Manufacturing and Optimization of Process Parameters by using Abrasive Water Jet Machining of Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymer Composites

Abstract

In the last decade, invention of new material is the point of interest of researchers. Carbon composite epoxy is one of those materials, which are currently used in transportation, aerospace, structural as well as naval applications. It is very difficult to machine those carbon composite materials using traditional methods, so an updated solution for this issue is machining using Abrasive Water Jet. Significant input parameters namely Standoff Distance, Abrasive Mass Flow Rate and Traverse Rate are varied for various outputs, out of which kerf width is main point of focus. For précised values, Kerf Width measurement is carried out using Profile Projector. The process parameters were further optimized using GRA and Taguchi method. Regression models were developed for correlation with actual generated data using experiments. The result obtained using Optimization technique and Taguchi method is confirmed using confirmation experiment. The parameters were optimized for Kerf Width of carbon fibre with reference to input parameters by using AWJM.