ABSTRACT
This chapter deals with the drilling of hybrid stacks made of light alloys sheet/carbon-fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) laminate; this kind of machining operation is intensively applied for fastening in the production of airframe structures. The use of hybrid stacks for aeronautical applications ensures considerable weight saving and reduction of the number of manufacturing operations. In industrial practice, the drilling of this kind of materials combinations is largely performed manually and is particularly critical due to the high added value of the parts being processed. Hybrid stack drilling is characterized by rapid tool wear development, high thrust force and torque, and risk of poor hole quality. The results obtained during an extensive campaign of drilling tests on stacks made of Al Alloy sheet/CFRP laminate and Ti Alloy sheet/CFRP laminate are reported and discussed.
