Acetal Machining & Engineering Experts
Advantages of Acetal (POM)
Acetal is the industrial standard for components requiring extreme rigidity, low friction, and exceptional wear resistance, making it the go-to material for moving mechanical parts.
Core Characteristics of Acetal
- Superior Dimensional Stability: Minimal moisture absorption ensures parts stay true to size.
- Low Coefficient of Friction: Natural lubricity reduces wear in gears and bearings.
- High Mechanical Strength: Excellent stiffness and creep resistance under load.
- Outstanding Machinability: Chips cleanly for incredibly tight-tolerance CNC finishes.
- Resilient to Fatigue: Withstands repetitive stress and impact without deforming.
- Broad Chemical Inertness: Resistant to a wide range of fuels, solvents, and neutral chemicals.
- High Surface Hardness: Provides a smooth, hard-wearing finish for sliding applications.
- FDA/EU Compliant Grades: Available in food-contact safe variants for processing equipment.
These technical advantages position Acetal as a high-performance alternative for engineering projects where precision, durability, and smooth mechanical operation are non-negotiable.
Acetal Engineering & Machining Services at Dipec
With decades of technical expertise and high-precision equipment, Dipec delivers industrial-grade Acetal components engineered to your exact tolerances.
Advanced CNC Machining & Turning
Acetal is a machinist’s dream; we utilise high-speed CNC milling and turning to create incredibly accurate, burr-free components for gears, valves, and precision instruments.
Tapping & Threading
Unlike softer plastics, Acetal’s rigidity allows for excellent thread strength. We provide precision internal and external threading for components that require secure mechanical fastening.
Mechanical Assembly
While Acetal is resistant to traditional solvent bonding, we specialise in mechanical assembly, press-fitting, and high-strength fixing to create complex, multi-part engineering units.
Precision Sawing & Billet Preparation
We accurately dimension Acetal sheets and rods using industrial-grade saws, ensuring perfectly square edges and consistent stock preparation for subsequent machining stages.
Technical Surface Finishing
We provide high-quality surface finishes, from standard machined textures to low-friction polished surfaces, ensuring your parts meet specific functional requirements for sliding or sealing.
Industrial Prototyping & Batch Production
From one-off mechanical prototypes to high-volume production runs, every Acetal part undergoes rigorous quality checks to ensure dimensional accuracy and long-term performance.
Typical Industrial Applications of Acetal
- Precision Gears, Cams, and Drive Sprockets
- Low-Friction Bearings, Bushings, and Wear Strips
- Fuel System Components and Chemical Valves
- Food Processing Machinery and Bottling Equipment
- High-Tolerance Electrical Insulators and Housings
- Conveyor Rollers and Guide Rails
- Medical Instrument Handles and Sterilisable Parts
Acetal Grades & Formats Available
Acetal is supplied in various formulations and stock shapes to meet specific mechanical and environmental performance criteria.
Common options include:
- Acetal Copolymer (POM-C) – Excellent resistance to hot water and thermal degradation.
- Acetal Homopolymer (Delrin®) – Higher mechanical strength and stiffness.
- Medical Grade Acetal – USP Class VI compliant for surgical and healthcare tools.
- PTFE-Filled (AF) Acetal – Enhanced “super-slick” lubricity for extreme wear parts.
- Metal & X-Ray Detectable Grades – Essential for food processing safety.
- Antistatic & ESD Grades – For sensitive electronic handling environments.
Your Specialist Partner for Precision Acetal Engineering
With decades of technical expertise across the engineering and manufacturing sectors, Dipec provides:
✔ High-tolerance CNC milling and turning specialists
✔ Expert engineers with deep knowledge of Acetal (POM) machining
✔ Rapid production cycles and cost-effective component sourcing
✔ End-to-end technical support from material selection to final part
✔ Stringent quality control for critical mechanical tolerances
✔ Proven performance in automotive, medical, and industrial sectors
We manufacture Acetal components that consistently exceed the most demanding functional, friction, and dimensional stability requirements.
Need Expert Acetal Plastic Fabrication?
Contact Dipec Today for a Quote.
ACETAL FAQs
While both are Polyoxymethylene (POM), Homopolymer (Delrin) offers higher tensile strength and hardness, whereas Copolymer provides better resistance to hot water (hydrolysis) and strong alkalis, with reduced “centerline porosity” in thick plates.
Acetal has significantly lower moisture absorption than Nylon. This means Acetal parts maintain their shape and size in humid or submerged environments, whereas Nylon can swell and lose dimensional tolerance.
Yes, we can supply FDA and EU-compliant food-grade Acetal. Its resistance to cleaning agents and low moisture absorption makes it ideal for conveyor components, scrapers, and mandrels.
Acetal is excellent for submerged use. Because it absorbs minimal water, it won’t swell or degrade, making it a staple for marine bearings, valve housings, and underwater sensor casings.
Standard Acetal can degrade under prolonged UV exposure. For outdoor applications, we recommend “Black Acetal” (carbon-black filled) or UV-stabilised grades to prevent surface chalking and brittleness.
Acetal is a “low surface energy” plastic with a natural slipperiness. Standard glues won’t stick; bonding usually requires specialised primers, plasma treatment, or – preferably – mechanical fastening and interference fits.
Absolutely. Acetal is one of the most stable engineering plastics. We routinely hold tolerances as tight as +/- 0.05mm, depending on the part geometry and thickness.
Yes, it is an excellent electrical insulator with high dielectric strength. It is frequently used for electrical switchgear, connectors, and insulator blocks.
Acetal has a very low coefficient of friction. This “built-in” slipperiness allows parts like gears and slide bush inserts to operate smoothly without the need for additional oils or greases.
Acetal offers superb resistance to petrol, diesel, oils, alcohols, and neutral solvents. However, it should be avoided in applications involving strong acids (pH < 4).
Creep is the tendency of a plastic to deform under constant load. Acetal has high creep resistance, meaning it stays rigid and functional even when subjected to long-term physical stress.
While Acetal can be laser cut, it can produce small amounts of formaldehyde gas during the process. CNC routing is usually the preferred method for cleaner edges and better dimensional control.
Due to its high fatigue resistance and “spring-back” memory, Acetal is the best plastic for snap-fit assemblies, clips, and plastic springs that need to flex and return to shape repeatedly.
Often, yes. Acetal gears are lighter, quieter, and require less maintenance than metal. For high-volume production, CNC machining Acetal can be significantly more economical than casting or milling steel.
Porosity is a small gas pocket that can form in the center of thick Homopolymer (Delrin) slabs during cooling. If your part requires a perfectly solid core, we recommend using Acetal Copolymer.
Acetal Copolymer can withstand repeated steam sterilisation, but Homopolymer (Delrin) may become brittle over time. We can advise on the specific grade if your parts are for medical or lab use.
Acetal is roughly half the density of Aluminium (1.41 g/cm³ vs 2.7 g/cm³), making it an ideal choice for weight-reduction projects in the automotive and aerospace sectors.
We can achieve anything from a standard “as-machined” finish to a high-gloss polished surface. Because it is so hard, it holds a very smooth, professional finish without the “fuzzing” seen in softer plastics.