The military uses a careful blend of quality and cost-effective materials when creating their tools and gear. So it shouldn’t come as a big surprise to learn that a lot of the gear they use is from plastic fabrication. Here’s a look at some of the common applications of plastic in the U.S. military.
Instrument Panels
Whether it’s an aircraft device or an electrical panel at a home base, instrument panels are necessary to protect the vital parts of these devices. You can find plastic panels all over the military’s structures and vehicles to help protect and section off important instruments.
Bearings and Gears
The military needs efficient tools that are easy to mass produce, which is why plastic is a great material for their equipment. It’s both durable and malleable in fabrication, which is why the military uses it for bearings and gears in a lot of equipment. That way, they can easily reproduce the parts and manufacture more whenever they need it.
Combat Gear
When you compare metal to plastic for the purpose of combat gear, you might think metal would win. However, plastic is durable and lightweight, perfect for moving across vast distances in a combat scenario. That’s why a lot of the gear soldiers carry is a mix of plastic and metal. It lightens their load, and it’s easy to mass produce with CNC machining services.
Casing and Locks
A lot of military equipment focuses on durability and mobility, which is why plastic can be so useful. They must put gear in portable cases for large shipments. That’s why one of the common uses of plastic in the military is for cases and locks. It’s far more efficient than trying to move a metal case of the same size.
The military uses plastic in just about every branch and continues to be a huge customer of the plastic industry. This affordable, lightweight, and durable material has many uses for mass production on a limited budget. You can expect the military to continue to use plastic for a long time.
