Machining PEEK can give you precision—but it comes at a price.
This material is strong, heat-resistant, and tough. But that toughness wears out cutting tools fast. It also means long machining times, more downtime, and higher costs.
If you’re running into these issues, it may be time to look at a more efficient option: injection molding.
The Abrasive Challenge: Why PEEK Machining Wears Down Tools (And Your Patience)
Understanding PEEK’s Material Properties and Abrasiveness
PEEK, or polyether ether ketone, is a high-performance plastic. It’s known for strength, heat resistance, and chemical stability.
But it’s also abrasive. That means it grinds down cutting tools—especially carbide and high-speed steel—much faster than other plastics.
The Cycle of Wear, Replacement, and Downtime
When tools wear out, you have to stop the machine. Then, replace the tool, recalibrate settings, and restart production.
This adds up. It slows output, eats into your budget, and interrupts your schedule.
Overview
Machining PEEK isn’t just hard on tools—it’s hard on your time and money, too.
Injection Molding: Sidestepping PEEK Tool Wear Entirely
Injection molding works differently. Instead of cutting the part, it melts PEEK and injects it into a mold.
The mold is made from hardened steel. It can withstand the heat and pressure of molten PEEK for hundreds of thousands of parts without needing replacement.
That’s a major shift from machining, where tools might last only a few parts before dulling.
Accelerating PEEK Production: Drastically Reduced Cycle Times with Molding
Multi-Cavity Molds for Simultaneous Part Production
Injection molds can be built with multiple cavities. That means each shot can make several parts at once.
This helps speed up production compared to machining one part at a time.
Optimizing for Speed Without Sacrificing Quality
Molding doesn’t just make parts faster—it does it with accuracy. Tight tolerances and smooth surface finishes can be achieved right out of the mold.
That’s often faster than trying to machine the same finish or precision, which might require slower feed rates or extra setups.
Overview
With injection molding, you save time on every part—and that adds up fast.
The Bottom Line: Calculating Savings from Reduced Tooling Costs and Downtime
When looking at your machining costs, think beyond just the price of the tools.
Also consider:
- The labor for changing tools
- Time lost during setup and reprogramming
- Machine downtime
- Slower cycle times
- Lost opportunities from delayed deliveries
Injection molding avoids most of these problems. Once the mold is running, the process is fast, repeatable, and predictable.
Conclusion
If you’re tired of PEEK slowing you down and wearing out your tools, you’re not alone.
Injection molding offers a better way to make high-quality PEEK parts—without the tool wear, delays, or high per-part costs.
It’s a smarter path for anyone looking to scale up efficiently. If you’re ready to take that step, we’re here to help you get started.
