Carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) composites have been widely used due to their great strength, stiffness and light weight. However, due to its anisotropy and inhomogeneous properties the machining process of CFRP composites is typically more complex than that of regular metals. Since there are many defects, such as delamination and tool wear during the machining process of CFRP composites, the optimization of this process is essential in improving the productivity. In this study, orthogonal machining of CFRP composites was performed to identify the machining characteristics of these materials. In addition, an experimental observation of delamination was investigated through the use of scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In these experiments, the cutting forces were measured and analyzed to determine the difference between machining of CFRP composites and metals. The comparison between the numerical models and experimental results was performed in terms of the maximum cutting forces.
