FRP Cutting

[Mahmoudhermes]

Dear All,

Good morning, I hope every one is fine, I need the most accurate cutting tool for FRP (Fiber Glass) 4 MM thickness +/- 1 MM, and the cutting not line, its curves and its visible to clients, so I need the most accurate way ? could some one suggestion tool ? also what is the PPE you used ?

Attached picture for a car door handle and I need to cut the panel where the car door handle is attached, so its a very small holes.

Thanks.

 

[Michael Kellough]

What is PPE?

What do you mean most accurate? Straightest line like a track saw or narrowest kerf like a fine tooth high speed steel multi-tool blade?

If the answer is yes to both straight and fine kerf then I’d use the Freud D0436X Diablo 4-3/8-Inch 36 Tooth ATB Cordless Trim Saw Blade with 20-Millimeter Arbor.

 

[kevinculle]

Water jet.

 

[Michael Kellough]

Thanks Kevin, so I’m waaay off base.

 

[mrrhum]

What is PPE?

Personal protective equipment

 

[kevinculle]

Thanks Kevin, so I’m waaay off base.

Michael,

As always there are many factors involved but there is no way I can see that using woodworking power tools would fit that job.  The most important factor is how many of those door handle cutouts you are planning to do.  The odd nature of your request on a woodworking forum makes me think this is in some kind of production environment and not a one time job.  If so everything depends on the total number of pieces to be done and the rate (pieces per hour) to be maintained.  Under almost any circumstances the geometry of the surfaces and the tolerances to be held (typically under 0.5mm on one side of an automotive Class I appearance fit) lean strongly toward NC (numerically controlled) tooling unless you only need to do one or a few.  Since the fiber in FRP is typically glass the water jet allows you to avoid the serious tool wear that would impose as water jet tooling is a consumable.  If it's a one time thing then you trade off the cost of NC tooling by using tedious and laborious hand methods (think jeweler's saw and files) and lots of time!