Family-owned precision machine shop · Aurora, Illinois · Since 1986

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Materials · High-performance plastics

Polyimide machining

Custom polyimide and Vespel® parts CNC machined to your drawing or sample: bushings, thrust washers, seal rings and insulators for parts that run too hot for other plastics. Machined in our Aurora, Illinois shop.

Quote a polyimide part (630) 904-2525

Polyimide at a glance

Full name
Polyimide (PI)
Also called
Vespel®
Known for
Keeping its strength and wear resistance at temperatures above most plastics
Common in
Semiconductor, vacuum and glass-handling equipment
Grades
Unfilled, graphite-filled, and PTFE- or moly-filled bearing grades

Parts in polyimide

Polyimide parts we machine

The parts we see most often in polyimide, and why it suits each job. We machine any polyimide part to your drawing or sample, listed here or not.

Need a different polyimide part? Send the drawing, or the old part, and we’ll quote it. Request a quote

Is polyimide right for the part?

Where polyimide works, and where another plastic may suit

General guidance on how polyimide behaves. If your drawing specifies a polyimide or Vespel® grade, we machine to it.

Where it works

Heat
Keeps its strength at temperatures that melt most plastics, and doesn’t melt itself.
Wear
Runs against metal with low friction and wear, dry or lubricated.
Vacuum
Gives off very little gas, so it’s used in vacuum and semiconductor equipment.
Insulation
Insulates against both heat and electricity.

Where another plastic may suit

If the part needs Often used instead
Hot water and steam Hot water and steam break polyimide down over time. These handle them.
Strong alkalis Strong alkalis attack polyimide. PTFE resists them.
Lower cost Polyimide is among the most expensive plastics. Where the part doesn’t run that hot, these machine well for far less.

Precision in polyimide

How we machine polyimide

±0.002"–±0.005" On critical dimensions, depending on the plastic

Polyimide holds its shape at heat and under load, so it machines to close size. Thin rings and filled grades are what we control. We confirm the critical dimensions with your quote.

  1. Costly stock

    Polyimide stock costs far more than most plastics.

    We size blanks closely and check the first part before cutting the rest.

  2. Filled grades

    Graphite and other fillers wear cutting tools.

    We use carbide or diamond tooling, so size holds across the run.

  3. Thin rings and washers

    Rigid, thin parts can crack when clamped.

    We use light, even clamping and support thin sections.

Grades

Polyimide grades

Polyimide comes unfilled, graphite-filled and in PTFE- or moly-filled bearing grades. Name the grade on your drawing, or tell us how the part is used and we’ll suggest one.

Grade Typically used for
Unfilled Insulators and the highest-strength parts.
Graphite-filled Bushings, thrust washers and seal rings, run dry or lubricated.
PTFE- or moly-filled The lowest-friction sliding parts.
PEEK When the part doesn’t need polyimide’s heat, at lower cost. PEEK

Buyer questions

Polyimide FAQs

Something else? Call (630) 904-2525.

All plastics we machine

Polyimide keeps its strength at higher temperatures and doesn’t melt. PEEK costs less and handles hot water and steam better. If your drawing specifies one, we machine to it.

Vespel® is a brand of polyimide. If your drawing specifies a Vespel grade, we machine to it. CDS isn’t affiliated with the trademark owner.

Yes. We supply polyimide sheet and rod, cut to size when you need it, through our material supply service.

Getting a quote

Start with what you have

A drawing, a sketch or the worn or broken polyimide part itself. Our experienced team takes it from there.

Request a quote (630) 904-2525
When a breakdown can’t wait, ask about our expedited service