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Methods of cutting fiber reinforced polymer composite workpieces with a pure waterjet

  • US 10,596,717 B2
  • Filed: 07/13/2015
  • Issued: 03/24/2020
  • Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2015
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method of trimming a fiber reinforced polymer composite workpiece, the method comprising:

  • providing the fiber reinforced polymer composite workpiece in a post-molded or post cured, untrimmed state in which fiber reinforced polymer composite material of the fiber reinforced polymer composite workpiece extends beyond a final component profile thereof; and

    thereaftergenerating a pure waterjet via a cutting head in liquid phase unladened with solid particles at an operating pressure of at least 60,000 psi;

    directing the pure waterjet to pass through the fiber reinforced polymer composite material of the fiber reinforced polymer composite workpiece in the post-molded or post cured, untrimmed state; and

    moving at least one of the cutting head and the fiber reinforced polymer composite workpiece relative to the other at a cutting speed along a predetermined path while maintaining the operating pressure of at least 60,000 psi such that the pure waterjet trims the fiber reinforced polymer composite material of the fiber reinforced polymer composite workpiece to the final component profile wherein the cutting speed is selected to produce an edge of the fiber reinforced polymer composite workpiece with a predetermined surface roughness having at least one of an Ra value of about 22 ±

    5 microns and an Rz value of 128 ±

    20 microns.

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