Waterjet cutting carbon fiber
 

Thought I'd share my experience here. I'd always heard it was the preferred method, but also heard an occasional argument saying it would fray the edges.

I took a small scrap piece to my local shop and had them cut a trial circle out. The shop was doing me a favor and putting me on between jobs of cutting 1/4" (6.35mm) steel, so they did not change the setup at all for my 2.5mm material. The results would be better if they had.

The only downside I could find with it is a slight clouding in the finish around the edges. This was caused by overspray of the abrasive. It would be lessened had they setup for my thickness. Otherwise a layer of plastic wrap or even masking tape on the material first would prevent it.

Here are the pics. Only the two circles were a result of the waterjet. The rough edge cuts are mine from a Dremel.
http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/m...8/DSC_0193.jpg
http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/m...8/DSC_0194.jpg
http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/m...8/DSC_0197.jpg

As an afterthought here, I'm sure the layup of the carbon has alot to do with your results. If you had a somewhat dry section, I could see a waterjet cut causing it to fray for sure. This piece was fully consolidated with epoxy.

IMHO, waterjet pwns all. :lol:

damn it. I really hoped the silent p wouldn't invade this forum. I don't understand it at all and things outside my comfort zone scare me. pI pguess pif pI pcan't pbeat pthem pI pmay pas pwell pjoin pthem.

Except that it's meant as an intentional typo, not just an extra letter! (...was he joking?) :rofl:

i know. why can't people just say "own" or "owned" It really makes me pmad

Hahaha, it's because saying "pwned" makes you sound like such a 1337 h4xx0r. N00b.

:lol: "i sometimes make up words too" -homer simpson

Are those little notches for the cut-in characteristic for waterjet cuts? Just curious, I have no experience whatsoever with it. I've only seen it on American Chopper :wink:

.dk

If you're talking about the start in the center of the circle to work out to it, no it is not necessary. It is a more cautious way to do it since we were testing. If you are talking the little nipple left at the start/beginning of the circle, then it is not normal, just the result of o poor program and setup.