One Way Cut
What is OWC?
OWC (One Way Cut) is a 3D woven structural carbon plate in which through-thickness Z yarns tie the layers together and most of the fibre runs along one axis, the strong direction. Parts are cut from the plate aligned with that direction.
30% higher strength along the OWC direction than 2D laminates.
The same strength from a thinner, lighter part: a thinner OWC arm can replace a thicker 2D-laminate arm, taking weight out of the build.
Strong direction
Most of the fibre runs along the plate’s 500 mm edge, the X axis; this axis is the plate’s strong direction. The cuttable area is 490 × 240 mm. A part is placed with its long, load-carrying axis along the strong direction.
Strong direction and part layout on the plate
- Strong direction (X)
- Cuttable area 490 × 240 mm
Why one direction?
In long parts such as arms, beams and connecting straps, the load flows mostly along one axis. With the fibre concentrated on that axis, a part of the same thickness is stiffer and stronger along its load path. That is why the plate is reinforced in one direction and parts are cut aligned with it.
- Drone arms and frame parts
- Beams, straps and stiffeners
- Connecting and mounting brackets
Z yarns: the layers stay together
In a 2D laminate only the resin holds the layers together; impact, vibration and the stress around holes can separate them at that interface (delamination). In the OWC plate, through-thickness Z yarns tie the layers together: they do not come apart on impact, and cracks do not run from the holes.
Cross-section of a 2D laminate compared with a 3D orthogonal weave
2D laminate: plies stacked on top of each other
3D orthogonal weave: one-piece preform
- Warp (X)
- Weft (Y)
- Binder yarn (Z)
- Resin interlayer
Related articles
Vibration and impact damping
The 3D woven structure damps vibration and impact energy. On drones, less motor and propeller vibration reaches the flight controller; PID tuning is cleaner and flight is steadier. On impact the energy spreads through the whole structure, and arms and frames do not split into layers.
Vibration decay after an impact
Vibration amplitude
Time
- 2D laminate
- 3D weave (OWC)
- Impact
Long life in repeated missions
Because delamination does not start under vibration and repeated loads, a 3D woven part wears less than a 2D laminate. Drone arms that see the same load on every flight, fittings that are often taken apart and repeated test rigs are the applications where the difference shows.
Test results (3D weave and RTM): tensile strength 813–993 MPa, flexural modulus 94–107 GPa.
Cross-section under repeated loading
2D laminate
3D weave (OWC)
- Delamination
- Z yarns
The strong direction in cutting
When you upload your drawing (DXF) on the Composite cutting page, you choose which axis of the part (X or Y) is aligned with the strong direction; the preview marks the strong direction with a red arrow. The chosen direction is added to the order.
Go to Composite cuttingFor teams that cut the plate on their own machine, One Way Cutter nests parts on the plate while keeping the strong direction, and blocks rotations that would turn a part onto the weak axis. The tool is free, and your drawing stays in the browser.
Open One Way CutterCutting direction of the part on the plate
- Strong direction (X)
- Aligned with the strong direction: the fibre runs along the part
- Rotated 90°: the fibre runs across the part
Products made with OWC
The plate, the drone arms and the sample kit in the shop are all made from the same plate.
- Full plate
The 500 × 250 × 6.5 mm plate for R&D teams that cut on their own CNC and prefer not to share their design.
- Ready-made drone arms
Sets of 4 arms for 5–15 inch FPV, long-range and heavy-lift drones.
- Sample kit
For teams that want to try the material before ordering.
