The Influence of Silicon Carbide Abrasive on Machining of Ti-6Al-4V by AWJ †

Abstract

During Abrasive Waterjet (AWJ) machining of hard-to-cut materials, apart from other important process parameters, the properties of the abrasive material can considerably influence the outcome. In this research, the efficiency of silicon carbide as an abrasive on the geometrical characteristics of the kerf is investigated. Slots were machined on a Ti-6Al-4V workpiece under various conditions and the Taguchi method was used to design the experiment. The findings indicate that SiC abrasives are effective for machining titanium alloys and the appropriate regulation of process parameters can considerably affect both the geometric characteristics of the kerf and productivity.