Drilling and trimming CFRP materials using a solid lubricant film

Carbon fibre-reinforced polymer (CFRP) materials are more and more used in various types of applications such as aircraft, automotive and wind harvesting systems. As production is product specific and costs are always an issue, trimming and drilling work is of special importance to minimize time and cost while constantly improving quality. Therefore, post-processing of CFRP materials is often accompanied by mechanical works like drilling or edge trimming before further use for assembly, where liquid lubricants are typically applied. High-precision holes of dimensions (edge cutting) are needed to fulfil the requirements of the subsequent assembly process.