Cutting tools and cutting methods

Abstract

This disclosure provides cutting tools and cutting methods that can improve the lifespan of the cutting tools. [Solution] The cutting tool according to this disclosure is a cutting tool for cutting a reinforcing fiber material. The cutting tool comprises an upper blade 11 that contacts the reinforcing fiber material from above and a lower blade 12 that contacts the reinforcing fiber material from below. The contact positions of the reinforcing fiber material 50 and the upper blade 11 and the contact positions of the reinforcing fiber material 50 and the lower blade 12 are shifted in the left-right direction, and the reinforcing fiber material 50 is sandwiched between the upper blade 11 and the lower blade 12, and the reinforcing fiber material 50 is bent and cut starting from either of the contact positions.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a cutting tool and a cutting method.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a punching and molding method for a laminated composite material that punches a laminated composite material in which a resin film is laminated on a plate material using a die and a punch.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The inventors have found the following problems. When cutting a reinforcing fiber material as in Patent Document 1 described above, there is a problem that the wear of the cutting tool is large and the tool life is short.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in view of such circumstances, and provides a cutting tool and a cutting method capable of improving the tool life.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The cutting tool according to the present disclosure is a cutting tool for cutting a reinforcing fiber material, an upper blade that abuts on the reinforcing fiber material from above, and a lower blade that abuts on the reinforcing fiber material from below, and includes the contact position between the reinforcing fiber material and the upper blade and the contact position between the reinforcing fiber material and the lower blade are shifted in the left-right direction, and the reinforcing fiber material is sandwiched by the upper blade and the lower blade. The reinforcing fiber material is bent and cut starting from either of the contact points.

[0007] In the cutting tool according to this disclosure, the upper and lower blades are offset from side to side to sandwich the reinforcing fiber material from above and below. Then, starting from the point where the reinforcing fiber material and the lower blade are in contact, the reinforcing fiber material is bent and cut. This configuration allows for easy cutting of the reinforcing fiber material. As a result, the amount of wear on the upper and lower blades can be reduced, thereby improving the lifespan of the cutting tool.

[0008] The reinforcing fiber material may be bent and cut by rotating either the upper or lower blade on the other contact position side. Even with this configuration, the reinforcing fiber material can be easily cut. Therefore, the amount of wear on the upper and lower blades can be reduced, thus improving the tool life.

[0009] The reinforcing fiber material may be bent and cut by moving either the upper or lower blade on the other contact position side toward the reinforcing fiber material. Even with this configuration, the reinforcing fiber material can be easily cut. Therefore, the amount of wear on the upper and lower blades can be reduced, and the life of the cutting tool can be improved.

[0010] The reinforcing fiber material may be carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP). With this configuration, cracks easily form from the lower blade side surface (compression side surface) of the carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) toward the interior of the reinforcing fiber material, thereby further reducing the amount of wear on the upper and lower blades.

[0011] The cutting method relating to this disclosure is: A cutting method for cutting a reinforced fiber material using a cutting tool equipped with an upper blade and a lower blade, The upper blade and the lower blade are shifted in the left-right direction to sandwich the reinforcing fiber material from above and below. The reinforcing fiber material is bent and cut starting from the point where it is in contact with the upper or lower blade.

[0012] In the cutting method according to the present disclosure, the upper blade and the lower blade are shifted in the left-right direction to sandwich the reinforcing fiber material from above and below. Then, starting from the position where the reinforcing fiber material contacts the lower blade, the reinforcing fiber material is bent and cut. By adopting such a configuration, the reinforcing fiber material can be easily cut. Therefore, the wear amount of the upper blade and the lower blade can be reduced, and the tool life can be improved.

Advantages of the Invention

[0013] The present disclosure can provide a tool and a cutting method capable of improving the tool life.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0014] [Figure 1] It is a schematic diagram showing a cutting method using the tool according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 2] It is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the upper blade. [Figure 3] It is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the upper blade. [Figure 4] It is a flowchart showing a cutting method using the tool according to Embodiment 1.

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0015] Hereinafter, the present disclosure will be described through embodiments of the invention, but the invention according to the claims is not limited to the following embodiments. Also, not all of the configurations described in the embodiments are essential as means for solving the problems. For clarity of explanation, the following description and drawings have been appropriately omitted and simplified. In each drawing, the same reference numerals are assigned to the same elements, and duplicate explanations are omitted as necessary.

[0016] Of course, the right-handed xyz orthogonal coordinates shown in the drawings are for convenience in explaining the positional relationship of the components. Usually, the positive direction of the z-axis is vertically upward, and the xy plane is the horizontal plane.

[0017] (Embodiment 1) <Object to be Cut> First, the cutting object to be cut using the cutting tool according to Embodiment 1 will be described. The cutting object is a reinforcing fiber material. The reinforcing fiber material is a material obtained by combining reinforcing fibers with a resin as a base material. The reinforcing fiber material is a material obtained by laminating a reinforcing fiber layer on a resin layer or a material obtained by mixing a reinforcing fiber structure with a resin structure. The reinforcing fiber material is typically a carbon fiber reinforced material (CFRP). The thickness of the cutting object is not particularly limited, but it is preferably 0.1 mm or more and 0.6 mm or less.

[0018] <Configuration of the cutting tool> Next, referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, the configuration of the cutting tool according to Embodiment 1 will be described. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a cutting method using the cutting tool according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the upper blade. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the upper blade.

[0019] FIG. 1 shows a state in which the reinforcing fiber material 50 is cut when the cutting tool 10 is operated from the left figure to the right figure. Here, focusing on the left figure of FIG. 1, the configuration of the cutting tool according to Embodiment 1 will be described. As shown in the left figure of FIG. 1, the cutting tool 10 includes a pair of upper blades 11 and a lower blade 12.

[0020] Referring to the left figure of FIG. 1, the arrangement of the upper blade 11 and the lower blade 12 in the cutting tool 10 will be described. As shown in the left figure of FIG. 1, in the cutting tool 10, a predetermined interval is provided between the pair of upper blades 11 and the lower blade 12 in the left-right direction (y-axis direction). Specifically, as shown in the left figure of FIG. 1, a predetermined interval d1 is provided between the pair of upper blades 11 and the lower blade 12. In other words, in the cutting tool 10, the upper blade 11 and the lower blade 12 are provided with a shift in the left-right direction (y-axis direction). The predetermined interval d1 is not particularly limited, but it is preferably set to be half or less of the thickness of the reinforcing fiber material 50 in the z-axis direction.

[0021] Furthermore, as shown in the left diagram of Figure 1, the upper blade 11 is positioned so that its tip faces the surface of the reinforcing fiber material 50 on the positive z-axis side. As shown in the left diagram of Figure 1, the lower blade 12 is positioned so that its tip faces the surface of the reinforcing fiber material 50 on the negative z-axis side.

[0022] The upper blade 11 of the cutting tool 10 will be described with reference to the left diagram of Figure 1, Figure 2, and Figure 3. The upper blade 11 shown in the left diagram of Figure 1 is a blade that contacts the reinforced fiber material 50 from above. The upper blade 11 shown in the left diagram of Figure 1 may have a sharp tip or a shape with a predetermined curvature.

[0023] An example of the configuration of the upper blade 11 is described below. As shown in Figure 2, the upper blade 11 is formed by radiating outwards from the central axis C1. The upper blade 11 shown in Figure 1 corresponds to the tip of the upper blade 11 shown in Figure 2. As shown in Figure 2, the upper blade 11 is configured to be rotatable around the central axis C1.

[0024] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 3, the upper blade 11 may be formed at a rectangular tip. The upper blade 11 shown in Figure 1 corresponds to the tip of the upper blade 11 shown in Figure 3. The upper blade 11 shown in the left diagram of Figure 1 and in Figure 3 is movable in the vertical direction (z-axis direction), as shown in Figure 3.

[0025] The lower blade 12 shown in the left diagram of Figure 1 is a blade that contacts the reinforcing fiber material 50 from below. Similar to the upper blade 11, the lower blade 12 shown in the left diagram of Figure 1 may have a sharp tip or a curved shape.

[0026] Furthermore, the lower blade 12 shown in the left diagram of Figure 1 is fixed to a base not shown in Figures 1 to 3. Unlike the upper blade 11, the lower blade 12 is fixed in place while contacting the reinforcing fiber material 50 from below.

[0027] <Cutting methods using cutting tools> Next, a cutting method using the cutting tool according to Embodiment 1 will be described with reference to Figures 1 and 4. Figure 4 is a flowchart showing the cutting method using the cutting tool according to Embodiment 1.

[0028] First, as shown in Figure 4, the upper and lower blades are offset from side to side to sandwich the reinforcing fiber material from above and below (step ST1). A detailed explanation will be given with reference to the left diagram in Figure 1.

[0029] As shown in the left diagram of Figure 1, the upper blade 11 is brought into contact with the reinforcing fiber material 50 from above (positive z-axis direction). Also, as shown in the left diagram of Figure 1, the lower blade 12 is brought into contact with the reinforcing fiber material 50 from below (negative z-axis direction). Furthermore, as shown in the left diagram of Figure 1, the contact positions of the reinforcing fiber material 50 and the upper blade 11 and the contact positions of the reinforcing fiber material 50 and the lower blade 12 are offset by a predetermined distance d1 in the left-right direction (y-axis direction). Then, as shown in the left diagram of Figure 1, the reinforcing fiber material 50 is sandwiched between the upper blade 11 and the lower blade 12 from above and below (z-axis direction).

[0030] Next, as shown in Figure 4, the reinforcing fiber material is bent and cut starting from the point where it is in contact with the lower blade (step ST2). This will be explained in detail with reference to Figures 1 and 3.

[0031] As shown in Figure 3, the upper blade 11 is moved downward (towards the negative z-axis direction). In other words, the upper blade 11 is moved toward the reinforcing fiber material 50. As a result, as shown in the center view of Figure 1, the reinforcing fiber material 50 is bent starting from the point where it is in contact with the lower blade 12. Then, as shown in the center view of Figure 1, a crack is generated from the surface of the reinforcing fiber material 50 on the lower blade 12 side toward the interior of the reinforcing fiber material 50.

[0032] As shown in the center view of Figure 1, a crack has formed in the reinforcing fiber material 50. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 3, the upper blade 11 is moved downward (towards the negative z-axis direction). This causes the reinforcing fiber material 50 to be cut, as shown in the right view of Figure 1. If the contact position between the reinforcing fiber material 50 and the lower blade 12 is considered one contact position, then the contact position between the reinforcing fiber material 50 and the upper blade 11 becomes the other contact position, and the upper blade 11 becomes the blade on the other contact position side. If the contact position between the reinforcing fiber material 50 and the upper blade 11 is considered one contact position, then the contact position between the reinforcing fiber material 50 and the lower blade 12 becomes the other contact position, and the lower blade 12 becomes the blade on the other contact position side.

[0033] As described above, in the cutting method using the cutting tool according to Embodiment 1, the upper blade 11 and the lower blade 12 are offset in the left-right direction to sandwich the reinforcing fiber material 50 from above and below. Then, starting from the point where the reinforcing fiber material 50 and the lower blade 12 are in contact, the reinforcing fiber material 50 is bent and cut.

[0034] This configuration allows for easy cutting of the reinforced fiber material. As a result, the amount of wear on the upper blade 11 and the lower blade 12 can be reduced, thereby improving the tool life. Furthermore, because the reinforced fiber material 50 is bent and cut, contact between the upper blade 11 and the fracture surface of the reinforced fiber material 50 can be suppressed, further improving the tool life.

[0035] In the example shown in Figure 1 above, the reinforcing fiber material 50 is folded and cut starting from the point where it contacts the lower blade 12. However, the method is not limited to this, and the reinforcing fiber material 50 may also be folded and cut starting from the point where it contacts the upper blade 11. In this case, the upper blade 11 is configured to contact the reinforcing fiber material 50 from above and to be fixed in place. The lower blade 12 can be configured to be rotatable as shown in Figure 2 or to be vertically movable as shown in Figure 3. In other words, the reinforcing fiber material 50 can be folded and cut by the other of the upper blade 11 and the lower blade 12, starting from the contact point of one of the upper blade 11 and the lower blade 12.

[0036] <Cutting by rotation of the upper blade> Furthermore, Figures 1 and 4 above illustrate an example in which the upper blade 11 is moved downward (towards the negative z-axis direction) to bend and cut the reinforcing fiber material. However, the method is not limited to this; the reinforcing fiber material 50 may also be bent and cut by rotating the upper blade 11, as shown in Figure 2, starting from the point where the reinforcing fiber material 50 and the lower blade 12 are in contact.

[0037] Furthermore, the method of cutting the reinforcing fiber material 50 is not limited to bending it with one of the upper blades 11 shown in Figure 2. Multiple upper blades 11 may continuously contact the reinforcing fiber material 50 as it rotates, thereby bending and cutting the reinforcing fiber material. Even with such a configuration, the reinforcing fiber material 50 can be easily cut. As a result, the amount of wear on the upper blades 11 and lower blades 12 can be reduced, thus improving the lifespan of the cutting tool.

[0038] <Cutting carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP)> Here, carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) easily cracks when stress is applied to the compression side. In the cutting method using the cutting tool according to Embodiment 1, the carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) is bent as shown in the center view of Figure 1. As a result, cracks easily form from the surface on the lower blade 12 side (the compression side surface) of the carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) toward the interior of the reinforcing fiber material 50. Therefore, when the reinforcing fiber material 50 is carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP), cracks can be easily formed in the reinforcing fiber material 50, thereby reducing the amount of wear on the upper blade 11 and lower blade 12. Thus, when the reinforcing fiber material is carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP), using the cutting method using the cutting tool according to Embodiment 1 can more effectively improve the life of the cutting tool.

[0039] This disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described above, and may be modified as appropriate without departing from its intent. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0040] 10 Cutting tools 11 Upper blade 12 Lower blade C1 center axis 50 Reinforced fiber material

Claims

1. A cutting tool for cutting reinforced fiber material, An upper blade that contacts the reinforcing fiber material from above, It comprises a lower blade that contacts the reinforcing fiber material from below, The contact position between the reinforcing fiber material and the upper blade, and the contact position between the reinforcing fiber material and the lower blade are shifted in the left-right direction, so that the reinforcing fiber material is sandwiched between the upper and lower blades. Starting from either of the contact points, the reinforcing fiber material is bent and cut. Cutting tools.

2. The reinforcing fiber material is bent and cut by rotating either the upper blade or the lower blade on the other contact position side. The cutting tool according to claim 1.

3. The reinforcing fiber material is bent and cut by moving either the upper blade or the lower blade on the other contact position side toward the reinforcing fiber material. The cutting tool according to claim 1.

4. The aforementioned reinforcing fiber material is carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP). The cutting tool according to claim 1 or 2.

5. A cutting method for cutting a reinforced fiber material using a cutting tool equipped with an upper blade and a lower blade, The upper blade and the lower blade are shifted in the left-right direction to sandwich the reinforcing fiber material from above and below. The reinforcing fiber material is bent and cut starting from the point where it is in contact with the upper blade or the lower blade. Cutting method.

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