Plastics and their machining: A review

Many different families of plastics are used in industry. The demand for the machining of plastics has recently increased. In most cases, traditional metal machining techniques and tools are being used in the machining of plastics. The present paper reviews the conventional mechanical machining of plastics. The cutting phenomena as indicated by the types of chips formed under various cutting conditions, and the cutting forces for the single-edge cutting of two broad types of plastics are discussed. When drilling plastics, the type of chip produced, the torque, and the thrust are considered. A general idea about the milling of plastics is shown. The possibility of grinding thermosets and thermoplastics using an open grinding wheel is discussed with reference to bond type, grit type, grit size and porosity.