Advanced Plastic Technology

Not only do we manufacture single components, but also we assemble fabricated, machined and bought-in components to create value-added sub-assemblies and finished products.

We offer plastic machnining services using our 3-axis CNC-controlled machinery with 2-1/2D capabilities to machine a wide variety of plastic components. While there many different types of CNC machinery in use in the UK, our equipment has been chosen to provide the following features: large bed sizes to minimise non-productive handling operations, high-speed spindles for fast cycle times.

CNC routing is the ideal process for manufacturing flat panel-type components such as machinery windows, equipment housings, panels & doors. CNC routing is also the first process step in manufacturing machine guards and other plastic fabrications. Virtually any rigid plastic can be processed using this technology.

Drape moulding is a forming process that is good for producing large radius curves in plastic panels and for making tubes and cones. It is particularly effective for large components and thick section materials.

Fabrication is a generic term that is often applied to all aspects of sheet plastic processing. CNC routing, laser cutting, line bending and welding are all covered by specific process descriptions on other pages in this website. This page focuses on fixing and polishing. In addition to welding, we fix plastic components together using two processes. Chemical bonding provides good mechanical strength and can create mitre, face, lap and butt joints. It is also has the benefits of being a quick process, can be used to produce clean-looking joints on clear materials and does not 'contaminate' the plastic with metal parts. Mechanical fixing is achieved with a range of well-known fasteners. This is generally used when superior mechanical strength is required. Edge polishing is used to give a desirable polished look to a component. This is mainly used for acrylic components since they polish well and are often used for highly visual applications. We flame polish, wet sand and buff polish.

Laser cut acrylic has a fine polished edge. Clear, frosted and tinted materials give the best edge results. All colours, including solids, can be cut with an extremely fine level of detail. In our experience, the best results are achieved laser cutting the Perspex and Plexiglas brands of acrylic. We recommend these brands highly due to their consistency, quanlity and colour range available. We do cut other brands of acrylic when a customer has a spcific colour requirement., and so our cutting experience includes material from all major suppliers.

Laser cut polyester film has a number of applications in industry. Laser cutting can be a better approach to processing these material that stamping or die cutting. In our experience, this applies when cut pattern is intricate, when the componets are large, or when the ability to adjust design is important.

The above are the three most common laser cut plastics. We have experience in laser cutting other plastic materials and we have worked with a number of suppliers in developing laser cutting as a processing option for their plastic material.

Laser cutting is a non-contact form of cutting that uses a focused laser beam to cut cleanly a variety of plastic materials. We offer laser cutting and laser profiling services using our state-of-the-art CNC-controlled laser cutting machinery. We laser cut acrylic, mylar, polypropylene, polyester, and several thin film laminates including printed membrane switch materials.

Polyproylene is a flexible, durable and clean plastic. The practical thickness limit for laser cuting polypropylene is much more restricted than acrylic. Acceptable results are achievable on relatively thin sections and the best results are achieved using material less than 1mm thick. For thicker polyproylene compents we advise CNC routing as our recommended process. In spite of the thickness limitation we have seen significant growth in applications specifying thin section laser cut polypropylene.