ULTEM CNC Machining Services

What is ULTEM CNC Machining?

ULTEM® (PEI) is a high-temperature, high-rigidity engineering plastic with excellent creep resistance, dielectric performance, and dimensional stability. With sharp carbide, steady chip load, and controlled heat, ULTEM machines cleanly for aerospace, semiconductor, and medical components.

• Tooling: Sharp micro-polished carbide; TiAlN/TiCN coatings when abrasive fillers are used.
• Heat control: Air blast or light mist; avoid localized overheating and stress whitening.
• Feeds/Speeds: Moderate SFM with consistent chip load; add a light finish pass on show faces.
• Workholding: Rigid/soft-jaw fixturing; minimize vibration on thin walls and tall ribs.

Key Considerations

Dry stock if moisture pickup is suspected. For tight stability on large or thin parts, use a rough → condition/anneal → finish approach. Avoid sharp inside corners and aggressive deburr.

For cosmetic consistency, climb-mill and apply a light skim pass to unify surface texture and color.