Quote:
Originally Posted by pb4ugo
DO NOT USE A WATERJET!!!!
I actually posted a thread some time back with sample pics of very clean cuts on CF by a waterjet. I have completely changed my opinion. I got lots of delaminating at the corners when they actually cut my chassis, and am out nearly $100 in material.
I don't have any experience with laser on CF, but it seems to me I remember reading that it doesn't work well. At least do a trial cut, and be prepared that it may do worse on the final cut than the sample.
I have quite a few years in amateur CF, including laying-up custom bent pieces. The BEST way to cut it accurately on a budget is to use a router table. Yes, a woodworking router table. Get a fiberglass router bit (available from online tool stores if not local) and cut away with your fence guides. Be sure to be wearing a mask and have the vacuum running! If you are having internal cut-outs (as your drawing shows), you can make yourself a pattern first from wood. Mount a pin the same diameter as your bit immediately above your bit in a v-notched piece of wood secured by clamps or the like to the table, and drill a pilot hole in the CF, and run the pattern using the pin against the wood as a guide. This will work just as well as a pattern-cutting router bit (which for some reason aren't available in the fiberglass variety) does on wood.
Otherwise, full cnc is the way to go.
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Wow, I'm learning every day... To be honest a friend who I fly models with, told me something similar before (he's a mechanical engineer). He said because of the velocity and force of the water jet, it may be possible to delaminate the carbon.
The router option sounds like another cool idea. Do you have any photos of your setup? I am still hopeful one of the CNC owners will accommodate me and help out with the cut.
Alien
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