Optimization of Abrasive Water Jet Cutting of Ductile Materials

Full factorial design of experiments was developed in order to investigate the effects of jet pressure, abrasive mixing rate, cutting feed, and plate thickness upon three response variables, surface finish of cutting wear zone, percentage proportion of striation free area, and maximum width of cut. The set of sixteen experiments was performed on each of the following two ductile materials： AISI 4340 （high strength low alloy steel, hardened to 49HRc） and Aluminum 2219. Analysis of Variance （ANOVA） was performed on experimental data in order to determine the significance of effects of different parameters on the performance measures. It was found that cutting feed and thickness were highly influential parameters, while abrasive mixing rate is influential upon surface roughness only. Strong interaction was found between jet pressure and workpiece material. Multi-criteria numerical optimization was performed in order to simultaneously maximize/minimize different combinations of performance measures.

Air flow exploration of abrasive feed tube

An abrasive water-jet cutting process is one in which water pressure is raised to a very high pressure and forced through a very small orifice to form a very thin high speed jet beam. This thin jet beam is then directed through a chamber and then fed into a secondary nozzle, or mixing tube. During this process, a vacuum is generated in the cham- ber, and garnet abrasives and air are pulled into the chamber, through an abrasive feed tube, and mixes with this high speed stream of water. Because of the restrictions introduced by the abrasive feed tube geometry, a vacuum gradient is generated along the tube. Although this phenomenon has been recog- nized and utilized as a way to monitor nozzle condition and abrasive flowing conditions, yet, until now, conditions inside the abrasive feed line have not been completely understood. A possible reason is that conditions inside the abrasive feed line are complicated. Not only compressible flow but also multi- phase, multi-component flow has been involved in inside of abrasive feed tube. This paper explored various aspects of the vacuum creation process in both the mixing chamber and the abrasive feed tube. Based on an experimental exploration, an analytical framework is presented to allow theoretical calculations of vacuum conditions in the abrasive feed tube.

INVESTIGATION ON NEW TYPE OF DOUBLY BLENDING ABRASIVE WATER JET NOZZLE SYSTEM WITH HIGHER PERFORMANCE

Based on the two existing abrasive water-jet（AWJ） systems, the dia-jet （or pre-jet） and the post-jet, a new type of abrasive water-jet system is put forward, which combines the dia-jet＇s advantage, low operating system pressure, slender stream jet, and more concentrative abrasive in the blended stream, with merits of post-jet, the less sophisticate apparatus, successive supply of abrasives. The theoretic analysis is brought out in detail, and the nozzle system structure is concisely illustrated. Its relevant experiment results are demonstrated, proving that this new system is effective in various aspects, enlarging penetrating capability without raising system pressure, saving machining power supply, lessening energy loss, etc.

Experimental technique to analyze the influence of cutting conditions on specific energy consumption during abrasive metal cutting with thin discs

Specific energy consumption is an important indicatorfora better understanding of the machinability of materials.The present study aims to estimate the specific energy consumption for abrasive metal cutting with ultrathin discs at comparatively low and medium feed rates.Using an experimental technique,the cutting power was measured at four predefined feed rates for S235JR,intermetallic Fe-Al(40%),and C45K with different thermal treatments.The variation in the specific energy consumption with the material removal rate was analyzed through an empirical model,which enabled us to distinguish three phenomena of energy dissipation during material removal.The thermal treatment and mechanical properties of materials have a significant impact on the energy consumption pattern,its corresponding components,and cutting power.Ductile materials consume more specific cutting energy than brttle materials.The specific cutting energy is the minimum energy required to remove the material,and plowing energy is found to be the most significant phenomenon of energy dissipation.