--- title: Machining Plastics in Reno: Parts and Chutes | Wolf Machine url: https://wolfmachinenv.com/materials/plastics/ business: Wolf Machine & Fabrication, Inc. address: 4812 Longley Ln, Reno, NV 89502 phone: (775) 359-5570 hours: Shop Monday-Friday 7:00 am-3:30 pm; closed Saturday and Sunday type: Metal and plastic fabrication and machining (custom and CNC machining, welding, metal and plastic fabrication, gearbox and part repair, align boring, metal spray) --- [Photo: Stock photo: the chuck and turret of a CNC lathe] - [Home](https://wolfmachinenv.com/) - [Materials we machine](https://wolfmachinenv.com/materials/) - Plastics # Machining plastics We machine plastics at our Reno shop. We have made plastic parts for the medical industry and metal and plastic chutes for cement and mining, and engineering plastics machine well with the right tools. Stock photo: the chuck and turret of a CNC lathe Plastic parts show up where metal is too heavy, too noisy, too reactive or too slippery to bear. They are cut on the same mills and lathes as metal, but the material behaves differently, and the part keeps changing slightly after it is cut. ## At a glance - We machine plastics at our Reno shop - Plastic parts for the medical industry - Metal and plastic chutes for cement and mining - UHMW, nylon, acetal and PTFE as general materials - Metal and plastic fabrication from one shop I have used Wolf Machine several times over the past few years for fabricating and repair of parts on my ultralight aircraft. [...] These guys are great to deal with. I wouldn't take my projects anywhere else. James B. ยท Google review, September 2023 [Leave us a Google review](https://search.google.com/local/writereview?placeid=ChIJVWVOfCI_mYARibcFMPsDEKc) ## Engineering plastics, as general education Engineering plastics are the strong, stable group used for machined parts. The list below is general knowledge from published sources and not a stock list. If your drawing names a material, we work to it. | Plastic | Known for | Typical use | |---|---|---| | UHMW polyethylene | Slippery, tough, very wear resistant | Chute liners, wear strips | | Nylon | Tough, absorbs moisture | Gears, bushings, rollers | | Acetal | Stiff, stable, low friction | Precision parts, guides | | PTFE | Very slippery, chemically inert, soft | Seals, insulators | ## How plastic behaves under the cutter Plastic is a poor conductor of heat, so heat builds in the cut and can melt or gum the surface. Sharp tools, good chip clearance and light cuts keep it cool. Clamping has to be gentle, since plastic dents and bends under the pressure that holds a metal part. Plastic also moves with temperature and absorbs moisture in some types. A size cut in a cold shop can change by the time the part is installed, and long, thin pieces can bow as stress in the stock is released. Say what temperature range the part sees so the plan allows for it. ## Plastic in the work we do We have made plastic parts for the medical industry, and metal and plastic chutes for the cement and mining industries. We also do metal and plastic fabrication. To start a job, send the drawing or sample, the material if you know it, the quantity and how the part is used. We work from specifications, drawings or samples and can assist with the design. Use the quote request or call [(775) 359-5570](tel:(775)%20359-5570). See [cement and aggregates](https://wolfmachinenv.com/industries/cement-and-aggregates/) for chute work. ### Sources - [Engineering plastic (overview)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Engineering_plastic) (2026-10-18) ### Plastic parts - Plastic parts for the medical industry - Chute liners and wear strips - Bushings, rollers and spacers - Guides, rails and insulating blocks - Fixture parts that must not mar a workpiece ### How to send us the job Have a print? Attach it to the quote request. No print? Photos of every face, the sizes you know and the machine the part came from are a good start, and you can bring the part in. [Request a quote](#quote) [What to put on a drawing](https://wolfmachinenv.com/guides/what-to-put-on-a-drawing/) ### Talk to the shop [(775) 359-5570](tel:(775)%20359-5570) | Monday to Friday | 7:00 am - 3:30 pm | |---|---| | Saturday and Sunday | Closed | [Request a quote](#quote) ### Related - [Cement and aggregates](https://wolfmachinenv.com/industries/cement-and-aggregates/) - [Mining](https://wolfmachinenv.com/industries/mining/) - [Custom machining](https://wolfmachinenv.com/services/custom-machining/) - [Part design and parts made from samples](https://wolfmachinenv.com/services/part-design-from-samples/) - [Materials we machine](https://wolfmachinenv.com/materials/) ## Other materials [Brass](https://wolfmachinenv.com/materials/brass/) [Bronze](https://wolfmachinenv.com/materials/bronze/) [Copper](https://wolfmachinenv.com/materials/copper/) [Stainless steel](https://wolfmachinenv.com/materials/stainless-steel/) [Steels and steel alloys](https://wolfmachinenv.com/materials/steel-and-steel-alloys/) [Titanium](https://wolfmachinenv.com/materials/titanium/) [Tool steels](https://wolfmachinenv.com/materials/tool-steels/) [Aluminum](https://wolfmachinenv.com/materials/aluminum/) ## Questions people ask Still have a question? Call [(775) 359-5570](tel:(775)%20359-5570), Monday to Friday, 7:00 am to 3:30 pm. ### Which plastic suits a wear liner? UHMW polyethylene is a common choice for wear liners because it is slippery and tough. The right choice depends on the load, the material sliding across it and the temperature. ### Can you make a plastic part from a sample? Yes. We can measure the sample and make a new part, and we can help with the drawing. [Photo: Stock photo: a lathe turning a bar, hot chips flying] ## Request a quote Tell us what you need, attach a drawing or photos of the part, and we will get back to you during shop hours. Free consultations; prompt estimates. [Call (775) 359-5570](tel:(775)%20359-5570) - From your specifications, drawings or samples. We can also assist you in designing your product or part. - Free consultations and prompt estimates - Stands behind the work: Our rates are very competitive and our quality is second-to-none. Wolf Machine stands behind the work we perform. - Company accounts: all major credit cards, or we can open an account for your company Shop hours Monday to Friday, 7:00 am to 3:30 pm. Send your request any time and we will get back to you during shop hours. Stock photo: a lathe turning a bar, hot chips flying