trim cured Kevlar laminate to get smooth edge

[JV_Comp]

After pulling a cured Kevlar/epoxy part from an infusion mold I need to trim the edges for installation. In an open mold it is easy to run a razor knife along the edge of the mold and trim off excess Kevlar cloth once the resin has partially cured.

With a closed mold, the part is fully cured by the time I pull it and trimming the edge with a diamond wheel or ceramic-type jigsaw blade leaves a very 'furry' edge.

The edge can be smothed pretty well with a belt sander if the edge is sandwiched between two strips of wood. Unfortunately, that isn't always convenient for parts with complicated shapes.

Does anyone have any suggestios for timing cured Kevlar to a smooth edge?

[jehardiman]

Here in the shipyard we use waterjet or laser. For convential tool machining, feed speeds and pressures must be very low to prevent spliting the plies.

[DavidJ]

We use these grinder pads that sort of look like scotchbrite. They will remove the fuzzy edge. I'll try to take a look around the shop tomorrow to see if I can find a part number or something.

[JV_Comp]

Thanks. I don't have laser or water jet cutting equipment.

[JV_Comp]

I did solve part of the problem. I used a Dritz electric scissors (normally used to cut fiberglass cloth and Kevlar) to trim the ragged edges of the part. It worked quickly and left a nice sharp edge.

It cut off the loose Kevlar threads and even cut though the two layers of cured laminate in some spots where the edge was not straight. The scissors is too weak to cut through more layers than that and I wouldn't use it to regularly trim cured laminate. I used an older set of blades but they seemed to hold up well.