Time?
Polycarbonate may gradually yellow when exposed to UV radiation for extended periods. UV-stabilized PC grades and protective coatings can help reduce discoloration and improve long-term performance in outdoor or high-UV environments.