Carbon Fiber

[tri4sale]

Was asked today about using the ShopBot to cut Carbon Fiber parts out. Anybody have any experience with using the ShopBot to cut Carbon Fiber?

[willnewton]

I have been cutting G10 composite for quadcopter parts. I know there are posts about it found by using the search function, because that is how I figured it out! Sorry, I don't have specific links.

G10 is not the same as carbon plate, but has many similarities, so maybe this will help you get started.

I am cutting 1.5mm and 5mm G10 on my Shopbot desktop with a spindle. I am using a 1/16 carbide chipbreaker spiral bit running at 18k RPM with 1inch/sec feed and .5inch/sec plunge .0306 depth of cut and 50.1% stepover. Use dust collection!!!!!!!!

Try precisebits.com or ebay for the bits, good prices on ebay for packs of ten. You need to have the smaller collet size if you don't already.

If anyone else has suggestion to improve my own settings, I am all ears!

[willnewton]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/161009589413

Can't edit my previous post, but here is a link to the bits I use.

[tda]

We have found the chipbreakers tend to pack and delaminate carbon fiber. The best tool we found for this is diamond-cut router bits. Similar design but the crosscut on them will give you a better finish and easier time cutting. Obviously I have a bias on where to get these so I'll leave that for others.

Let me know if there is anything I can help with.

[curtiss]

I understand that the dust of carbon fiber can be very bad news. Be careful.

[ccwerks]

I cut bunches of that stuff.... Been using oberg bros diamond coated .500 shank pn 81660...... also use a cool tool when cutting G10. with that said if you get cheep 2 flute carbide cutters it will last for a while if you keep it cool little bites 0.3/0.5 19-20000 rpm 4 inches a sec feed rate. cuts pretty well.
I cover the top of my spindle with s filter to keep the dust out of the router.