Appeal No. 1998-1266 Page 16
Application No. 08/354,459
APPENDIX
5. A method of machining a transverse opening in a
fiber-reinforced composite material, said method comprising the
steps of:
forming hole in a composite material, said composite
material being of laminated construction with each lamina
having a plurality of fibers oriented in a respective
longitudinal direction, said forming step resulting in
delamination and splintering of said formed hole about a radial
periphery thereof;
positioning a rotatable cutting tool in the formed hole,
said cutting tool having a wear-resistant outer working surface
and a diameter which is one of equal to and smaller than a
diameter of the formed hole, said cutting tool defining an axis
of rotation
positioning the composite material whereby said axis of
rotation is disposed substantially perpendicular to each said
respective longitudinal direction; and
machining the transverse opening in the composite
material by rotating the cutting tool about the axis of
rotation and moving the cutting tool relative to an edge of the
formed hole, said moving of the cutting tool dependent on a
radial extent of any physical defects in the composite material
caused from making the formed hole, whereby substantially all
of said Physical defects caused from making the formed hole are
removed from the composite material, the transverse opening
having at least one of a size and geometry which is
substantially different from a size and geometry of the formed
hole.
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