Steel cutting using abrasive water jet

Abstract

Technology of material parting using water of high pressure is considered as a modem and perspective method. It makes parting of practically all non-metallic as well as metallic materials possible. According to the type, properties and thickness of the parted material two methods are used, namely (pure) water jet machining and abrasive water jet machining. This article contains the machining test results of steel sheets of different thickness (5 to 20 mm) at different machining parameters. On the tests the influences of the machining speed (10 to 425 mm min-1) and of the abrasive amount (211.5 to 417.8 g-min-1) on the cut width were observed. The cut was observed primarily at the water jet input and output. The deviation from the perpendicular line was observed, too. It was proved that the machining speed influences primarily the cut width and the deviation from the perpendicular line. The abrasive amount is of lesser importance. Kerf width ranges from about 1.05 to 1.15 mm (for a plate thickness of 5 mm, inlet of the water jet), from 0.25 to 0.70 mm (5 mm, outlet), from 1.10 to 1.35 mm (20 mm, inlet), and from 0.20 to 1.25 mm (20 mm, outlet). Deviation from the perpendicular line of cutting surfaces ranges from 2.35 to 4.65° (for a plate thickness of 5 mm) and from 0.15 to 1.35° (20 mm).