1. POM
POM (Polyoxymethylene) is a material widely used in non-standard machines due to its good characteristics. The POM surface has low friction and is highly resistant to wear, allowing continuous use at temperatures ranging from -40°C to 100°C.
POM is also known for its good processing size and ability to maintain a working accuracy of 0.03mm at a constant temperature.
It is commonly used for lightweight parts such as shafts and gears.
2. PTEF
PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene), also known as “Plastic King” or “Teflon”, is a type of polymeric material. It has high resistance to high and low temperatures, with a temperature range of -180°C to 260°C.
PTFE has a very low coefficient of friction, with a friction value of 0.04 when in contact with steel, close to rolling friction. It is also one of the most corrosion-resistant materials in the world and can withstand any organic solution.
However, PTFE is relatively soft and difficult to process, leading to easy deformation and making it unsuitable for processing high-precision parts.
It is commonly used in mechanical designs for wear-resistant parts such as chain guide rails and W-type seal rings.
3. Nylon
Nylon is a commonly used material in non-standard machines due to its wear resistance and self-lubricating properties. At high temperatures, it performs better than lubricating oil, resulting in a low coefficient of friction. Nylon also has high geometric precision, making it suitable for processing gear bearings and other parts.
However, it has a temperature resistance limit of 160°C for continuous use. Nylon is also prone to water absorption, which leads to expansion and negatively affects accuracy when soaked in water.
4. PVC
Polyethylene is a cheap and widely used material, and is commonly used in non-standard machines.
PVC (polyvinyl chloride) is available in anti-static and non-static forms. Anti-static PVC is commonly used in electronic products, such as in the form of anti-static belts. PVC also comes in hard and soft varieties. Rigid PVC, like tooling board, is used to support loads and has a melting point of 75-90°C.
However, it is important to highlight that PVC should not be used in contact with food, as high temperatures can cause the release of carcinogenic substances.
5. Polyurethane
Pu, also known as “Youli Adhesive”, is a material with good oil resistance, toughness, wear resistance, aging resistance and adhesion. It has the rigidity of plastic and the elasticity of rubber, which makes it ideal for industrial use.
Polyurethane is commonly used in a variety of wheel applications, including forklift wheels, skid plate wheels, cigarette maker wheels, rolling wheels, and drive wheels.
In addition, polyurethane is also commonly used as a silencer layer, seal, damping head, shock absorber, anti-scratch component, fixing pad block and lightweight pad.
6. ABS
ABS plastic (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) is a resin composed of three monomers: acrylonitrile, butadiene and styrene. The composition of these monomers can be adjusted to produce different ABS resins.
ABS is commonly used for general parts, wear-resistant parts and transmission components in machines. It is also one of the most used materials for 3D printing due to its stability and versatility.
7. Rubber
Rubber refers to a highly elastic polymeric material that exhibits reversible deformation. It is often used as a coating on drums in machines to increase the coefficient of friction, providing high wear resistance and good sealing performance.
Rubber is commonly used in oil seals and O-rings, but it can age over time, causing cracking and hardening.
8. Bakelite
Phenolic plastic, also known as phenolic resin, is a material that has high mechanical strength and good wear resistance. It is available in anti-static and non-static forms.
Phenolic plastic is commonly used in tool plates, clamping base plates and lightweight materials. However, it presents low mechanical performance and low precision after processing, making it unsuitable for applications that require high loads and high precision.
