Machining Ultem (PEI): Machinability and Grades in 2024

ULTEM, with its PEI-grade plastic materials, gives you a lot of flexibility in your CNC machining production. This high-quality premium thermoplastic material can give you the ease of machinability, lots of high-grade plastic properties, and strength and durability you will need to create long-term products for various industries by machining ultem.

Exceptional Features of Machining ULTEM Plastic Material

Why choose ULTEM? The ULTEM plastic material belongs to the top-quality thermoplastic materials you can use for CNC machining. It also has a wide range of applications that allow you to create both small and big components or parts from it. You can also get plenty of exceptional features from the ULTEM plastic material, which can boost the quality of the plastic products you produce with it. Here are some exceptional features of the ULTEM plastic material:

● Resistant to UV and high temperature.

The ULTEM plastic material can withstand high temperatures and UV light radiation with no problem. In fact, this special plastic material can keep its solid dimensional stability when exposed to high heat and UV light radiation, whether in natural or controlled environmental conditions.

● FDA compliance for medical uses.

ULTEM is among the safest and most highly used plastic materials for medical purposes, including the production of various medical tools. This plastic material complies with the FDA safety guidelines and is safe for various medical operations. Many medical devices are using the ULTEM plastic material to create various medical products for their public health facilities.

● Machining Ultem: Solid dimensional strength and durability.

You can also rely on the strength and durability of the ULTEM plastic material, which will allow you to create solid plastic products in various applications. Its strong and durable properties can help maintain the lifecycle of the products you create with this special plastic material. It is also why ULTEM is widely used in heavy industries like aerospace and automotive.

● It generates low gas or smoke in high flames.

Many plastic materials might generate a lot of smoke or unhealthy gas when they get exposed to high flames. It can be detrimental to the environment whenever some unfortunate accidents happen. The good thing about ULTEM is that it will generate very low gas or smoke when exposed to high flames. So, it can be very safe when some unfortunate accidents happen.

● Machining Ultem: High resistance to hydrolysis reaction.

ULTEM will also be highly resistant against any hydrolysis reaction, meaning that it won’t disintegrate when exposed to water. Exposing this special plastic material to water will also be very safe to do, as the dimensional stability will be kept intact during the water exposure.

Factors of Machining ULTEM Plastic Material

As a high-quality and premium plastic material, ULTEM provides manufacturers with the ease of machinability when they use it in their production process. No matter the CNC machining processes you might need to use, ULTEM is compatible with all of them. It’s one of the best quality plastic materials around that you can use for multiple purposes. The following are the machinability factors of the ULTEM plastic material:

● Its chemical makeup makes machining ULTEM very easy to machine with CNC.

ULTEM is a high-quality plastic material with a chemical makeup suitable for CNC machining processes, such as drilling, milling, turning, and more. The chemicals are also very stable. So, you don't need to worry about this material disintegrating or becoming reactionary during the machining activities. This makes ULTEM to be very suitable for producing durable and strong plastic components for various industries.

● The easy machinability of ULTEM is applicable for small and big component production.

You can use the ULTEM plastic material to create both smaller and bigger components across different industries. ULTEM provides you with the flexibility you need for your production plan.

● The machining ULTEM machinability will depend on its material grades.

In general, all ULTEM plastic materials are highly machinable, meaning that you can use all ULTEM materials for CNC machining production. However, ULTEM is also offered in different grades. The higher grades of ULTEM will provide you with even better machinability factors that allow you to work with these plastic materials with more ease.

● ULTEM machinability is suitable for a wide range of industrial applications.

There are various applications that depend on the use of ULTEM as the primary plastic material. The applications of ULTEM range from the aerospace to consumer electronics industries, covering a wide range of products. Its applications include the production of electrical component enclosures, medical tools, and connectors for electronic products, seals, various semiconductor components, and more.

Grading the machining ULTEM Plastic Material for CNC Machining

● ULTEM 1000.

This is the basic version of ULTEM you can use for various industrial applications. It is the cheapest version of the ULTEM plastic material that will fit the bill for both low and high-volume production using CNC machines.

● ULTEM 2100.

This is a step up from the ULTEM 1000 grade, which has 10% glass material filled inside it. ULTEM 2100 is suitable for low-volume production. It has improved solidity in its material compared to the ULTEM 1000 grade.

● ULTEM 2200.

This is a step up from the ULTEM 2100 grade, with 20% glass material filled into it. It will have improved solidity and strength compared to the ULTEM 2100 grade. It is also suitable for low-volume production.

● ULTEM 2300.

For glass-filled ULTEM plastic material, you will find that the ULTEM 2300 grade is the most common one to use. It has 30% glass material filled in it. It also has better overall strength and durability compared to the ULTEM 2200 grade.

● ULTEM Static and Conductive PEI.

For semiconductor applications, you will need to use the special ULTEM static and conductive PEI grade. This ULTEM grade will be adjusted according to your requirements regarding its electrical conductivity.

● ULTEM HU1000.

This is the version of ULTEM plastic material that you can use for medical applications. It has a core material that uses safe, biocompatible chemicals that are FDA-approved. You need to use this version of ULTEM for production in the pharmaceutical and medical industries.

Conclusion of Machining Ultem

With its high machinability, ULTEM will be proven to help manufacturers create high-quality products for various industries with high efficiency and faster speed. You can use the various grades of ULTEM plastic material in your production activities in 2024.Besides from CNC machining, TEAM MFG also offers rapid prototyping services, injection molding, and low volume manufacturing services to your projects needs. Contact us today!