CNC Machining Materials

PPS

At a glance

Processes

CNC Mill
CNC Lathe

Lead Time

As fast as 7 days

Colors

Natural (off-white)

Tolerance

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

Price

$$$

Applications

High temperature applications, automotive fluids, appliances, industrial applications, medical

About the material

Polyphenylene Sulfide (PPS) is a high-performance engineering plastic with excellent temperature resistance, dimensional stability, and electrical insulation properties. With exceptional mechanical strength, chemical resistance, and flame resistance, PPS is commonly found in high temperature applications such as automotive parts, appliances, electronics, medical devices, and industrial applications.

Material Properties

Yield Strength

13,000 PSI

Elongation at Break

4%

Hardness

Rockwell R125

Density

0.049 lbs / cu. in

McMaster Part Number

1906t25

Material Finish

PPS has an opaque, off-white finish when machined. It has a smooth, matte appearance post machining and can be machined to a variety of surface roughnesses.

Design Recommendations

Min Wall Thickness

1.0 mm

Min End Mill Size

0.8 mm (0.03 in)

Min Drill Size

0.5 mm (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.

Polyphenylene Sulfide (PPS) FAQs

What type of thermoplastic is PPS?

Polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) is a semi crystalline, high temperature engineering thermoplastic. It is one of the most important thermoplastics because it has an extremely stable molecular structure which lends to its performance in harsh chemicals. It exhibits a number of desirable properties including resistance to heat, acids, alkalines, mildew, bleaches, aging, sunlight, and abrasion.

How does machining PPS differ from metal machining? injection molding, or 3D printing?

Although each process has differences, plastic machining, 3D printing, and injection molding, overlap in their capabilities.

  • PPS machining offers products with the broadest resistance to chemicals and water based elements, more than any other high-performance thermoplastic and metal. It is also more lightweight than metal.
  • 3D printing is limited to using only plastics and isn’t as technologically advanced due to making it more accessible to DIY users.
  • Injection molding is a fully automated manufacturing process that commonly involves thermoplastic polymers, but it can be used with a variety of other materials, including metals. This process permits very high production rates and intricate part fabrication.

Why is PPS a good material for machining?

PPS is a fantastic material for machining. Its low shrinkage and stable dimensional properties make it easy to machine to incredibly tight, precise tolerances. Besides being more lightweight, plastics are also more cost-effective than raw metal materials used in part fabrication, in part due to the ability to be produced in faster cycles than metals.

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