Materials · Mechanical plastics
Polycarbonate machining
Custom polycarbonate parts CNC machined to your drawing or sample: guards, windows, clear manifolds, housings and more. Machined in our Aurora, Illinois shop.
Polycarbonate at a glance
- Full name
- Polycarbonate (PC)
- Also called
- Lexan®, Makrolon®, Tuffak®
- Known for
- Very high impact strength, in a clear plastic
- Common in
- Machine guarding, packaging, food, lab and electrical equipment
- Forms
- Clear, tinted or opaque; general-purpose, UV-stabilized and glass-filled grades
Parts in polycarbonate
Polycarbonate parts we machine
The parts we see most often in polycarbonate, and why it suits each job. We machine any polycarbonate part to your drawing or sample, listed here or not.
- Machine guards photo
Machine guards
Tough, clear guards and covers that let operators see the machine running.
- Sight windows photo
Sight windows
Viewing windows in doors, panels and hoppers.
- Manifolds photo
Manifolds
Clear manifolds, so you can watch the flow through each passage.
- Housings photo
Housings
Impact-resistant housings and enclosures, clear or opaque.
- Clear barriers photo
Clear barriers
Clear plastic barriers and shields for counters and workstations.
- Brackets photo
Brackets
Light, tough brackets for mounting guards, sensors and covers.
Need a different polycarbonate part? Send the drawing, or the old part, and we’ll quote it. Request a quote
Is polycarbonate right for the part?
Where polycarbonate works, and where another plastic may suit
General guidance on how polycarbonate behaves. If your drawing specifies a polycarbonate grade, we machine to it.
Where it works
- Impact
- Far tougher than glass. Takes knocks without shattering.
- Clarity
- Clear, so you can see through guards, windows and flow paths.
- Stability
- Takes on little water, so it holds its size.
- Cold
- Stays tough in cold service, where many clear plastics turn brittle.
- Insulation
- A good electrical insulator.
Where another plastic may suit
| If the part needs | Often used instead |
|---|---|
| Faces that resist scratching Polycarbonate scratches more easily than acrylic. Acrylic keeps a harder, clearer face where toughness matters less. | |
| Solvents and strong cleaners Some solvents, fuels and strong cleaners can craze or crack polycarbonate. These resist far more chemicals. | |
| Sliding and wear parts Polycarbonate wears quickly in sliding contact. These run well against other surfaces. | |
| Repeated steam or hot water Long exposure to hot water and steam weakens polycarbonate. These withstand repeated steam sterilization. |
Grades
Polycarbonate grades
Polycarbonate comes clear, tinted or opaque, in general-purpose, UV-stabilized and glass-filled grades. Name the grade on your drawing, or tell us how the part runs and we’ll suggest one.
| Grade | Typically used for |
|---|---|
| General-purpose | Clear, tinted or opaque. Most polycarbonate parts. |
| UV-stabilized | Outdoor and sunlit service, where plain grades can yellow. |
| Glass-filled | Stiffer, more stable structural parts. |
| Abrasion-resistant coated | Guards and windows that are cleaned or handled often. |
| Food-contact grades | Food processing parts. Compliance comes with the grade’s supplier documentation. |
Buyer questions
Polycarbonate FAQs
Something else? Call (630) 904-2525.
All plastics we machineYes. Lexan® is a brand name for polycarbonate, as are Makrolon® and Tuffak®. If your drawing names any of them, we machine the part to that grade. CDS isn’t affiliated with the trademark owners.
Polycarbonate is far tougher, so it suits guards and parts that take knocks. Acrylic is clearer, resists scratching better and usually costs less. We machine both, and we’ll suggest suitable plastics for the part.
Faces left as supplied stay clear. Machined faces and edges come out frosted. If certain faces need to stay clear, we plan the machining around them.
Yes. We supply polycarbonate sheet and rod, cut to size when you need it, through our material supply service.