Geometrical Characteristics of Kerf width on Titanium Alloy by Abrasive Water Jet Machining

This study investigates the effect of abrasive water jet (AWJ) machining parameters on the kerf width geometric characteristics of Ti-alloy workpieces. Taguchi's design of experiments were used to evaluate the influence of standoff distance, abrasive mass flow rate, and traverse speed on kerf width The results indicate that nozzle traverse speed is the most significant factor affecting the top kerf width. This suggests that controlling the traverse speed is crucial for achieving desired kerf width and maintaining machining precision. Water pressure emerges as the second most significant factor influencing the kerf taper angle and the surface roughness. This implies that water pressure plays a dual role in shaping the kerf geometry and affecting surface quality. The abrasive flow rate is found to have the least significant impact on the kerf characteristics. This suggests that the erosive power of the AWJ jet is primarily governed by the water pressure and the traverse speed, while the abrasive mass flow rate plays a secondary role. Overall, the study highlights the importance of understanding the interplay between AWJ process parameters and their influence on kerf geometry and surface quality. Optimizing these parameters can lead to improved machining precision and enhanced product quality in Ti-alloy manufacturing. Keywords: Abrasive Water jet Machining, Ti-alloys, Kerf width, Taguchi Design, Standoff distance, Abrasive mass flow rate, traverse speed