Sharp cutting tools are needed for Desmopan® and Texin™. Hard grades can be machined as easily as polyamides. In the case of soft grades (‹90 Shore A), the tough and elastic character of the material has to be taken into account. Desmopan® and Texin™ can be machined on normal metal and woodworking machines.

Excessive heat generation should be avoided and efficient removal of the shavings must be ensured. Tools of fast-cutting steel are suitable for machining Desmopan® and Texin™. The tools must cut and not exert pressure. With large cutting depths, cooling with compressed air or drilling oil emulsions may be necessary.

Recommendations for different types of machining are given in the following.

Sawing

Conventional saws can be used, but, especially when sawing by hand, saw blades intended for wood usually give better results than metal ones. Only saws with crossed teeth should be used.

Drilling

Twist drills with reliefground cutting edges (clearance angle = 12 - 16°) and a small twist angle (approx. 30°) are recommended.

Care must be taken to provide adequate ventilation and to remove the shavings. Cooling may be necessary for deeper holes.

Turning

Milling and planing

Machines used for woodworkingare suitable.

Punching

Harder TPU types can be punched more easily and accurately.

Average cutting speed: 50 - 100 mm/sec.

Thread cutting

Thread cutting is possible with hard Desmopan® and Texin™ grades. The screw taps must be very sharp indeed and the pre-drilling hole should be approx. 0.1 mm larger than is usual with steel.

Grinding

Soft, ceramically bonded silicon carbide discs with a fine glass paper grain have proved successful for this purpose. The resultant dust must be effectively extracted.