View Full Version : Turning G10 composite material
Evanism
15th March 2015, 01:27 AM
Gday all, hoping someone here may have done this already....
A mate has asked me to turn up a handle for a military knife (Aust Army Stiletto) that is partly made with a composite called G10.
The knife is an efficient looking beastie and it's important to get this exact.
Research has shown me is a fiberglass composite with resin. It polishes wonderfully in the flat tests we did. I'm thinking of how it might shard or shatter, etc, as we begin the turning.
Any wisdom from my learned colleagues welcome.
dai sensei
15th March 2015, 10:19 AM
I don't know the material, but being just another resin product, sharp tools small cuts at high speed as for most resins should be fine.
Woodturnerjosh
15th March 2015, 07:11 PM
We use G11 fibreglass composite for electric motor parts and while it is strong, we do delaminate it when required. If you're turning it down from square I would possible sand/grind the corners and start with an octagonal shape just in case......G10 is stronger than 11 though so it may machine better. When we require round stock I believe it is ground rather than machined to shape.
I look forward to seeing some results!
Josh
Evanism
16th March 2015, 02:30 AM
Good advice.
I fully expected the "sharp tool, small cut and fast spindle" aspect. Also, the "octagoning" also makes sense.
Its a composite and I sort of expected to to catch and tear off a sheet..... cccaaaatch!!!! ping!
Since I did the sanding test and it sanded so well, I thought getting it close enough and then cheat by sanding it back to the required profile. There is no second chance with this job, so Ill need my fingers crossed :)
oreos40
16th March 2015, 10:39 AM
It is a glass epoxy material tough on tools when turning it we used diamond tools for runs. it is very tough and the matrix is sound. a catch will more than likely damage your tool instead of delaminating the work piece.
mark david
16th March 2015, 12:48 PM
Hi If it is a resin composite with fibreglass it should be excepetionally strong and shouldn't be any danger of shattering when turning it.
Gday all, hoping someone here may have done this already....
A mate has asked me to turn up a handle for a military knife (Aust Army Stiletto) that is partly made with a composite called G10.
The knife is an efficient looking beastie and it's important to get this exact.
Research has shown me is a fiberglass composite with resin. It polishes wonderfully in the flat tests we did. I'm thinking of how it might shard or shatter, etc, as we begin the turning.
Any wisdom from my learned colleagues welcome.