System and method of post-cure processing of composite core
A method of cutting a wafer of composite core from a bulk composite core includes stabilizing the bulk composite core with a fixture, the bulk composite core having a plurality of tube members. The method also includes cutting through each of the tube members to create the wafer while the bulk composite core is stabilized by the fixture.
1. A method of cutting a wafer of composite core from a bulk composite core, the method comprising the steps of:
providing a bulk composite core having a substantially hexagonal outer geometry and a plurality of tube members, each of the tube members comprises a plurality of reinforcement fibers disposed in a polymeric matrix;
stabilizing the bulk composite core with a fixture having a hexagonal inner surface that lies adjacent to the hexagonal outer geometry of the bulk composite core;
positioning the bulk composite core within the fixture so as to partially expose a desired amount of the bulk composite core for cutting; and
cutting through each of the tube members in the bulk composite core to create a wafer having a substantially hexagonal outer geometry.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein each tube member has a hexagonal shaped geometry.
3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of cutting through each of the tube members in the bulk composite core includes cutting through an unsupported portion of the bulk composite core adjacently to a portion of the bulk composite core supported by the fixture.
4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of cutting through each of the tube members in the bulk composite core comprises cutting along a plane that is parallel to an exposed surface network of the bulk composite core.
5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the positioning and cutting steps are repeated to create additional wafers having a substantial hexagonal outer geometry.
6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement fibers comprise at least one or more of the following: carbon, graphite, glass, an aromatic polyamide material, and a variant of an aromatic polyamide material.
7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the polymeric matrix comprises a resin.
8. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the resin is a thermoplastic resin or a thermosetting resin.
9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of reinforcement fibers are oriented in one or more directions.