Title: Precision punching on laminates composite panel: effect of dual-stages puncher

Authors: H.Y. Chan; A.B. Abdullah; Z. Samad; M.S.M. Zain

Addresses: School of Mechanical Engineering, Universiti Sains Malaysia Engineering Campus, 14300 Nibong Tebal, Penang, Malaysia ' School of Mechanical Engineering, Universiti Sains Malaysia Engineering Campus, 14300 Nibong Tebal, Penang, Malaysia ' School of Mechanical Engineering, Universiti Sains Malaysia Engineering Campus, 14300 Nibong Tebal, Penang, Malaysia ' School of Mechanical Engineering, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 14300 Nibong Tebal, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia

Abstract: This study aims to investigate the effect of dual-stage puncher to the punched hole quality of a laminate composite panel. For this purpose, two sets of punchers were fabricated and the punching process was carried out using universal testing machine. The images of the punched holes are scanned using a high-resolution camera, and then the holes are analysed using the developed algorithm based on image processing technique. Quality is measured based on complete shearing and roundness of the hole top and bottom surface. Results show that dual-stages puncher, which allow for lower die clearance, indicate better in terms of accuracy of the punched hole. In addition, it may decrease the required load to implement the operation.

Keywords: precision punching; laminates; multi-stage puncher; roundness; shearing; composite panels; hole quality; image processing; die clearance.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMATEI.2015.072854

International Journal of Materials Engineering Innovation, 2015 Vol.6 No.4, pp.288 - 296

Received: 09 May 2015
Accepted: 13 Jul 2015

Published online: 04 Nov 2015 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article