Fiberglass profile processing is simple and similar to wood processing. The main tools used for fiberglass profile processings are drill, milling cutter, saws, die-cutter, etc.
For drilling holes up to 12mm, we recommend using ordinary hard alloy drills; for drilling holes larger than 12 mm, we recommend using diamond-coated drills or diamond-tip drills. To avoid expansion or fringing of the hollow during drilling, it is recommended to use wood blocks.
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Drilling speed: hard alloy - 60-80 rpm.
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Diamond-tip - 300-1100 rpm.
Hards alloy milling cutter and diamond-coated milling cutter are perfect for fiberglass processing, although, hard alloy milling cutters have more effective drilling speed. It is recommended to use cooling agent during drilling, as GFK profiles are poor heat conductors.
- Drilling speed: 100-400 rpm.
With relatevily thin profiles, it is sufficient to use a manual metal saw. If more thick profiles are being processed, it is recommended to use diamond-coated electric saws with diamond dusting, with 200-500mm plate diameter. It is also recommended to use cooling agents to reduce the dust that is accumulated during cutting.
- Drilling speed: 1800-3600 rpm.
With small size of the construction, we recommend using ordinary instruments as in metal working. If big-sized constructions are processed, it is more productive to use hard alloy instruments and it is necessary to use cooling agents.
- Drilling speed: as in cutting brass or alluminium
When using metal-forming equipment, it is necessary to use tempered-steel tools, if the construction is not thicker than 10mm.
- Maximum profile thickness at forming: 10mm
Thread cutting implicates lack of tensile stress at the junctions
- Round and trapezoidal cutters are much more tolerant to the loads that occur during profiles processing than the cutters with metric cutters.
Profiles can be easily glued; glue based on polyurethane or epoxy is recommended. However, before gluing, the application methods from the manufacturer must be taken into account:
- Cleaning the surface with sandpaper
- Removing dust
- Degreasing with solvent
- When applying the glue, read the manufacturer's recommendations
When connecting the profiles with riveting, make sure that the drilled holes are slightly larger than the diameter of the rivets. Additional use of glue is recommended to achieve firm joint.
- Using glue helps to achieve a more firm joint.
With minor loads, a bolt connection is possible. For heavy loads, use "machine" bolts. As with riveting, additional use of glue is recommended.
Lacquered surfaces should be previously cleaned with a solvent. We recommend a solvent based on a polyurethane.
- Two-coats painting, undiluted paint or varnish.