This section provides an overview for polycarbonate machining as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 20 polycarbonate machining companies and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked polycarbonate machining companies as of November, 2024: 1.Shenzhen Tuofa Co.,Ltd, 2.Protolabs, Inc., 3.Ehren-Haus Industries, Inc..
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Categories Related to Polycarbonate Machining
Polycarbonate machining encompasses various processes such as cutting, bending, and welding of polycarbonate, a versatile thermoplastic resin. This material is available in three types of sheet: flat, hollow, and corrugated.
Notable for its excellent impact resistance — 50 times greater than acrylic — and durability against weather elements, polycarbonate is self-extinguishing and boasts high transparency. However, it is susceptible to stress corrosion from organic solvents, which restricts the use of solvent-based adhesives, and its surface is prone to scratching.
Polycarbonate machining is pivotal in producing components that metals cannot easily create, including various cutting, shaping, bending, and welding applications. Despite its hardness, which presents both advantages and challenges during machining, ensuring smooth, chamfered edges post-cutting is crucial to avoid sharpness. Utilized for its transparency, machined polycarbonate products include eyeglass lenses, smartphone cases, and clear partitions.
Machining polycarbonate primarily involves cutting, chamfering, bending, and bonding. Welding is feasible but requires specialized hot-air welding equipment, as typical metal welding tools are unsuitable.
Cutting is performed using acrylic cutters, disk grinders for small quantities, and metal scissors for thin, flat sheets.
Bending polycarbonate without heating involves techniques similar to fitting into grooves, akin to aluminum sash processes.
Compared to metals, cutting and lathing polycarbonate is relatively straightforward, allowing for more intricate designs and cost-effective production.
Bonding is achievable through solvent or adhesive methods, though the choice of solvent is crucial to maintaining transparency and integrity.
Polycarbonate machining utilizes NC data from product drawings to set various parameters such as speed, direction, and tool rotation. Materials are cut slightly larger than needed, placed on an NC router, and processed based on NC data. Post-processing includes burr removal and finishing, with final inspections ensuring accurate dimensions and hole diameters.
Polycarbonate resin, an amorphous thermoplastic, features a carbonate ester structure in its molecular makeup, primarily produced using bisphenol A.
As a standout engineering plastic, polycarbonate excels in impact resistance, being significantly tougher than glass and acrylic. It is flame-retardant, hygienic, and performs reliably across a broad temperature range. With a heat resistance of 248 °F (120 °C) and light transmission comparable to glass, polycarbonate is a preferred choice for transparent applications. Its weaknesses include sensitivity to alkalis, organic solvents, and limited chemical resistance, leading to potential cracking and deformation. To mitigate these drawbacks, alloying with ABS or crystalline resins like PBT and PET can enhance flowability and chemical resistance.
*Including some distributors, etc.
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Brogan & Patrick Mfg., established in 1985 and located in Elkhorn, Wisconsin, is a manufacturer and supplier specializing in precision machined plastic and metal components. The company boasts a range of capabilities, including custom screw machining, CNC milling, and CNC turning. Its product offerings cover a spectrum of materials like plastics, G10/FR4, UHMW/Polyethylene, Teflon (PTFE), nylon, and more. These products serves in sectors such as marine, medical, aerospace, architecture, and life sciences.
Delmar Company, established in 1995, specializes in CNC plastic machining, custom plastic fabrication, and as a manufacturer of ANSI-standard and custom gaskets and fluid sealing products. With a expertise in CNC plastic machining and custom fabrication, Delmar Company offers solutions for various industries. The company's experience lies in precision plastic manufacturing and fluid sealing products, catering to diverse requirements. Delmar's offerings encompass custom solutions backed by its capabilities in plastic machining and sealing product manufacturing, making them a source for these specialized needs.
Xometry is an American AI-driven B2B platform of custom parts and assemblies, with minor operations as a contract manufacturer that was originally established as NextLine Manufacturing Corp. before its rebrand in 2015. Based in North Bethesda, Maryland, the company connects manufacturers and buyers via a range of services including instant quoting and a web database. They also offer sheet metal fabrication, CNC machining, 3D printing, injection molding, and die casting services for rapid prototyping or high-volume production projects. Xometry chiefly serves clients in the defense, robotics, aerospace, and automotive sectors, including BMW, Bosch, and NASA.
Ehren-Haus Industries, Inc., established in 1983, is headquartered in Fort Mill, South Carolina, and it operates as a manufacturer and supplier specializing in plastics fabrication, forming, design, and engineering. The company primarily provides tailored plastic solutions to meet specific customer requirements. The outcomes of plastic fabrication and forming organization are influenced by its ability to manufacture products that precisely align with the demands and desires of clients, thereby developing plastic solutions that effectively satisfy the specific form-fit and functional criteria. The incorporation of quality services enables the organization to provide highly customized solutions.
Emco Industrial Plastics, LLC. (Emco) has operated out of Cedar Grove, New Jersey for over 30 years. The company is a manufacturer and distributor of custom industrial plastics, rubber, and foam-based products for medical grade plalstic, food & beverage, chemical processing, and OEM industries. Some of the materials the company engineers are industrial plastics, neoprene, natural rubber, polyurethane, and natural sponge. The company offers services such as cutting to size, laser cutting, plastic welding, and injection molding. The company also manufactures custom machined components.
Proto Labs, founded in 1999, is a company that provides rapid manufacturing of low-volume 3D printed, CNC-machined, sheet metal, and injection-molded custom parts for prototyping and short-run production, headquartered in the U.S. The company builds strong injection-molded parts by incorporating strategic support features and selecting the right thermoplastics. They offer a wide range of materials and design tips to help customers create stronger molded parts. In 2017, they acquired Rapid Manufacturing to further expand their machining capabilities and introduce sheet metal fabrication into their suite of services. Also, global online manufacturing platform, Hubs, joined their family in early 2021.
Vanderveer Industrial Plastics, LLC, established in 1951, is a provider of fabrication and machining services such as Multiple-axis machining, material procurement, and processing. The company stocks rods, tubes, and sheets of Teflon, PEEK, polycarbonate, PVC, and polyethylene serving the semiconductor, oil& gas, medical, food distribution, and automotive industries. The company in Placentia, CA, is AS 9100 certified by NSF-ISR and has CNC capabilities such as milling, turning, cutting & sawing, molding, and G10 machining.
Curbell Plastics, Inc., founded in, Orchard Park, NY, in 1942 is a supplier of plastic materials such as Plastic Sheet, Rod, Tube, Films, Tapes, and Adhesives. The company's product portfolio includes Prototyping Materials, Orthotic and Prosthetic Sheets, sealants and fabricated plastic parts. The company serves markets including Medical and Healthcare, Aerospace and Defense, Consumer Goods, Industrial Manufacturing and Construction and Building. The company also offers customer services that include support, prototyping, custom research projects and customized services.
Junying Metal Manufacturing Co., Limited, Founded in 2005, is a CNC manufacturer company with a registered capital of 3 million and a workforce of over 100 employees. The company has established itself as a player in the industry, specializing in low-cost OEM CNC machining parts. The company offers solution for OEM customers, including CNC machining parts and prototypes with more than a decade of experience in CNC services. The company's precision and cost-efficiency has solidified it's position as a successful CNC machining companies in China. The company continues to excel in the competitive world of metal manufacturing.
Shenzhen DEK Manufacturing Co., Ltd. was founded in 2002 and is headquartered in Shenzhen, Guangdong, China, as a manufacturer of precision parts and prototypes. The company's range of products encompasses CNC machining services, vacuum casting, 3D printing services, sheet metal, injection moulding services, precision machining, and fabrication. These products facilitate precise part production, prototyping, and component fabrication. From design to mass production, the company caters to a range of sectors, including aerospace, medical, automotive, consumer products, agriculture, and sports, among others.
Hubs, formerly known as 3D Hubs, B.V., founded in 2013 and a subsidiary of Proto Labs, Inc., is a manufacturer headquartered in Amsterdam, Netherlands that specializes in developing online manufacturing platform. The company offers a platform that connects engineers with manufacturing partners, offering a range of capabilities, including 3D printing, computer numerical control (CNC) machining, injection molding for prototypes and production tooling, and sheet metal fabrication. Notably, the company has evolved from a peer-to-peer 3D printing network to include full-service manufacturing, with clients like National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX)
Miller Plastic Products, Inc., founded in 1969 with headquarters in the USA, is a custom manufacturer of plastic tanks and components. The company's products include acid process tanks, kynar pipes and pipe fittings, dip pipes, headers, and manifolds. Miller Plastic Products, Inc. has expanded its product line to include PPE and other occupational health and safety accessories. The company also offers custom CNC machining, annealing services, custom plastic fabrication for plastic lab equipment, wet benches, sinks, counter tops, and cabinet systems.
PCBWay, Established in 2014, is a manufacturer of printed circuit boards (PCBs). Founded to provide PCB prototypes, assembly, SMD Stencils, and Flexible PCBs. The company has a global reach, shipping to over 170 countries and processing over 2100 PCB orders daily. The company boasts a comprehensive suite of services to support electronics projects from conception to completion. The company's quality assurance and timely deliveries is evident through a team of over 70 professionals. The company facilitate project sharing, sponsorships, and crowdfunding, with a vast community, enhancing it's place in the PCB manufacturing industry.
Controlled Fluidics, established in 2008 and located in Milford, NH, USA, is an ISO 9001:2015 registered manufacturer and supplier of custom plastic assembly products. The company's product range includes plastic bonded manifolds, plastic machining, multilayer fluidic manifolds, plastic polishing, and custom plastic assembly products. These products play roles in creating fluidic manifolds for various devices. The company serves the Aerospace, Instrumentation, Life Science, and Medical Industry sectors. Its services include expedited delivery, design service from review to full layout, working with polycarbonate, and a seamless bonding technique.
Penta Precision Engineering is a reputable precision engineering company based in Portsmouth, United Kingdom. Established in 1998, the company has a long-standing history of excellence. Penta Precision Engineering, an ISO 9001:2015 accredited company, specializes in providing a wide range of precision engineering services, including CNC machining, milling, turning, and assembly. These services cater to various industries, such as aerospace, automotive, and medical technology. The company offers comprehensive solutions, including CNC Milling, CNC Turning, Honing, Lapping, Screen printing and Plating.
Ranking as of November 2024
Derivation MethodRank | Company | Click Share |
---|---|---|
1 | Shenzhen Tuofa Co.,Ltd |
14.3%
|
2 | RapidDone |
14.3%
|
3 | Protolabs, Inc. |
14.3%
|
4 | Ehren-Haus Industries, Inc. |
14.3%
|
5 | Brogan & Patrick Mfg. Corp |
14.3%
|
6 | Miller Plastic Products, Inc. |
14.3%
|
7 | Delmar Company |
14.3%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the polycarbonate machining page as of November 2024. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
Newly Established Company
Company with a History
*Including some distributors, etc.
*Including some distributors, etc.
Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
---|---|---|
United States of America | 8 | 53.3% |
China | 6 | 40.0% |
United Kingdom | 1 | 6.7% |