Machining/Drilling of Composites

Machining and drilling processes in composites present unique challenges due to the heterogeneous nature of these materials. Composite structures, often composed of different layers and materials, require specialized techniques to maintain integrity and precision during machining or drilling. Traditional methods used for metals can cause delamination, fiber pullout, or damage to the composite structure. Therefore, specialized tools, such as diamond or carbide-tipped equipment, and specific cutting parameters are employed to ensure clean cuts without compromising the material's integrity.

Addressing rivet hole drilling challenges for aerospace composites
Aerospace

Addressing rivet hole drilling challenges for aerospace composites

Kennametal explores technological advancements in composite drilling, including stacked laminates, to meet aerospace applications and sustainability challenges.

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Airtech
Large Scale Additive Manufacturing

Latest Machining/Drilling Articles

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Hufschmied, CMS open up advanced materials machining potential

Technical partnership combining cutting tool technology and CNC machining will open up new possibilities for comprehensive process efficiency, quality and sustainability for composite materials and engineered plastics.

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Thermwood unveils MAX5 large-scale CNC

Heavy-duty, high-clearance, five-axis CNC router is built to perform in extreme composites machining environments.

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Carbon Fibers

HG Grimme CNC centers reduce ACE CFRP postprocessing setup

The switch to HG machining centers for the milling of automotive CFRP parts and structural components cuts setup time down from 40-45% to 2-3% and protects against dust generation.

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Aerospace

Ruckus Composites, Aerospace grows in-house composites machining, measurement and inspection

Recent in-house technology investments set Ruckus up to meet advanced composite inspection and precision machining demand.

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Apache Aerospace highlights MX-5 self-feed countersink tool

Third-generation design approved by U.S. aerospace manufacturers targets simplified operations for metal and composite materials cutting.

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Aerospace

Seven tips for machining composite aerospace components

Machining composite materials is a dusty, arduous and abrasive process that is hard on cutting tools, requiring the right combination of strategies and know-how to properly navigate their dynamics.

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Knowledge Centers

Composites in Advanced Air Mobility
Composites in Advanced Air Mobility

Explore the cutting-edge composites industry, as experts delve into the materials, tooling, and manufacturing hurdles of meeting the demands of the promising advanced air mobility (AAM) market. Join us at CW Tech Days to unlock the future of efficient composites fabrication operations.

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Sensors for Composite Processing
Sensors for Composite Processing

Discover the types of sensors being used in composites, the physics on which they�re based, their installation, promised benefits and challenges, as well as the potential they offer for even further developments in smart structures.

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Carbon Fiber 2025
ColorForm multi-component injection
Your partner for advanced composite cores
Encapsulated Sample Rheometer (ESR)
Airtech International Inc.

Latest Machining/Drilling News And Updates

Automation

RoMaNi 2 project enhances industrial robot flexibility for composites, metals machining

Newly developed milling kinematics on a linear axis enables versatile and efficient machining with up to 0.1-millimeter production tolerance.

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Queen’s University Belfast presents research in thermoplastic drilling performance optimization

Researchers have published findings from a multi-objective optimization study on carbon fiber-reinforced PEKK drilling in an effort to better understand the material for use in aviation fastenings.

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Cutting/Kitting

Norco invests in CNC, kit cutting capability expansion

Transition from internal to external demand over the last few years has evolved Norco’s machining and composite kit cutting equipment, and now includes material outsourcing and digital engineering services.

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Hufschmied Zerspanungssysteme, specialist in composites machining, establishes branch in the U.S.

Supplier of material- and process-optimized cutting tools and technology for CFRP, GFRP and CMC, as well as metals, opened its Chicago facility August 1, 2024.

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Zimmerman highlights five-axis portal milling line

The FZU22 machines various workpiece shapes, sizes and materials including carbon fiber and other fiber reinforcement options.  

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Core

Mel Composites adds Rohacryl processing to customized core offerings

Addition of machining services for the Evonik structural foam brand expands Mel’s range of foam core delivery.

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Composites One - distributor
Release agents and process chemical specialties
America's Composite and Advanced Materials Expo
Ancamine® 2337M
Carbon Fiber 2025

Featured Posts

Automation

VIDEO: Robots enable nine-axis machining of composites

Machine Tool Camp displayed its hybrid machining center at CAMX, featuring nine-axis machining capability enabled by robotics. 

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CAMX

VIDEO: Precision fabrication of honeycomb materials

MachineTek showcases its precision fabrication of honeycomb materials at CAMX 2024.

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Developing milling for CMC because grinding takes too long

Economical processes that can cut machining time by 70% are being tested on aeroengine turbine blade demonstrators by Hufschmied and DLR in the SCANCUT project.

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VIDEO: Recycling and machining carbon fiber scraps

Elevated Materials has partnered with ‪Toray Composite Materials America, Inc. to collect and upcycle reclaimed carbon fiber scraps into large billet laminates, which can then be cut into various parts using CNC mills.

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CFRP planing head: 50% less mass, 1.5 times faster rotation

Novel, modular design minimizes weight for high-precision cutting tools with faster production speeds.  

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Work In Progress

Filament winding increases access to high-performance composite prostheses

Steptics industrializes production of CFRP prostheses, enabling hundreds of parts/day and 50% lower cost.

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Airtech
HEATCON Composite Systems
NewStar Adhseives - The Glue Pros
Release agents and process chemical specialties