Combination of roughing and finishing with PCD cutters achieves the goal in stringer production

Fine finish plus long edge life

A supplier to the aircraft industry is now achieving its goals in the production of CFRP stringers: exceptionally smooth surfaces with long cutter edge life. The solution: two complementary PCD tools from LEUCO. They easily meet both requirements.

Stringers are long, profile-like braces that reinforce aircraft fuselages, among other things. The stringers consist of CF-PEEK – carbon fibers with a thermoplastic PEEK matrix. The challenge here is to achieve the required extremely smooth surface with a surface roughness value (Ra) of less than 3.2 µm. This surface quality can certainly be achieved with some tools available on the market. However, the cutting edge wear is then too high to meet the quality requirements over a n ex-tended period of time.

The supplier tested a combination of a roughing and a finishing tool recommended by LEUCO. This brought the breakthrough: Combined machining with these PCD tools significantly extended tool life. The surface roughness value of less than 3.2 µm was no problem for the roughing and finishing tool combination