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scottracing - 5/28/2018 6:49:57 PM

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janardian - 5/26/2018 11:52:23 PM

Hi everyone, I have 2 questions about cutting CF preperg: 
1) what would be the best way to cut complex shapes out of an uncured CF prepreg sheet? I have access to kevlar scissors and an electric shear, but they aren't ideal when I'm trying to cut inclusions within the fiber (let's say like cutting a donut in the fiber - cutting a hole in the middle is difficult with shears). Is there anything like a boxcutter for CF prepreg? 

2) For post cure cutting of a laminate/part, what would be the best or least damaging way to cut its shape, without compromising on structural properties? Currently using a dremel saw max with a diamond blade, does a decent job but my part delaminated under loading, so was wondering if there was anything better (like water jet maybe?)

Thanks!

If you are looking at manual cutting of plies i never use shears. Ive always used stanley knives and Pizza cutters for nearly all my laminating work. If you want to get it cut on a machine find someone with a cnc ply cutting table. This rolls out the material onto a vacumm table and is cut with a drag knive and sometimes an ultrasonic knife.

For cutting cured components, carbide is the only way to get a nice clean cut. Have a look at the perma-grit tools that easy composites sell.
Once you are close to the trim edge, good old wet and dry sandpaper and sanding blocks and sanding bobbins on a dremel (air tools are better) will get you to what you want.