Engineering plastic material guide
Delrin / POM
CNC Machining
Machined acetal gears, bushings and sliding components, with homopolymer or copolymer stock selected for the fit and working environment.
Confidential enquiries. NDA available.
- Specify
- Named Delrin / POM-H stock or named alternative
- Review
- Mating profile and Fit bore
- Confirm
- Final condition and acceptance records
Select Acetal For The Moving Interface.
Acetal is often shortlisted for mechanical components that need a balance of stiffness, wear behaviour and dimensional stability. The exact POM formulation and the mating surface still belong in the design.
Gears And Small Mechanisms
Provide the mating geometry, loading and duty cycle. State whether the prototype is checking assembly or validating the final material.
Bushings And Sliding Blocks
Identify the contact pair, movement, lubrication and allowable wear. Define the free and assembled conditions for critical fits.
Fixtures And Locating Components
Mark repeatability-critical faces and hole patterns. Include temperature, cleaning chemicals and any required electrical behaviour.
Choose The Grade And Stock Together.
Compare the Delrin and Acetal POM options below against the drawing and service conditions. Specify the complete supplier grade, condition and stock form; material examples do not establish current inventory or permit substitutions.
| Grade or stock | Why consider it | What to resolve |
|---|---|---|
| Named Delrin / POM-H stock | Mechanical components using a specified acetal homopolymer. | Provide the supplier stock product and any required resin designation. |
| POM-C acetal copolymer | A candidate where the selected copolymer meets the application. | Compare the chemical environment, section and stock condition against the drawing. |
| Wear-modified acetal | Sliding components with an approved lubricant or filler package. | Name the complete grade and the mating surface; a colour is not a formulation. |
| ESD or detectable acetal | Equipment with a defined electrical or detection requirement. | Specify the test method and required records for the exact product. |
Selection examples are subject to material and drawing review. They are not an inventory list.
Already have a grade on the drawing?
Add it to your quotation checklist ↓Define The Fit After The Part Has Settled.
A cleanly cut acetal part still needs appropriate inspection conditions. Identify the features that locate the assembly and the temperature or conditioning relevant to acceptance.
Close Fits
Supply both mating parts or their interface requirements. Define bore size, shaft size and the state in which the polymer is measured.
Thin Walls And Slots
Show unsupported features and deep material removal. Discuss clamping and the sequence needed to preserve free-state geometry.
Threaded Connections
Specify engagement, assembly load and any inserts. Review repeated assembly rather than assuming a polymer thread behaves like a metal one.
Mark critical dimensions on the drawing. Achievable tolerances, wall thickness, part size and delivery are confirmed for the geometry, material, finish and quantity in the quotation.
Use The Machined Surface Where It Serves The Part.
Functional As-Machined Surfaces
Mark sliding and locating faces, roughness if required and allowed tool marks. Avoid polishing away fitted geometry.
Deburring And Cleaning
Identify grooves, tooth edges and ports where loose material could affect operation. Define the cleaning and packaging requirement.
Bonding Or Marking
Confirm grade-specific compatibility and surface preparation. Do not assume a generic adhesive or paint route will work on every acetal product.
Verify The POM Grade And The Assembled Requirement.
Stock Identity
Order POM-H, POM-C or the named modified grade explicitly. Request the records needed to prevent unintended substitution.
Dimensional State
Identify measurement temperature or conditioning, datums and fit-critical features.
Wear Or Electrical Acceptance
Where required, define application tests for the contact pair or electrical property. Dimensional inspection alone does not validate long-term wear.
Three Different Checks.
The material record identifies the purchased stock. The inspection report checks the drawing. Application validation checks the part in service.
Review inspection requirements ↗Delrin / POM Machining Questions.
Answers to the decisions that affect the material, drawing and finished part.
Is All Acetal Delrin?
No. Delrin is a branded homopolymer. Acetal also includes copolymer products. Specify whether the brand, polymer type or a particular stock grade is required.
Can POM-C Replace A Delrin Drawing Callout?
Only with approval after checking the full material and application requirements. Similar appearance is not evidence of equivalence.
Does Low Moisture Uptake Eliminate Dimensional Movement?
No. Temperature, stock condition, geometry and loading can still affect a fitted part. Define the relevant inspection state and assembly conditions.
Can A Machined Gear Prove Production Wear Life?
A prototype can assess geometry or function for its agreed purpose. Wear life requires the actual grade, contact pair, loading and duty cycle to be evaluated.
Should An Acetal Sliding Face Be Polished?
Specify the required surface function and roughness. Additional finishing should be reviewed against fit and wear requirements rather than added for appearance alone.
What Should Be Sent For A POM Quote?
Include homopolymer or copolymer grade, quantity, CAD and drawing, mating geometry, movement, environment, finish and required documents.
Prepare your enquiry
Match The Acetal Grade To The Moving Assembly.
Send the CAD model and dimensioned drawing with quantities, service conditions and the requirements below. If the grade is undecided, describe the function and the constraints.
Your files stay confidential. NDA available.
Delrin / POM RFQ Checklist
Material: [Delrin branded grade / POM-H / POM-C + stock supplier] Motion: [load, speed, contact pair, lubrication] Fits: [mating geometry, datums, inspection condition] Features: [teeth, grooves, threads, inserts] Acceptance: [surface, cleanliness, functional tests] Quantity and records: [prototype purpose, order size, material documents]
Material References & Specification Notes
Manufacturer information supports material selection. Use the datasheet for the exact grade, stock form and test conditions. It does not establish Prolean inventory, application approval or a guaranteed machining result.
Prepared October 2026. Final material and manufacturing requirements are agreed in the quotation.