Materials / PEEK CNC Machining

PEEK CNC Machining Service

PEEK or polyetheretherketone is an advanced engineering plastic with a long list of beneficial properties. These include resilience at high temperatures, abrasion resistance, biocompatibility, resistance to ultra-high vacuum, exceptional chemical resistance, and suitability for CNC machining.

PEEK is a semi-crystalline thermoplastic that can continuously operate at temperatures up to 260°C and is highly chemical resistant. It must be noted, however, that some acids like sulphuric acid will dissolve the material. CNC machining in PEEK is a common way to manufacture parts for use in extreme environments that require mechanical strength, chemical stability, and/or high-temperature resistance. Applications include components for the medical, aerospace, and automotive industries.

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CNC Machined Plastics

About PEEK for CNC Machining

PEEK, or PC, is an amorphous thermoplastic. Its amorphous nature means that it tends to first soften before melting and does not have a set melting point. FlagShip machines PEEK in black or clear sheet and bar stock. Its clarity, shatter-resistance, and lighter weight make it an excellent replacement for glass. It also handles high temperatures better than acrylic. CNC machining in PEEK does not inherently yield optically transparent parts, however, so some further finishing is required.


PC (PEEK) is an engineering plastic with exceptional fracture toughness. It is able to hold up to impacts while simultaneously offering optical clarity, UV resistance, and higher-than-normal temperature resistance compared to other engineering plastics.

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General PEEK

Machining PEEK allows for a wide array of applications that take advantage of this material’s exceptional properties. PEEK has very few downsides when compared to other engineering plastics. One advantage that sets it apart is its heat resistance. It can operate at high temperatures for longer than most other plastics. Additionally, PEEK is hydrophobic, so it does not readily absorb water, and it also outgasses very little under vacuum conditions. This stability is a great asset. PEEK’s uses include medical applications for temporary implants all the way to aerospace components exposed to extreme vacuum.





Generic PEEK Properties

Tensile Strength, Yield (MPa) Elongation at Break (%) Hardness (Rockwell M) Heat Deflection Temperature (°C) at 0.46 MPa Melting Point (°C)
40.8-1020 1.5-110 62-89 182-210 142-152




PC (PEEK) at a Glance





Applications Advantages Disadvantages Lead Time Tolerances
Bearings, washers and gears, spinal implants, surgical tools Hydrophobic, minimal outgassing in high vacuum conditions, biocompatible High cost, biocompatible but does not readily bond to bone Lead time for PEEK parts starts at 3 business days Machining tolerances of +/- .001” (+/- 0.025 mm) are achievable




Finishes

PEEK parts are naturally an opaque grey or beige. Given PEEK’s polymeric structure, paints and coatings are difficult to bond to its surface. However, thanks to its inherent chemical resistance, it is often acceptable to leave parts as machined.


As Machined: PEEK is easily machined and can achieve smooth surface finishes. FlagShip offers auto-quoting of surface roughnesses as small as 32uin Ra for PEEK but can quote even lower values with a manual review. Bead Blast: Any undesirable tool marks may be removed by mechanically abrading the surface with glass beads.
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Cost-saving Design Tips PEEK is a relatively inexpensive engineering plastic, however, to further save on machining costs, try the following:

Sub-assemblies: PEEK for machining is supplied in either sheet or bar stock. As such, when CNC machining in PEEK, it is important to design parts with standard sizes in mind. Large parts machined from a single block of PEEK can become prohibitively expensive. Instead, consider designing separate sub-assemblies that will later bolt together or get fused via plastic welding. Tolerancing: Achieving extra-tight tolerances with plastics like PEEK can be challenging. We recommend only calling out tolerances tighter than +/- 0.005" for critical features to reduce the increased scrap, cost, and lead times associated with tight tolerances. Consistent features: Design with consistent features to reduce specialized tooling or tool switching.
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