Zone: Cutting, Nesting, Machining Technology

Managing multi-axis manufacturing

Much early computer numerically controlled (CNC) machinery served short-run military and space programs where cost per part was too high to be acceptable in the manufacture of commercial aircraft. Now, Automated CNC machinery moves toward volume production and part-specific design.

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Composites Machining for the F-35
8/3/2010 Modern Machine Shop: Lockheed Martin’s precision machining of composite skin sections for the F-35 provides part of the reason why this plane saves money for U.S. taxpayers. That machining makes the plane compelling in ways that have led other countries to take up some of the cost. Here is a look at a high-value, highly engineered machining process for the Joint Strike Fighter aircraft.
Very Light Jets Creating A Demand For Composites - 1/1/2006
2/5/2010 Composites Technology: "Baby" jets are causing an aviation buzz but will the market exist?
Cutters Compress To Effectively Machine Composites
10/28/2009 Modern Machine Shop: The combined up-cut and down-cut spiral flutes on these cutters compress layered composites to prevent delamination during machining.
Skinning the F-35 fighter
10/19/2009 Composites Technology: Fasteneing the all-composites skin on the Lightning II requires machining and drilling technology that is optimized for cost-efficiency.
Prototyping via Fast Machining
9/1/2009 Time Compression: All machine tools aren’t found in factories. This one can fit on your desk.

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Cutting, Nesting, Machining Technology

Cutting is typically used to cut carbon fiber and glass fiber fabrics to a specific shape to meet design and part performance requirements. These cut fabrics then are usually placed in or on a tool in a specific location, determined by the part design. Automated cutting can be done on cutting tables, with fabric laid flat and a computer-controlled cutting head moving over it to cut shapes. Nesting refers to the layering of cut fabrics within a part or structure to optimize strength and rigidity Machining typically is done on finished composite components and structures in order to trim the part, drill holes, or to remove excess material, or deflash. Such machining is usually done with metallic bits that use a highly abrasive-resistant material, such as carbide or a diamond coating. Alternatively, composites can be cut with a waterjet system that shoots a stream of ultra high-pressure water through a nozzle to generate a cutting action, or with lasers.