High-precision cutting of aluminum alloy reinforced with fibers of carbon

The purpose of this study is to obtain a high-precision surface in aluminum alloy reinforced with fibers of carbon. The affections toward formation of surface by the variation of the kind of carbon fiber and the fiber orientation were clarified, and cutting performance of diamond tool were investigated. The results obtained from this study are as follows: In the case of pitch based carbon fiber, the pores were generated by falling-off of fibers and the projections of fibers were formed on finished surface. In the case of mesophase pitch based carbon fiber, the pores were tended to be generated by fracture and falling-off of fibers. The change from the projection to the formation of pore was depended on the angle between the fiber orientation and finished surface. There was a tendency for the projecting rate of fiber to increase at large angle. From X-ray diffraction analysis it may be inferred that tool wear of diamond is mainly abrasive.