There are four main stages in the CFRP manufacturing cycle: part generation, curing/consolidation, machining and assembly/joining . Although some CFRP parts can be manufactured into near-net-shape in the initial stage (e.g. through moulding , winding , automated fibre placement ), machining processes (e.g. drilling , milling , turning , grinding etc.) are essential for achieving complex geometry, precise tolerances and high-quality surface finishes, all of which are critical for efficient and reliable assembly/joining in later stages .