CNC Machining Materials

Delrin

At a glance

Processes

CNC Mill
CNC Lathe

Lead Time

As fast as 3 days

Colors

White, black, brown

Tolerance

With drawing: as low as +/- 0.005 mm
No drawing: ISO 2768 medium

Price

$$

Applications

High rigidity and strength applications like gears, bushings, and fixtures

Grades

150, AF (13% PTFE Filled), 30% Glass Filled

About the Material

Delrin (generic: acetal) is a low-friction, high-stiffness material. It is used in applications ranging from auto parts to musical instruments. With a relatively high toughness and minimal elongation, Delrin boasts excellent dimensional accuracy.

Fictiv also offers Delrin AF (13% PTFE-Filled) and Glass-Filled Delrin.

When compared with standard Delrin, Delrin AF has an increased coefficient of friction for applications that require lubrication. With an excellent wear resistance, toughness, strength and dimensional stability, this material is often found in load bearing applications such as bushings, bearings, cams, thrust washers, gaskets and valve seats.

Glass-filled Delrin offers superior stiffness and dimensional stability with a high resistance to creep. Glass fibers increase impact resistance and fatigue endurance. This material is commonly used for automotive applications, construction, fixturing, and gear manufacturing.

Material Properties

Delrin 150

Tensile Strength

9,000 PSI

Elongation at Break

25%

Hardness

Rockwell M90

Density

1.41 g/㎤
0.05 lbs / cu. in.

Maximum Temperature

180° F

McMaster Part Number

8573K123

Delrin AF (13% PTFE Filled)

Tensile Strength

7,690 - 8,100 PSI

Elongation at Break

10.3%

Hardness

Rockwell R115-R118

Density

1.41 g/㎤
0.05 lbs / cu. in.

Maximum Temperature

185° F

McMaster Part Number

8578k417

Delrin (30% Glass Filled)

Tensile Strength

7,700 PSI

Elongation at Break

6%

Hardness

Rockwell M87

Density

1.41 g/㎤
0.06 lbs / cu. in.

Maximum Temperature

185° F

McMaster Part Number

8684k81

Material Finish

Delrin-150 and Glass-Filled Delrin materials are naturally opaque white because of its crystalline structure and has a matte finish. Delrin AF comes in a brown color (pictured on the right).

Design Recommendations

Min Wall Thickness

0.5 mm

Min End Mill Size

0.8mm (0.03 in)

Min Drill Size

0.5mm (0.02 in)

Max Part Size

1200 x 500 x 152 mm [x,y,z] (mill) 152 x 394 mm [d,h] (lathe)

Undercuts

Square profile, full radius, dovetail profiles

Radii : Depth

Depth must not exceed 12x drill bit diameter.
For end mills, depth must not exceed 10x tool diameter.

Warping

Due to the composition of Delrin and temperatures from machining, it is highly susceptible to warping on large, flat parts or where there are thin walls. We recommend avoiding thin walls; if you need thin walls, use fasteners to clamp down your design.

Cost Saving Tip

To reduce costs, limit the number of part setups, the number of inspection dimensions or tight tolerances, and deep pockets with small radii.

Delrin FAQs

Can Delrin be machined?

Delrin can be used in cnc machining. It is a good plastic for applications that will experience lots of friction, require tight tolerances, or need a high stiffness material.

Can you laser cut Delrin?

Yes, because Delrin can easily be removed by the laser beam, it is especially useful for laser cutting or engraving.

How do you cut Delrin plastic?

It’s possible to cut Delrin with a bandsaw, RAS, miter saw, or lathe.

Is Delrin stronger than nylon?

Nylon is a strong and durable plastic, applicable to a wide variety of purposes, however it’s not as strong as Delrin.

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