JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #50 - July/August 2009 - 20

EQUIPMENT Cutting tools …/… Custom-coated carbide tools for improved adaptability and lower costs Once the diamond begins to adhere to a tool, a continuous layer will coat the surface. Initially, only a single layer of large polycrystalline diamond crystals could be produced. But recent advances have made it possible to grow nanocrystalline diamond to produce smoother part finishes. Diamond Tool Coating took this a step further, engineering a multilayer diamond coating made of alternating poly- and nano-crystalline applications. This innovation, DiaTiger® multilayer diamond, increases the wear resistance and fracture toughness of the coating by a factor of 10, making it ideal for advanced composite applications and giving the carbide tool a wear advantage in outperforming other drill technologies. CVD diamond-coated tools Manufacturers and fabricators increasingly choose CVD diamond-coated tools for their unique hardness properties of real diamond. The diamond material actually grows on the carbide tool surface, giving the tool an unmatched bonded surface. The coating provides a surface lubricity similar to Teflon® which reduces friction at the cutting surface and lowers cutting temperatures. The resulting reduced resistance eliminates the tendency for composite layers to separate and crack, an effect referred to as delamination or break-out. A bonus advantage is that the CVD process actually protects the entire surface of the tool including complex cutting geometries. Thus, the Amamco Tool solution, which has already extended tool life by incorporating specific, custom cutting-edge geometries, was transformed into an even longer lasting solution. More information About the F35 On 26 October 2001 following an intense four-year competition, the US Department of Defense named the Lockheed Martin lead Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) team as the winner of the contract to develop the F-35 JSF. The F-35 team immediately entered the programme’s 10-year System Development and Demonstration (SDD) phase. The SDD period involves developing and testing the entire aircraft system, including its manufacture. During this period, the team will build a total of 22 test aircraft. Fourteen will undergo flight-testing, seven will be used for non-airborne test activities, and one will be used to evaluate the F-35’s radar signature. www.jsf.mil Conclusion The trend toward custom tool development will likely continue based on factors such as budget, job floor conditions, material availability and project schedules beyond the control of production managers. Furthermore, choices among a variety of tool materials continue to improve cutting efficiencies, geometry and hardness. Carbide manufacturing options allow custom toolmakers to uniquely adapt drilling and routing solutions to specific composite types and compositions. With the adoption of coating technologies, carbide tools can now outlast all competing technologies. In the race for higher tooling efficiency, longer tool life and lower cost per hole, coated solid carbide tools are rapidly setting a new standard for machining composites. More information: www.amamcotool.com Hand fastening composite panels on the Lockheed F-35 project. FREE SUBSCRIPTION (1 year/8 issues) Please complete the form on line: www.jeccomposites.com/magazine-subscription/ 26,583 copies total qualified circulation, BPA Worldwide, November-December issue 2008 20 jec composites magazine / No50 July-August 2009

http://www.jsf.mil http://www.amamcotool.com http://www.jeccomposites.com/magazine-subscription/

JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #50 - July/August 2009

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #50 - July/August 2009