Precision hole drilling, thread tapping, and custom perforation patterns in plastic and metal — from single precision bores to high-density perforation arrays.
Hole-making operations are among the most common secondary processes in plastic and metal fabrication. Whether you need a single precisely located bore, a complex pattern of tapped holes for fastener installation, or a full-sheet perforation array for filtration, ventilation, or weight reduction, Plastic-Craft has the equipment, tooling, and process knowledge to deliver accurate, clean results in a broad range of materials.
Our drilling, tapping, and perforation services support customers from prototype through production across industries including aerospace, medical, industrial equipment, and electronics.
DRILLING
CNC-controlled drilling at Plastic-Craft delivers precisely located holes in plastic and metal parts to your dimensional specifications. Our drilling capabilities include:
From individual precision bores to complex multi-hole patterns on CNC machining centers.
Full through-thickness or controlled-depth blind bores to your exact specifications.
Holes produced to tight diameter tolerances for interference, transition, or clearance fits.
Holes in oversized sheet, plate, and fabricated parts beyond standard machine envelopes.
For flush hardware installation and recessed fastener applications.
Extended-depth bores in thick plastic and metal stock with controlled chip evacuation.
Drilling plastic requires specific process parameters to prevent cracking, melting, and delamination — particularly in brittle materials like acrylic and filled engineering plastics. Our operators are experienced in selecting the correct drill geometry, speed, feed, and cooling approach for each material.
TAPPING
Tapping creates internal threaded holes that accept standard fastener threads — screws, bolts, and threaded rod. At Plastic-Craft, tapping is performed with CNC-controlled machine tapping and precision hand tapping depending on part geometry, material, and thread specification.
Tapping plastic presents challenges that differ from metal tapping — plastic threads are more susceptible to stripping and fatigue under cyclic loading. For applications where threaded joint strength is critical, we recommend discussing thread insert options which dramatically improve load capacity and service life in plastic threaded connections.
PERFORATION
Perforation is the process of creating a regular or custom pattern of holes across a sheet or panel — for filtration, ventilation, speaker grilles, drainage, aesthetic effects, or weight reduction. Plastic-Craft produces custom perforated patterns in plastic sheet and metal sheet using CNC punch tooling and other precision hole-making operations.
All 21 plastics in our portfolio are available for drilling and tapping, including all standard engineering plastics and high-performance materials. Metal drilling, tapping, and perforation is also available.
Note: Brittle materials including phenolic, acrylic, and some high-performance plastics require specific drill geometries and parameters to prevent cracking — our team selects the appropriate tooling for each material automatically.
APPLICATIONS
Yes, though the approach varies by material. Soft and ductile plastics such as HDPE and nylon drill easily. Brittle materials like acrylic and phenolic require specific tooling and process parameters to prevent cracking. High-performance materials like PEEK, Ultem, and Torlon have their own requirements. Our team has experience across the full range of engineering plastics and selects the correct tooling and approach for each material.
We tap standard UNC, UNF, and metric thread forms from miniature thread sizes through large-diameter threads. NPT and BSPT pipe threads are also available. Contact us if you have a non-standard thread requirement.
Plastic threads are inherently weaker than metal threads due to the lower shear strength of most plastics. Under cyclic loading, vibration, or torque, plastic threads can strip or fatigue at loads well below their initial installation torque. Thread inserts — such as brass inserts or Helicoil-style inserts — provide a metal thread in a plastic boss, dramatically increasing load capacity, service life, and resistance to overtorque. We recommend thread inserts for any tapped plastic connection that will be assembled and disassembled multiple times or subjected to significant mechanical load.
Open area is the percentage of the total sheet area occupied by holes — expressed as a percentage. A 40% open area sheet has 40% of its surface area as holes. Higher open area means more air flow, light transmission, or drainage capacity, but less structural integrity. We can calculate the open area of any hole pattern and help you select the right pattern for your application requirements.
Helpful reads on drilling, tapping, and perforation in plastic and metal.
Drill geometry, speed, and feed recommendations for acrylic, polycarbonate, nylon, and more.
Helicoil vs brass inserts, load capacity, and best practices for threaded plastic assemblies.
How to specify custom perforation patterns and select the right open area for your application.
Share your drawing, DXF file, or part specifications and we’ll provide a fast, accurate quote for your hole-making requirements.
