Implementation of Automatic Sample and Composite Element Cutting Technologies

The article presents the methodology of introducing automatic carbon fiber panel cutting technologies at the Composite Testing Laboratory of the Institute of Aviation. It describes the process of implementing the new cutting technology which boosts the efficiency of preparing composite samples for strength testing, with the requirements applicable to edge smoothness and dimension tolerances taken into consideration. It also reviews the literature concerned with three most popular composite material cutting methods: laser cutting, abrasive water jet cutting and machining, presenting the strong and the weak points of each one of them. After selecting the machining technology relying on a disc, cutting tests have been performed. Cutting discs coated with diamond particles, and carbon fiber panels were used during the tests. The tests were performed with the use of the INFOTEC CNC machine, with an adapter enabling the installation of cutting discs with the maximum diameter of 150 mm.