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Video of Composites Machining

Click here for video footage illustrating applications and technologies related to machining composites.

Understanding Composites Machining

Composite materials have special properties that result in special machining requirements. For a composite material such as CFRP, the very mechanism of material removal is different than that of metal. Click here to better understand composites and the nature of machining them.

Milling Composites

Composites workpieces are typically trimmed, and often they require precise face milling or hole milling operations as well. A machining center that cuts metal might do this work, but the same milling cutter that cuts metal probably is not the right choice of tool.

Drilling Composites

Drilling tends to be the real challenge of machining composites. A drill cutting through a layered composite structure is likely to produce delamination or other defects. Various tool designs address this hazard, as do holemaking techniques adopted in various shops.

Waterjet Cutting of Composites

Abrasive waterjet is another valuable option for cutting composite parts. Many facilities machining composites use waterjet and milling as complementary processes.

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