best way to cut cf sheet

[ezhitz]

I have a piece of CF plate I want to make a motor plate for my rigger with and was wondering whats the best way to cut it? The young guy at the hobby store said a laser would be good but I didn't think to put one in my hobby room
Can I use a cut-off wheel in my dremel or is there a better method.The thing sounds like china when you tap it.

[tiqueman]

Cut off wheel will work. I use a scroll saw. I also have a blade mini skill saw gimmick for my dremel that works very well for cutting straight lines using a guide. Wear a dust mask, that stuffs nasty.

[ezhitz]

Thanks for the reply i will wear a dust mask i read before it wasn't good to breath in the fibres.I do have a dremel scroll saw i can try .

[tiqueman]

Dremel scroll saw... hmmm I havent seen that before. I think I need to go shopping!

[Darin Jordan]

I just use one of my bandsaws.... They are setup with metal cutting blades and seem to work fine.

[dasboata]

I just use one of my bandsaws.... They are setup with metal cutting blades and seem to work fine.

I 2nd that I use a band saw ,,,it will spark good luck it is some hard stuff Chris

[egneg]

I use a Dremel 4" table saw with a carbide toothed blade. This picture isn't my saw but you get the idea.

[ezhitz]

Thanks guys for your input.Sounds like it trial and error to see what tool i have that will work best.I wonder if a diamond tile bit in the dremel might not be a bad idea.
I attached a pisture of my dremel scroll saw it must be about 20 years old first tool i bought when i started in the RC hobby.

[tiqueman]

Thanks guys for your input.Sounds like it trial and error to see what tool i have that will work best.I wonder if a diamond tile bit in the dremel might not be a bad idea.
I attached a pisture of my dremel scroll saw it must be about 20 years old first tool i bought when i started in the RC hobby.

Ahh I gotcha, I was imagining it to be a "mini" type. Thats about the size of the one I have.

[egneg]

Thanks guys for your input.Sounds like it trial and error to see what tool i have that will work best.I wonder if a diamond tile bit in the dremel might not be a bad idea.
I attached a pisture of my dremel scroll saw it must be about 20 years old first tool i bought when i started in the RC hobby.

I went through a half dozen blades in my scroll saw doing a cut out for the servo.

[gultch]

has any one tried to use a mill to do the cut outs for battery trays and engine mounts in carbon or carbon/kevlar sheets?

[tiqueman]

I went through a half dozen blades in my scroll saw doing a cut out for the servo.

Wearing them out or breaking? The first blade I tried cut decently but only cut out 1.5 motor mounts for a twin cat. The next blade I tried, which I think was a "multi-purpose" blade, has cut out the other half of that motor mount, 3 battery rails w/ slot details, 4 sets of servo mounts w/ details in the sides, Two more sets of twin cat motor mounts, 2 pairs of transom doublers and a few other small parts and its still cutting, although I need to cut more mounts and will probably change out the blade as its cutting a lot slower now. I will have to check exactly what type blade that was for you Chuck.

[ManuelW]

Hello Guys,

as I build quite a lot of boats I also have to cut a lot of CF sheet. Mostly I use my Dremel, but its all about the tools you use.
For cutting straight lines I can only recommend the GF fibre reinforced blades with a diameter of about 40mm.
Here the link to them at the Dremel Website: http://www.dremel.com/en-us/Attachme...l.aspx?pid=456

With max. rpm they cut even through 3mm CF sheet like its butter.

And for round shapes, eg. cutting out motor mounts or similar parts I use special milling tools for my Dremel. Here in Germany they are called "Diamantverzahnt", I couldn't find how they are called in the USA. Here a link to a shop where you can see a picture, maybe one finds a shop who has them in stock:

http://www.as-toolstore.de/VHM-Fraeser-diamantverzahnt-diamantbeschichtet-D15mm

Best regards,
Manuel

[egneg]

Wearing them out or breaking? The first blade I tried cut decently but only cut out 1.5 motor mounts for a twin cat. The next blade I tried, which I think was a "multi-purpose" blade, has cut out the other half of that motor mount, 3 battery rails w/ slot details, 4 sets of servo mounts w/ details in the sides, Two more sets of twin cat motor mounts, 2 pairs of transom doublers and a few other small parts and its still cutting, although I need to cut more mounts and will probably change out the blade as its cutting a lot slower now. I will have to check exactly what type blade that was for you Chuck.

It would sure help. The blades did not break but all the teeth wore out very quick and they turned blue from the heat.

[Jim Bob]

Abrasive cut-off wheels, carbide tipped, or diamond. High speed steel will cut it but not long.

http://www.traderscity.com/board/products-1/offers-to-sell-and-export-1/t-shank-diamond-coated-jigsaw-blades-90351/