Comparison of CNC Machining Materials

PEI (polyetherimide) is a high-performance thermoplastic engineering plastic that combines excellent heat resistance, mechanical properties, and chemical stability, enabling it to be widely used in high-end industrial fields such as aerospace, electronics and electrical engineering, and medical equipment.

PET (polyethylene terephthalate) is a common thermoplastic polyester with excellent mechanical properties and strong chemical resistance. It also offers glass-like transparency and luster, with a high light transmittance of about 88–92%, and is widely used in beverage bottles, food packaging, and engineering plastics.

PC (polycarbonate, commonly known as bulletproof glue) is inherently pale yellow or colorless and transparent, featuring hardness, toughness and luster. It boasts prominent advantages: with a light transmittance of 90%, it not only has good mechanical strength but also excellent impact resistance, along with outstanding heat resistance and weatherability.

ABS (Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene Copolymer) is a well-balanced engineering plastic with good mechanical properties, excellent impact resistance, and easy processability. These characteristics have led to its widespread application in fields such as consumer electronics, household appliances, automotive industry, and daily necessities.

AISI 4140 Alloy Steel is a medium-carbon chromium-molybdenum steel with a carbon content of about 0.38–0.43%. It offers an excellent combination of strength, toughness, wear resistance, and machinability. When heat-treated, it provides outstanding mechanical properties, making it widely used in gears, crankshafts, connecting rods, bolts, and critical components in the oil and gas industry.

C101 copper, also known as HC copper (High Conductivity Copper) or more precisely, high-conductivity copper, has a nominal electrical conductivity of 100% IACS (International Annealed Copper Standard)—a benchmark level for conductive performance. It also features excellent high thermal conductivity, making it the preferred material for various electrical components (such as terminals) and conductors (such as power transmission busbars).
Furthermore, this material possesses high ductility (enabling easy complex forming processes like stretching and bending) and reliable impact resistance. While meeting the requirements for electrical performance, it can also accommodate the structural stability demands of mechanical processing and practical operating conditions, making it truly a high-quality copper material that combines multi-functional properties with practical value.