Although the term machining covers some broad territory, at its simplest, it means a carefully controlled process of removing selected areas from a larger piece of a material, usually performed by computer-guided tools (CNC). At Bennett Plastics, our machining services include CNC turning (the workpiece moves and the tool remains in place) and milling (the tool rotates and the workpiece is held in place).

Choosing between the many options for generating prototypes can be a challenge, with each process possessing unique benefits. Making an effective prototyping choice will depend on the specific details of your project, your budget, time, material selections, and other features. Some reasons to choose machining over other processes to prototype your design include:

• Cosmetic — None of the layer lines that 3D printing may show, and no mold marks such as parting lines or gate marks that may require finishing with injection molding
• Strength — Added part strength because it's formed from a solid piece of material
• Fast — No time is needed for mold design and tooling
• Cost — 3D printing may be the least expensive option for single prototypes, but for batches of prototypes or small production runs, machining may be more cost-effective
• Flexible — Allows easy, inexpensive design changes 
• Precision — Can be a bit more precise than injection molding
• Versatile — Offers access to plastic formulations that aren't suitable for injection molding or 3D printing

At Bennett Plastics, our expert team can help you choose the plastic manufacturing process best suited to your project and bring your product to live in the best and most efficient way possible. Contact us today to learn more about our full capabilities.