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MATERIALS & MANUFACTURING

The right material for your plastic part

From molded production and low-volume casting to CNC and 3D printing. Compare plastic materials by application, appearance and manufacturing process.

Clear circular guard with mounting ears, an ivory connector and a blue end cap
04Processes · Prototype to production
General, engineering & high-performance plasticsRigid, clear & flexible optionsMaterial and process, selected together

Injection Molding Plastics

Explore general, engineering, high-performance and flexible materials, then confirm the grade and tooling plan.

20 Materials
Black vented instrument housing and lid with internal mounting bosses and a threaded opening

ABS

Family comparison: CNC

Tough, impact-tolerant ABS molds into detailed housings, instrument panels and everyday product covers. Its balance of appearance and structural performance suits many general-purpose molded parts.

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Typical Applications

Equipment housings, instrument panels and consumer-product covers.

Selection Notes

Provide the molding grade, loads, operating temperature, color and surface finish.

Ivory hinged box showing an integral hinge and blue snap tab

PP (Polypropylene)

Injection Molding Plastics

Lightweight PP combines fatigue resistance with chemical-resistance characteristics for containers, lids and repeated-flex designs. Formulation determines the balance between stiffness and flexibility.

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Typical Applications

Containers, flip-top covers and lightweight housings; review hinge geometry separately.

Selection Notes

Specify homopolymer, copolymer or filled grade, hinge geometry, flex cycles, wall thickness and chemical exposure.

Milky translucent dispensing closure with a tapered nozzle and tethered plug

PE (Polyethylene)

Injection Molding Plastics

Tough PE combines low moisture absorption with chemical resistance for caps, plugs and container components. Density and formulation determine the balance between flexibility and rigidity.

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Typical Applications

Caps, plugs, flexible container components and parts exposed to specified chemicals.

Selection Notes

State HDPE, LDPE or another PE grade, plus stiffness, color and contact medium.

Clear display insert with four round recesses and thin separating ribs

PS (Polystyrene)

Injection Molding Plastics

Rigid PS supports clear covers, display inserts and lightly loaded housings. General-purpose and impact-modified grades offer different balances of transparency, toughness and appearance.

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Typical Applications

Display inserts, clear covers and lightly loaded housings.

Selection Notes

Specify GPPS or HIPS, impact exposure, operating temperature and appearance requirements.

Clear domed optical cover with three mounting ears

PMMA (Acrylic)

Family comparison: CNC

PMMA brings optical clarity to molded viewing windows, light-transmitting covers and display components. Transparent appearance, color and surface quality drive its selection.

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Typical Applications

Viewing windows, light-transmitting covers and display panels.

Selection Notes

Provide clarity, color, optical-surface requirements, thickness and impact conditions.

Clear protective enclosure with internal screw bosses and reinforcing ribs

PC (Polycarbonate)

Family comparison: CNC

PC combines transparency with impact tolerance and heat resistance for protective covers, equipment enclosures and viewing windows where visibility and structural function matter together.

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Typical Applications

Transparent guards, viewing windows and equipment enclosures.

Selection Notes

Specify grade, transparency, chemical contact, operating temperature and finish.

Charcoal dual-channel cable clip with mounting holes and reinforcing ribs

PA6 (Nylon 6)

PA family: CNC · Printing

PA6 provides strength and wear-related performance for molded clips, gears and mechanical connectors. Moisture conditioning influences both dimensions and mechanical behavior in service.

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Typical Applications

Clips, gears, cable retainers and mechanical connectors.

Selection Notes

State PA6 grade, reinforcement, humidity, conditioning state and critical fits.

Graphite gear housing with a central bearing opening, mounting flange and radial ribs

PA66 (Nylon 66)

PA family: CNC · Printing

PA66 serves structural connectors, fasteners and gear housings with nylon’s strength and wear-related characteristics. Formulation, reinforcement and moisture condition shape its finished-part behavior.

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Typical Applications

Gear housings, fasteners and structural connectors.

Selection Notes

Specify PA66 grade, filler, temperature, conditioning state and dimensional requirements.

Ivory spur gear with a raised hub, lightening recesses and D-shaped bore

POM (Acetal)

Family comparison: CNC

Stiff, low-friction POM suits molded gears, sliders, sleeves and transmission components. Its wear behavior and dimensional stability support moving parts and fitted interfaces.

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Typical Applications

Gears, sliders, sleeves and compact transmission components.

Selection Notes

Specify copolymer or homopolymer grade, contact materials, load, temperature and fit.

Blue six-position connector housing with a top locking latch

PBT

Injection Molding Plastics

PBT balances mechanical, thermal and electrical characteristics for molded connectors, sockets and functional housings. Reinforcement and grade selection tailor the material to the component.

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Typical Applications

Electrical connectors, sockets and functional housings.

Selection Notes

Provide filler, electrical requirements, temperature, shrinkage targets and finish.

Light-gray oval display bezel with a matching navy rear shell

PC/ABS Blend

Injection Molding Plastics

PC/ABS blends serve electronics enclosures, control panels and structural covers. Each blend offers its own balance of housing performance and molding behavior.

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Typical Applications

Electronics enclosures, control panels and structural covers.

Selection Notes

Provide the blend grade, load and impact requirements, operating temperature, color and finish.

Beige flanged bushing with a central bore and axial ribs

PEEK

Family comparison: CNC

PEEK combines mechanical strength, heat resistance and chemical resistance for demanding molded sleeves, supports and functional components. Unfilled and reinforced grades address different design priorities.

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Typical Applications

Heat-exposed sleeves, structural parts and reviewed chemical-contact components.

Selection Notes

Specify grade, reinforcement, operating environment, geometry and material-record requirements.

Amber translucent connector cover with snap ears and internal ribs

PEI (Polyetherimide)

Injection Molding Plastics

PEI belongs in the high-performance molding group for projects with thermal, electrical or dimensional requirements. Selection begins with the specified formulation and component requirements.

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Typical Applications

Engineering components driven by thermal, electrical and dimensional requirements.

Selection Notes

Provide PEI grade, electrical requirements, service conditions and dimensional targets.

Black pump volute with a central inlet and tangential outlet

PPS

Injection Molding Plastics

PPS brings heat resistance, chemical resistance and dimensional stability to rigid molded components such as pump bodies and connectors. Reinforcement and formulation define the application balance.

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Typical Applications

Pump bodies, connectors and heat-exposed functional components.

Selection Notes

Specify filler, chemical contact, operating temperature, electrical requirements and critical dimensions.

Gray L-shaped bracket with triangular ribs, a slot and a round mounting eye

PPA (Polyphthalamide)

Injection Molding Plastics

PPA is a distinct high-performance polyamide family for engineering-part selection, with thermal, load and dimensional requirements defined for the intended component and formulation.

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Typical Applications

Engineering components with thermal, load and dimensional requirements.

Selection Notes

Provide PPA grade, reinforcement, conditioning state, service temperature and load requirements.

Slender beige connector housing with a row of fine-wall slots and mounting end tabs

LCP (Liquid Crystal Polymer)

Injection Molding Plastics

LCP sits within the high-performance molding group for detailed connector and electrical-component projects. Geometry, formulation and processing direction guide the material specification for each component.

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Typical Applications

Detailed connector and electrical-component projects.

Selection Notes

Provide grade, reinforcement, wall thickness, flow direction and electrical requirements.

Black flexible grip boot with an oval hand opening and fine anti-slip texture

TPE (Thermoplastic Elastomer)

Injection Molding Plastics

TPE combines a rubber-like feel with elastic behavior for grips, cushioning pads and flexible interfaces. This thermoplastic-elastomer family includes TPU among its different material types.

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Typical Applications

Grips, cushioning pads, flexible interfaces and reviewed overmolded features.

Selection Notes

Specify elastomer chemistry, hardness, rebound, contact environment and overmolding substrate.

Dark-blue flexible bellows with round connection necks at both ends

TPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethane)

Injection Molding Plastics

TPU is a thermoplastic polyurethane within the TPE family, used for flexible boots, protective frames and grip surfaces. It differs from cured polyurethane casting resins.

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Typical Applications

Flexible boots, protective frames, grip surfaces and cushioning components.

Selection Notes

Provide TPU grade, hardness, elastic-response targets, chemical contact and substrate.

Translucent silicone sealing grommet with a soft thin lip and central opening

Silicone (Dedicated Injection Process)

Injection Molding Plastics

Silicone provides elastic behavior for seals, flexible interfaces and cushioning. Dedicated injection-and-curing systems shape the components, using a different process from thermoplastic melt molding.

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Typical Applications

Seals, flexible interfaces and cushioning components.

Selection Notes

Specify silicone system, hardness, curing route, geometry and contact conditions.

Translucent blue flexible cable sleeve with a smooth bend and thickened end openings

Flexible PVC

PVC family: CNC; confirm formulation

Flexible PVC uses a plasticized formulation for soft molded boots, covers and protective interfaces. Its flexibility and handling characteristics differ from rigid PVC stock.

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Typical Applications

Flexible boots, protective covers and soft covering components.

Selection Notes

Provide flexible-PVC grade, hardness, plasticizer requirements, contact media and color.

TPE is an elastomer family that includes TPU. Silicone injection molding uses a different molding and curing system from thermoplastics.

CROSS-PROCESS SELECTION

One material name. Different manufacturing routes.

Separate actual polymer families from performance-like resins, then compare feedstock, grade and application for each process.

Identical Material Across FourThis catalog does not establish one identical material and grade across all four processes.

Polymer Family Across ThreePA/Nylon: CNC, molding and printing; confirm species such as PA6, PA66 and PA12 separately.

Polymer Families Across TwoCNC and molding: ABS, PC, PMMA, POM and PEEK. PVC also requires rigid/flexible formulation checks.

Material / FamilyCNCInjection MoldingVacuum Casting3D Printing
ABSABSABS——
PA / NylonNylon StockPA6 / PA66—PA12 / Composites
PCPCPC——
PMMAPMMAPMMA——
POMPOMPOM——
PEEKPEEKPEEK——
PVC FamilyPVC StockFlexible PVC——
PP—PP——

Actual Polymer

Same Family; Confirm Species and Formulation

PA/Nylon spans CNC, molding and printing, but PA6/PA66 and PA12 are different species. ABS, PC, PMMA, POM and PEEK span CNC and molding at family level. Confirm PVC formulations. This catalog does not establish an identical material and grade across all four processes.

ENGINEERING & QUALITY

Turn a material name into clear part requirements

Grades, reinforcement and processing affect finished-part behavior. Share the operating conditions so selection and acceptance follow the same requirements.

Explore Quality Control→
01

Start with the application

Loads, operating temperature, chemical exposure and dimensions define the material properties to check.

02

Define appearance and processing needs

Specify color, clarity, finish, assembly and quantity so material and process can be reviewed together.

03

Confirm samples and inspection

Share a specified grade or performance target, then agree samples, critical dimensions and material documentation.

Why PlasticHubs

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Review material and process together

Review use, geometry and quantity to choose a plastic manufacturing route for the project stage.

Connect prototypes to production

Validate with CNC, printing or casting, then plan the transition to molded production.

Coordinate around part requirements

Keep engineering feedback, appearance, assembly and quality requirements in one project conversation.

MATERIAL QUESTIONS

Frequently Asked Questions

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Which materials are shared across these four processes?

Within this catalog, the PA/Nylon family appears in CNC, molding and printing, but the species differ: CNC nylon stock with a specified species, PA6/PA66, and PA12 or nylon composites. ABS, PC, PMMA, POM and PEEK appear in CNC and molding. PVC also has two routes; confirm each formulation rather than assuming equivalence. Casting like-resins are separate performance alternatives; no identical material and grade is established across all four processes.

Are ABS-like and PC-like casting resins the named plastics?

No. These names describe appearance or selected performance targets. These casting options are resin systems and do not identify actual ABS, PC, PMMA, POM or PA. Obtain the actual resin grade and review strength, heat exposure, aging and service conditions. A successful fit-check prototype does not automatically establish equivalent long-term performance.

Can PA6, PA66 and printed PA12 be exchanged directly?

They are not direct substitutes. They share the polyamide family, but polymer species, formulations, reinforcement and manufacturing routes differ. Specify grade, loads, temperature, humidity and fits, and agree on dry or conditioned inspection states. Identify fillers explicitly; glass fiber and glass beads must not be merged under an unspecified reinforced-nylon label.

Can clear 3D print resin be treated as PC or PMMA?

Transparency does not establish polymer identity. The clear and translucent Resin options are photopolymers, while PC and PMMA are thermoplastics with their own grades. For a viewing window or cover, compare appearance, thickness, finishing, loads and environment across the routes, using each material’s own data.

How do flexible PVC, CNC PVC and TPE/TPU differ?

Flexible molding PVC and CNC PVC can be compared at family level. Specify rigid or flexible formulation and stock grade for CNC rather than assuming identical formulations. TPE is a thermoplastic-elastomer family that includes TPU. For flexible parts, define chemistry, hardness, rebound, contact conditions and any overmolding substrate. Cured casting PU is also distinct from thermoplastic TPU.

What information should accompany a material-selection request?

Provide CAD or drawings, quantity, critical dimensions and fits, plus loads, peak and continuous temperatures, chemical contact, color, clarity and finish. If a material is specified, include its full grade, filler, hardness and required records; add conditioning requirements where relevant. Separate visual, functional-validation and long-term service objectives so material, process and finishing can be reviewed together.

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Black vented instrument housing and lid with internal mounting bosses and a threaded opening

Injection Molding Plastics

ABS

Tough, impact-tolerant ABS molds into detailed housings, instrument panels and everyday product covers. Its balance of appearance and structural performance suits many general-purpose molded parts.

Typical Applications

Equipment housings, instrument panels and consumer-product covers.

Selection Notes

Provide the molding grade, loads, operating temperature, color and surface finish.

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