CFRP MILLING PROCESS INVESTIGATION

Abstract

© 2023 International Committee on Composite Materials. All rights reserved.The transport sector has long had a demand for weight reduction, typically achieved by changing materials or reducing part thickness. Steel and aluminum are the primary materials used in this sector. However, advancements in Fiber Reinforced Polymers (FRPs) technology have allowed for their application in non-structural parts of commercial vehicles and airplanes. The challenge is applying FRPs to structural parts while satisfying requirements for structural performance, quality, and production rate. To achieve both, the manufacturing processes involved must be carefully investigated, including the machining process. This work presents an experimental milling approach to investigate six factors' influence on the quality and production rate of a unidirectional CFRP part. The experiments were conducted using a traditional milling machine tool and a robot-based milling cell. The main objective is to achieve maximum material removal while maintaining defined part quality parameters.

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