CNC Machining Materials

At KingStar Mold, material traceability is a core part of our quality control process, especially for industries with strict compliance requirements like aerospace, medical, and automotive. Our traceability process includes the following key steps:

• Certified Material Sourcing:
We only purchase raw materials from ISO-certified and industry-compliant suppliers. Each batch of material comes with a Material Certification (MTC), which includes details such as chemical composition, batch number, and origin.

• Material Identification and Labeling:
Upon arrival, all materials are tagged with unique batch IDs and barcodes. These identifiers follow the material through every stage—cutting, machining, finishing, and inspection.

• Batch-Level Record Keeping:
Our ERP system records every batch’s journey—from incoming inspection and storage location to the specific project it’s assigned to. This includes operator logs, process data, and inspection results.

• Project-to-Material Mapping:
For critical industries, we link every part produced to its original material batch. This enables us to generate a full traceability report upon request, showing the path from raw stock to final product.

• Compliance Documentation:
We provide full traceability documents including certificates of conformity (CoC), material test reports (MTR), REACH/RoHS statements, and FDA or biocompatibility declarations when required.

• Controlled Storage and FIFO Practice:
Materials are stored in segregated, clearly labeled areas with FIFO (First In, First Out) management to prevent expired or unverified stock from being used.

• Auditable Traceability for Regulated Industries:
For aerospace and medical clients, we are equipped to meet AS9100- or ISO 13485-style traceability protocols, enabling third-party or customer audits without disruption.

By maintaining strict traceability from procurement to final delivery, KingStar Mold ensures full accountability, process control, and material compliance across every project.

Yes, many CNC plastic materials are highly suitable for producing functional prototypes. Depending on your application needs—whether mechanical strength, wear resistance, flexibility, or thermal stability—there are specific plastics that perform exceptionally well in real-world testing.

CNC Plastic Materials Ideal for Functional Prototypes

• ABS: Known for its impact resistance and machinability, ABS is commonly used in housings, automotive parts, and consumer product enclosures. It performs well for structural and functional testing.

• POM (Delrin/Acetal): Offers excellent strength, dimensional stability, and low friction, making it perfect for gears, bearings, and moving mechanical parts.

• PA (Nylon): Durable and abrasion-resistant, Nylon is suitable for load-bearing prototypes like bushings, levers, and brackets.

• PC (Polycarbonate): Transparent, strong, and heat-resistant, PC is ideal for impact-prone parts, protective covers, and optical components.

• PEEK: A high-performance engineering plastic, PEEK has outstanding strength, heat resistance, and chemical stability—great for aerospace, medical, and high-load functional prototypes.

• PBT: Offers toughness and good electrical insulation, often used in automotive and electronic housings.

• PE (Polyethylene): Lightweight and chemically resistant, suitable for containers, piping, and prototypes exposed to corrosive environments.

• PP (Polypropylene): Flexible and fatigue-resistant, PP is used in living hinges, fluid-handling parts, and snap-fit prototypes.

• HDPE & LDPE: Both provide impact resistance and chemical stability, useful for packaging, tubing, and structural testing.

• PTFE (Teflon): Extremely heat-resistant and slippery, ideal for testing non-stick or low-friction components.

Why These Materials Work

• Machinability: All listed plastics machine well without cracking or deforming.

• Mechanical Testing: These materials allow prototypes to undergo stress, impact, or wear testing with accurate results.

• Low Volume Efficiency: CNC machining is ideal for producing one-off or short-run functional prototypes with no tooling investment.

Whether you’re validating a design or preparing for production, these CNC plastics offer reliable performance for demanding prototyping needs.

Yes, CNC machining can definitely handle transparent materials like acrylic (PMMA) and polycarbonate (PC). These materials are commonly used for components that require optical clarity or an attractive appearance, such as light covers, display elements, and inspection windows.

Common CNC Machining Methods for Transparent Materials

• CNC Milling: This is the most widely used method for transparent materials. It allows for precise 2D and 3D shaping of acrylic and PC sheets.

• CNC Turning: Ideal for cylindrical transparent parts made from rod stock, such as lenses, housings, or round viewing ports.

• CNC Drilling: Suitable for clean and accurate holes in transparent plastics, but requires sharp tools and proper feed rates to prevent cracking or edge chipping.

• Contour Cutting: High-speed spindles can be used for smooth edge finishes on complex outer profiles.

Surface Finish Considerations

While CNC machining ensures tight tolerances, it may leave visible tool marks on transparent plastics. To restore or enhance optical clarity, post-processing methods such as polishing or vapor smoothing are often applied.

Both acrylic and PC are widely compatible with these methods, although acrylic generally polishes to a clearer finish, while PC offers better impact resistance. Choosing between the two depends on whether optical clarity or durability is the priority.

Selecting the right material is one of the most critical decisions in any CNC machining project. The material you choose directly affects the performance, cost, manufacturability, and durability of the final part. At KingStar Mold, we help clients evaluate material options based on functionality, industry requirements, and production needs. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of how to approach CNC material selection:

1. Define Functional Requirements

Start by asking: What does the part need to do?

• Strength & Load-Bearing:
  If your part needs to support structural loads, metals like aluminum, stainless steel, or titanium are good options.

• Impact Resistance:
  For parts subject to drops, shocks, or vibrations, materials like ABS, Nylon, or PC (polycarbonate) perform well.

• Thermal Resistance:
  High-temperature environments call for materials like PEEK, PAI, or PPS, which retain strength at elevated temperatures.

• Electrical Insulation:
  Plastics such as PBT, PTFE (Teflon), or PEI are commonly used for electrical components due to their insulating properties.

2. Consider Machinability

Not all materials are equally easy (or cost-effective) to machine.

• Easy-to-Machine Materials:
  Plastics like ABS, POM, and PMMA, and metals like aluminum, reduce tool wear and lead to faster machining.

• Difficult Materials:
  High-performance plastics like PEEK or PAI, and harder metals like stainless steel, may require specialized tooling and longer machining times—adding cost.

At KingStar Mold, we account for these factors in our quotations to help balance performance and budget.

3. Match to Industry and Application Needs

Different industries have preferred materials based on compliance and reliability:

• Aerospace:
  Lightweight and high-strength materials like aluminum, titanium, PEEK, and PAI.

• Automotive:
  Durable and heat-tolerant plastics like PPS, Nylon, and metals like steel or aluminum.

• Medical:
  Biocompatible materials such as PEEK, PTFE, and medical-grade stainless steel.

• Consumer Products:
  Cost-effective, impact-resistant materials like ABS, PC, and HDPE.

4. Evaluate Surface Finish and Aesthetic Requirements

If your part requires a specific look or surface feel:

• PMMA (Acrylic): Excellent for transparent and polished surfaces

• PC: Slightly less clear than PMMA but much stronger

• ABS/PA: Good for matte or painted finishes

• Aluminum: Suitable for anodizing or brushing

• Stainless Steel: Naturally clean and corrosion-resistant

5. Balance Cost and Performance

Materials vary greatly in cost. For example:

• Low-cost: ABS, PP, HDPE

• Mid-range: Nylon, PBT, Aluminum

• High-end: PEEK, PAI, Titanium

Choosing the cheapest material isn’t always best. We recommend choosing the most cost-effective option that still meets the technical demands of your project.

6. Ask an Expert

At KingStar Mold, we offer free DFM (Design for Manufacturing) support to help you choose the most suitable material based on your design, performance goals, and production scale. Our engineering team will analyze your CAD file, end-use application, and tolerances to suggest the optimal material.

Conclusion:
Choosing the right CNC machining material is a balance between performance, processability, and cost. If you’re unsure, our team at KingStar Mold is here to provide expert guidance and ensure your part is produced with the material that best fits your needs—both functionally and economically.