PEEK Machining Services in Los Angeles

Engineering plastics fail in the opposite direction from superalloys. PEEK's coefficient of thermal expansion is several times that of steel, so a part measured warm off the machine will not measure the same on a temperature-controlled granite plate — cutting heat alone can move a bore beyond print. The material is notch sensitive, so a stress riser left by a dull tool becomes a crack in service; extruded stock carries internal stress that releases as parts are opened up, and glass-filled grades abrade cutting edges quickly, which drives heat back into the workpiece the moment the edge dulls.

We treat PEEK as its own process, not as soft metal. Tooling is dedicated to plastics with polished, highly positive geometry and generous chip clearance, so material shears rather than smears. Speeds are set to keep the cut cool, coolant or air is directed to remove heat instead of only chips, and parts are allowed to normalize to lab temperature before final inspection at a documented 68°F. Stress-relief annealing is scheduled between roughing and finishing on thin-wall and close-tolerance work. Fixtures support rather than squeeze, and workholding never contacts a sealing or bearing surface. No metallic contamination: dedicated tooling and cleaned work areas for medical and semiconductor parts.