Rapid Axis for ABS CNC Machining Services
At Rapid Axis, we offer full-scale ABS CNC machining services, additional finishing steps, and much more. We are a machine shop that you can leverage as your general manufacturing partner, and we can fabricate and deliver ABS parts right to your loading dock. We utilize state-of-the-art CNC machines and next-level machining expertise to offer a range of high-quality ABS services. Whether you need a single, simple part or a hundred high-precision ABS parts, we can help.
Why Choose Rapid Axis for ABS Plastic CNC Parts?
ABS is one of the more common plastics when it comes to machined parts. You might be familiar with ABS in the 3D printing world, but machine shops like Rapid Axis offer ABS CNC machining services that involve using blocks of ABS and machining them down to the desired shape. With our experience, you can get custom-made parts that fit seamlessly into your operation.
With added quality assurance programs, we will catch issues before parts get sent out for delivery. We go the extra mile to ensure every part exceeds your expectations.
In addition, we offer a variety of finishing options to make sure the parts look and perform the way you’d like them to. With us, you can unlock quality and turnaround times that you’re not used to. Take your operation to the next level with ABS CNC machining services from Rapid Axis.
Parts made to customer drawing tolerances
Quick lead times and service
Finishing and second operations supported
Available Materials
As a material, ABS comes in a number of different grades and formulations. All of them are considered “ABS”, but they offer distinct and different material properties between the options:
Standard ABS
The most common and ubiquitous option is general-purpose ABS which has a nice balance of impact resistance, rigidity, machinability, cost, and performance.
Flame-Resistant ABS
There is also an option of ABS that meets UL 94 V-0 standards for fire resistance, and you often find this type in electrical and aerospace applications.
Glass-Filled ABS
This version of ABS adds glass fibers that improve the overall strength and rigidity but also comes with reduced machinability.
High-Impact ABS
If you need added toughness, impact resistance, and longevity for your parts, you might choose high-impact ABS.
Finishing Options
Our finishing options also set us apart from our competitors. We know that machined ABS parts can come with surface defects and some visual issues, so we put together a variety of finishing options to ensure every part looks perfect.
Bead Blasting
We shoot tiny pellets against the ABS parts to remove tool marks and imperfections, leaving you with a uniform matte finish on every part. It’s a great way to improve consumer-facing products and it reduces the glare associated with machined ABS parts.
Painting
As a material, ABS loves being painted. This allows our team to create customized finishes and branding on our fabricated ABS parts. You can use it for branding, color-coding parts, or achieving specific aesthetics.
Vapor Smoothing
We can use vapor smoothing to reduce the tool marks on our machined ABS parts. It’s common for 3D-printed parts, but also applicable to our ABS CNC machining services.
Texturing
If you want to go in the opposite direction and you want to add texture, we can do that too. This is often used to create grip surfaces for handheld devices, or to create an aesthetic pattern for decorative panels or casings.
Key Features of ABS
As you might know, ABS is a popular choice of plastic. It offers great impact strength, so it can work in applications that need parts to be durable and long-lasting.
ABS also offers pretty good heat resistance — not as good as specialty-engineered plastics, but much better than a lot of other common plastic choices. In addition, it stands up to a wide variety of chemicals, acids, and oils without issues.
We love ABS because it’s easy to work with and a more affordable material, allowing us to pass the savings on to our customers. Our team can use milling machines, lathes, drills, and can even tap ABS plastic with very little chipping or cracking risk (thanks to our expertise with the material).
General Restrictions
ABS is a great material choice, but there are some restrictions that you should be aware of:
- Tolerance Details. We offer tolerances at ±0.005 inches or tighter with 2D drawings for our CNC-machined ABS parts.
- Maximum Part Size. We can make ABS parts of all sizes, but we do have size restrictions just like any other machine shop. Contact us with your project requirements and specifications and we’ll tell you if we can handle the size and tolerancing requirements for your ABS parts.
- Surface Finish Options. ABS parts will usually show tool marks after machining, but we can put the part through a finishing process if you want to get rid of these marks. It can add a little time and cost to the part, but the final product is often worth it.
ABS CNC Machining Applications with Rapid Axis
We have offered ABS CNC machining services to companies across industries and applications, and we have found that a lot of businesses have a need for high-quality ABS parts. Although these aren’t the only industries that we serve, they are among the most common customers of our ABS CNC machining services.
Automotive
Since ABS is tough and impact-resistant, automotive companies love using ABS in their designs. It’s a common option for dashboard components, housings for electronic controls, and trim pieces around the vehicles. ABS is lightweight, durable, and cost-effective, so it’s a perfect fit for any of these applications.
Electronics and Consumer Goods
Since ABS is readily-available and easy to manufacture, electronics and consumer goods companies lean heavily on ABS. In addition, it offers insulating properties that allow companies to design keyboard casings, connector housings, and enclosures out of ABS plastic.
Medical Devices
Whenever you see plastic used on a non-implantable medical device that needs to be sterilized, there’s a good chance that it’s ABS. Of course, ABS can be sterilized easily, and the material is durable and offers great manufacturability. You’ll see ABS plastic used in medical equipment housings, diagnostic tool casings, and different instruments across hospitals.
Industrial
A lot of industrial companies lean on our ABS CNC machining services for a number of parts they use in-house. ABS is lightweight and durable, and often much more affordable than parts made out of metal. If you are an industrial company, we can create custom machine components, prototypes, and protective covers for you out of ABS. In fact, prototyping is a place where ABS is incredibly popular, so ask us more about how we can create ABS prototypes for you.
Aerospace
Aerospace companies often use ABS as their go-to thermoplastic when they care about saving weight without sacrificing the durability of their parts. You can find ABS used in aircraft interior panels, trim work, protective casings, and a wide range of prototype parts.