# US 2014/0360323 A1 · System and method of post-cure processing of composite core > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0360323 A1 - Document ID: US20140360323A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/914,737 - Filed: 2013-06-11 - Published: 2014-12-11 - Earliest claimed: 2013-06-11 - Assignees: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc. - Applicants: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc. - Inventors: Phillip A. Kendrick; Levi H. Armstrong - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140360323A1 ## CPC - B26D 1/157: rotating about a movable axis (B26D1/20 - B26D1/24 take precedence) - B26D 7/01: Means for holding or positioning work - B29C 53/60: using internal forming surfaces, e.g. mandrels - B29C 69/001: {a shaping technique combined with cutting, e.g. in parts or slices combined with rearranging and joining the cut parts (for reinforced material B29C70/545; B29C49/4278, B29C51/268 take precedence)} - B29C 70/545: {Perforating, cutting or machining during or after moulding} - B29D 99/0089: {Producing honeycomb structures (consisting of porous ceramic ware C04B38/0006)} - B26D 1/08: of the guillotine type - B26D 1/10: in, or substantially in, a direction parallel to the cutting edge - B26D 3/167: {Cutting tubes having a non-circular cross-section} - B29C 66/543: {joining more than two hollow-preforms to form said hollow articles} - B29C 70/30: Shaping by lay-up, i.e. applying fibres, tape or broadsheet on a mould, former or core; Shaping by spray-up, i.e. spraying of fibres on a mould, former or core - B32B 3/12: characterised by a layer of regularly- arranged cells, e.g. a honeycomb structure - B32B 37/146: {whereby one or more of the layers is a honeycomb structure} - Y10T 83/04: Processes - Y10T 83/0405: With preparatory or simultaneous ancillary treatment of work - Y10T 83/0476: Including stacking of plural workpieces - Y10T 83/05: With reorientation of tool between cuts - Y10T 83/0524: Plural cutting steps - Y10T 83/0596: Cutting wall of hollow work - Y10T 156/1026: with slitting or removal of material at reshaping area prior to reshaping - Y10T 156/1059: Splitting sheet lamina in plane intermediate of faces - Y10T 156/1066: Cutting to shape joining edge surfaces only - Y10T 156/1079: Joining of cut laminae end-to-end - Y10T 156/13: Severing followed by associating with part from same source - Y10T 156/1348: Work traversing type - Y10T 156/1357: Slitting and severing - B26D: CUTTING; DETAILS COMMON TO MACHINES FOR PERFORATING, PUNCHING, CUTTING-OUT, STAMPING-OUT OR SEVERING (for growing crops or plants A01D, A01G; for fodder or straw A01F; for bulk butter A01J; for dough A21C; slaughtering A22B; for tobacco, cigars or cigarettes A24; marking-out, perforating or making buttonholes A41H25/00; manufacturing footwear A43D; brushmaking A46D; surgery A61B; disintegrating, mincing or shredding in general B02C; cutting wire, making pins or nails B21F, B21G; of the kind used formetal B23; cutting by abrasive fluid jets B24C5/02; hand-held cutting tools B26B; perforating, cutting-out, stamping-out or punching, or severing by means other than cutting B26F; for wood B27; for stone B28D; working of plastics or substances in a plastic state B29; making boxes, cartons, envelopes or bags, of paper or similarly worked materials, e.g. metal foil, B31B; article or web delivery apparatus incorporating cutting or line-perforating devices B65H35/00; for leather or upholstery B68, C14B; for glass C03B; making matches C06F; for peat C10F; for sugar C13B45/00; for textile materials D06H; civil engineering, building, mining, see Section E; for light guides G02B6/25; cutting processed photographic material G03D15/04) - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) - B29D: PRODUCING PARTICULAR ARTICLES FROM PLASTICS OR FROM SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE (making granules B29B9/00; making preforms B29B11/00) - B32B: LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A method of cutting a wafer of composite core from a bulk composite core includes stabilizing the bulk composite core with a fixture, the bulk composite core having a plurality of tube members. The method also includes cutting through each of the tube members to create the wafer while the bulk composite core is stabilized by the fixture. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of cutting a wafer of composite core from a bulk composite core, the method comprising the steps of: stabilizing the bulk composite core with a fixture, the bulk composite core having a plurality of tube members; and cutting through each of the tube members. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the bulk composite member has a substantially hexagonal outer geometry. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein each tube member has a hexagonal shaped geometry. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the fixture comprises an outer fixture that supports the bulk composite core by having an inner surface that lies adjacent to each outwardly exposed cell wall of outwardly located tube members. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method according to claim 4, wherein the step of cutting through each of the tube members includes cutting through an unsupported portion of the bulk composite core adjacently to a portion of the bulk composite core supported by the outer fixture. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The method according to claim 4, wherein the step of cutting through each of the tube members comprises cutting along a plane that is parallel to an exposed surface network of the bulk composite core. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the fixture comprises a plurality of mandrels configured for supporting each tube member of the bulk composite core. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method according to claim 7, wherein the plurality of mandrels are mounted to a support. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The method according to claim 7, wherein the step of cutting through each of the tube members comprises cutting through each of the plurality of mandrels. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The method according to claim 7, wherein the step of cutting through each of the tube members comprises cutting through each of the tube members adjacent to an each portion of the plurality of mandrels. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The method according to claim 7, wherein the plurality of mandrels are rigid. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The method according to claim 7, wherein the plurality of mandrels are of a foam material. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of stabilizing the bulk composite core with a fixture comprises: placing the bulk composite core in a container; depositing a potting compound in contact with an outer surface of the bulk composite core; and curing the potting compound. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method according to claim 13, wherein the step of cutting through each of the tube members also includes cutting through the cured potting compound. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method according to claim 13, further comprising: removing the outer cell members that were in contact with potting compound. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of stabilizing the bulk composite core with a fixture comprises: wrapping an exterior of the bulk composite core with a composite wrap; and curing the composite wrap. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method according to claim 16, wherein the step of cutting through each of the tube members also includes cutting through the cured composite wrap. ### Claim 18 A method of cutting a wafer of composite core from a bulk composite core, the method comprising the steps of: supporting the bulk composite core, the bulk composite core having a plurality of tube members; and cutting through each of the tube members from within each tube member with a circular saw. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method according to claim 18, the step of cutting through each of the tube members from within each tube member with a circular saw comprising: first cutting an interior cell member, then cutting within other cell members sequentially along a cutting path. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method according to claim 19, wherein the cutting path is a spiral cutting path that progress from an interior to an exterior while skipping certain prescribed cell members.