Composite Machining Time Cut at Westland

Abstract

THE time taken to drill critical holes in resin impregnated carbon and glass fibre composite materials at Westland Helicopters has been reduced from hours to minutes using long series Sandvik Coromant Delta Drills. Prior to Sandvik's involvement it was taking two complete working shifts to carry out the drilling of ten 16mm diameter fixing holes in the root end of the Sea King helicopter's revolutionary composite blade. Now it takes just 12 minutes.

Citation

(1987), "Composite Machining Time Cut at Westland", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 59 No. 3, pp. 28-28. https://doi.org/10.1108/eb036417