Acetal (sold as Delrin by DuPont, or POM-C as a generic) is the precision engineer's first choice for sliding, bearing, and gearing applications in plastic. Its combination of low coefficient of friction, excellent dimensional stability, easy machinability, and food-grade certification makes it the default for gears, bushings, conveyor components, and precision spacers where metal is too heavy, too conductive, or too expensive. Acetal machines with exceptional precision — it holds tight tolerances better than most metals due to its dimensional stability — and produces a naturally smooth surface finish with standard carbide tooling.
Technical Data
Material Properties
Capabilities
Why CNC Machine Delrin?
Best Dimensional Stability
0.2% moisture absorption — the lowest of any common engineering plastic. Acetal parts maintain dimensions in humid environments where nylon swells by 1–2%.
Natural Lubricity
Low friction coefficient allows self-lubricating bushings, gears, and sliding guides — eliminating the need for grease in food processing and cleanroom applications.
Easiest Plastic to Machine
Machines at high speeds with excellent surface finish and burr-free edges. Tighter tolerances achievable than most metals due to low thermal expansion.
Food & Pharma Safe
Natural white POM-C meets FDA, EU 10/2011, and 3-A Dairy standards for food contact. Black grades use carbon black — verify food compliance for specific application.
Cost-Effective
Acetal is inexpensive, machines fast, and requires no finishing — one of the lowest cost-per-part engineering materials for moderate strength applications.
Use Cases
What We Machine in Delrin
Engineering Tips
Design for Machining — Delrin
White (natural) POM-C is food-grade; black grades contain carbon black and should be verified for food compliance
Acetal can creep under continuous high load at elevated temperature — design for low sustained stresses at temperatures above 60°C
Threads in acetal are excellent — self-tapping screws work well, and machined threads hold well in non-high-cycle applications
Avoid acetone, strong acids, and oxidising agents — acetal has good chemical resistance but these will attack it
For precision gears, provide tooth profile DXF or specify module and pressure angle — we confirm manufacturability before quoting
Surface Options
Available Finishes
Related Materials
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