Polycarbonate CNC Machining

Drawing-led profiles, holes and fit features with order-specific tolerance review.

A CNC-cut PC part succeeds when the holes, edges and fit surfaces match your assembly. Send the drawing and identify which features are critical. We will review the polycarbonate grade, machining route, first sample and measurement plan before quoting a repeat batch.

Quote a PC part from a drawing Ask about a first sample

Clear machined plastic sample with holes, raised features and internal cut-outs

Representative clear machined-part sample. The photograph shows feature types; material grade, process and dimensional accuracy are confirmed by the order documents, not by an image.

Choose the features you need inspected

Feature	Tell us	First-sample check
Outside profile	Finished outline, corner radius, visible edge and mating clearance.	Profile size, squareness or fit against the reference assembly.
Holes and countersinks	Hole diameter, through/blind condition, location datums and fastening hardware.	Hole centres from agreed datums, diameter, burr/edge condition and fastener fit.
Slots and pockets	Width, depth, internal corner radius and critical bearing or locating surfaces.	Tool-access feasibility, step depth and local fit; inside corners cannot be sharper than the selected cutter route.
Viewed or coated face	Which side faces the user, UV or functional treatment, film removal and cleaning.	Surface and edge appearance after machining, plus any grade-specific test or coating checks.

For a plain rectangle, cut-to-size service is usually the simpler route. For bending or multi-step assembly, start from the full PC fabrication review. Polycarbonate laser cutting is not our default recommendation for stressed or visible edges because heat may change edge colour and stress; the final method depends on grade, thickness, appearance and use.

Put critical geometry on the drawing

Illustrative PC panel drawing showing critical hole centres, datum edges, viewing face and edge finish — Illustrative drawing checklist only; no dimensions or tolerance are implied. Mark your own critical features and measurement datums.

Send DXF, DWG, STEP, IGES or a dimensioned PDF with revision, quantity and sheet grade. Distinguish critical dimensions from reference dimensions. Add the measuring temperature/condition when fit is sensitive to thermal expansion, and flag hole-to-edge distance, thin webs, bends, visible edges and coating direction.

How tolerance and first-article approval work

Review the feature: we check material grade, thickness, geometry, cutter access, clamping and distortion risk.
Quote the tolerance: 22 CNC machines support a range of work; published ±0.1 mm cutting capability is a best-case reference for suitable features, not a guarantee for every size or part. The offer lists the actual controlled features and method.
Inspect a first sample: measure agreed hole positions, profile and fit features against the approved drawing revision, then confirm visible edges and protected faces.
Release the repeat batch: retain the accepted sample/revision and specify inspection record, packing orientation and any applicable original material test report requested from sales.

Include the assembly drawing or mating part if possible. A finished part can fit poorly even when individual dimensions look reasonable if the datums or assembly conditions are unclear. Price and lead time depend on the actual grade, features, quantity and process complexity and are confirmed in writing.

Questions buyers ask

Can you hold ±0.1 mm on every PC feature?

No. It is a published best-case CNC capability reference for suitable features. The quoted tolerance depends on PC grade, sheet thickness, part geometry, fixture, temperature and measuring method. Mark critical features so engineering can confirm them in writing.

What file should I send for a CNC quote?

Send DXF, DWG, STEP, IGES or a dimensioned PDF with the current revision, quantity, material/thickness, datums, critical dimensions, edge and surface requirements. A photo or physical sample helps when a replacement part must fit an existing assembly.

Can you provide a first-article inspection?

We can agree first-sample inspection points for the quoted part. List the features, measurement method and report you need before production so the approved drawing and quote define the deliverable.

Send a PC CNC drawing

From the factory