Plastic Fabrication & Cutting Services
Plastic Fabrication Services: Complete Guide to CNC, Thermoforming & Custom Manufacturing
Plastic fabrication services are specialized manufacturing processes that transform raw plastic materials into custom-designed components through cutting, shaping, forming, and assembly techniques. At Total Plastics, we provide comprehensive solutions including CNC routing, laser cutting, thermoforming, vacuum forming, and expert assembly for industries from aerospace to consumer goods.
What Are Professional Plastic Fabrication Services?
Plastic fabrication encompasses manufacturing techniques used to create custom plastic components, assemblies, and finished products. These services involve specialized equipment and skilled technicians who transform sheet plastics, rods, tubes, and raw materials into precisely engineered parts meeting exact specifications.
Professional fabrication shops like Total Plastics offer end-to-end solutions including design consultation, material selection, prototyping, production, finishing, and quality control. Our team understands the unique properties of different plastics and how to work with them for optimal results across diverse applications.
Custom Fabrication Services We Offer
CNC Routing, Sawing & Precision Machining
Our CNC (Computer Numerical Control) routing services deliver unparalleled precision for demanding plastic fabrication needs. Advanced CNC routers handle complex three-dimensional shapes, intricate cutouts, and detailed engravings with tolerances as tight as ±0.005 inches, ideal for both prototypes and high-volume production.
CNC technology works with virtually any thermoplastic including acrylic, polycarbonate, ABS, PETG, and engineering plastics. Whether you need precision medical device components, automotive parts, or retail displays, our CNC services deliver exceptional consistency.
Our capabilities extend to precision sawing for straight cuts and CNC turning for cylindrical components. This comprehensive approach handles complete projects in-house, ensuring quality control and faster turnaround times.
Laser Cutting for Maximum Precision
Laser cutting technology offers unmatched precision, clean edges, and rapid production speeds. Our industrial laser systems process materials up to 1 inch thick with edge quality that often eliminates secondary finishing operations.
Laser cutting excels for intricate patterns, tight tolerances, and minimal heat-affected zones. The non-contact process prevents material distortion and enables extremely detailed work impossible with traditional methods. Materials like acrylic produce flame-polished edges, while ABS, polystyrene, and polypropylene cut cleanly and precisely.
Thermoforming & Vacuum Forming
Total Plastics specializes in thermoforming and vacuum forming processes that create three-dimensional products from flat sheet materials. Thermoforming heats plastic sheets to forming temperature, stretches them over custom molds, and applies vacuum pressure for exact shape reproduction with exceptional detail.
These techniques work with various thermoplastics including ABS, high-impact polystyrene (HIPS), PVC, PETG, and polycarbonate. Thermoforming is particularly cost-effective for medium to large production runs, with significantly lower tooling costs than injection molding while maintaining excellent detail and structural integrity.
Assembly & Plastic Welding
Our skilled technicians provide expert assembly and plastic welding services for diverse materials including acrylic, polycarbonate, PVC, ABS, and HDPE. We employ multiple welding techniques based on material and application: solvent cementing, hot gas welding, ultrasonic welding, and spin welding.
Solvent cementing creates molecularly bonded joints in compatible plastics, producing nearly invisible seams with strength approaching the base material—ideal for display cases, aquariums, and architectural elements. Hot gas welding suits thicker materials for structural assemblies in chemical tanks, industrial enclosures, and ventilation systems.
Material Selection Guide for Fabrication Projects
Material selection critically determines project success. At Total Plastics, we leverage extensive knowledge of plastic properties to help clients choose optimal materials for specific requirements, environmental conditions, and budgets.
Comparing Common Fabrication Plastics
Acetal vs Polypropylene: Acetal (POM) is a semi-crystalline engineering thermoplastic known for exceptional strength, rigidity, dimensional stability, and low moisture absorption. It excels in precision components like gears, bearings, and mechanical parts requiring tight tolerances.
Polypropylene (PP) is a versatile, cost-effective plastic offering flexibility, excellent chemical resistance, and moisture barrier properties. Commonly used in chemical tanks, laboratory equipment, containers, and pipes where chemical resistance matters most.
Acrylic vs Polycarbonate: Acrylic (PMMA) stands apart for exceptional optical clarity (92% light transmission), weather resistance, and UV stability. Used extensively in displays, signage, architectural glazing, and protective barriers. While both are transparent, acrylic offers superior optical clarity and scratch resistance, while polycarbonate provides extreme impact resistance (250 times stronger than glass).
Acetal vs Nylon: Both are high-performance engineering plastics. Acetal offers superior dimensional stability, lower moisture absorption, and better creep resistance—ideal for precision components in humid environments. Nylon excels in wear resistance, toughness, and high-temperature performance (up to 220°F), making it best for high-stress applications like wear strips and heavy-load bearings.
High-Strength Engineering Plastics
Polycarbonate (PC): Known for outstanding impact resistance, excellent transparency, and heat resistance (continuous use to 240°F). Perfect for bullet-resistant barriers, safety shields, protective equipment, and automotive components where safety and durability are paramount.
ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene): Tough, rigid thermoplastic offering excellent impact resistance and surface finish. Suitable for automotive parts, protective housings, and construction materials. Easily machined, thermoformed, and joined using solvent cementing.
UHMWPE: Exceptional material with remarkable strength-to-weight ratio, outstanding abrasion resistance, and extremely low friction. Used in conveyor wear strips, chute liners, gears, and food processing equipment. Self-lubricating properties eliminate external lubrication needs.
Industries We Serve
Total Plastics provides specialized fabrication services across diverse industries: Medical & Healthcare (medical devices, diagnostic equipment, hospital furniture with FDA-compliant materials), Aerospace & Aviation (lightweight components, interior panels meeting aerospace specifications), Automotive (interior trim, protective covers, fluid reservoirs), Food Service (FDA-compliant cutting boards, processing equipment), Retail & Displays (point-of-purchase displays, signage, protective cases), and Industrial Equipment (machine guards, chemical tanks, ventilation components).
Why Choose Total Plastics
Partnering with Total Plastics provides multiple advantages: comprehensive capabilities offering design consultation through finishing under one roof, material expertise with decades of experience across hundreds of plastics, technical excellence through state-of-the-art equipment, flexible production from single prototypes to thousands of units, and competitive pricing through efficient processes and streamlined operations.
Getting Started with Your Project
Beginning your fabrication project is straightforward. Contact our team to discuss requirements, submit design files for technical review, receive detailed quotations, approve prototypes if needed, proceed to production with quality controls, and receive carefully packaged finished components. Our experienced team guides you through each step from concept to delivery.
Contact Total Plastics
Ready to bring your plastic fabrication project to life? Our dedicated team is ready to discuss your requirements and deliver tailored solutions. Explore our fabrication services page to learn more about our comprehensive capabilities and extensive material range.
Whether you need CNC routing, laser cutting, thermoforming, vacuum forming, or assembly services, we have the expertise and commitment to handle your project from concept through completion. Contact us today to discuss your project.
Frequently Asked Questions
What types of plastics can Total Plastics fabricate?
We work with extensive materials including acrylic (PMMA), polycarbonate (PC), ABS, PETG, HDPE, PVC, polypropylene (PP), UHMW-PE, nylon, acetal (POM), and specialty plastics. Our experienced team recommends optimal materials based on mechanical strength, chemical resistance, temperature exposure, UV resistance, and budget considerations.
How long does the fabrication process typically take?
Turnaround time varies based on project complexity, material selection, fabrication processes, and order quantity. Simple cutting or machining projects typically complete within 2-5 business days. Complex projects involving thermoforming or extensive CNC work may require 1-3 weeks. Large production runs or custom tooling projects need 3-6 weeks or more. We provide accurate lead time estimates during quotation and meet agreed deadlines.
Can Total Plastics handle large-scale production orders?
Absolutely! We have production capacity, advanced equipment, and experienced workforce to efficiently handle large-scale and high-volume orders. Our state-of-the-art facilities feature multiple CNC routers, laser cutting systems, and forming equipment enabling simultaneous production operations. We efficiently produce thousands of components while maintaining strict quality control throughout production.
Do you offer prototyping services?
Yes, we offer comprehensive prototyping services to validate designs before full-scale production. Prototyping allows you to evaluate form, fit, and function, test material performance, identify design improvements, and verify manufacturing processes. Our team creates prototypes using CNC machining, laser cutting, thermoforming, and 3D printing. This approach minimizes costly production revisions and ensures better final results.
What industries does Total Plastics serve?
We serve diverse industries including aerospace and aviation, automotive and transportation, medical and healthcare, food service and processing, industrial equipment manufacturing, retail and point-of-purchase, architecture and construction, and consumer products. Our versatile capabilities and material expertise make us a trusted partner across multiple sectors with varying requirements.