EVALUATING THE IMPACT OF TECHNOLOGICAL PARAMETERS ON MATERIAL REMOVAL IN ABRASIVE WATER JET MACHINING OF A STAINLESS STEEL

Abrasive Water Jet (AWJ) machining has emerged as a promising technology for processing hard-to-machine materials like stainless steel. This paper investigates the application of low-pressure AWJ machining (50 MPa) for milling stainless steel with a controlled depth of cut. The aim is to optimize AWJ process factors to achieve desirable results in industrial applications. Experimental measurements were conducted at a constant water pressure of 50 MPa, varying the cutting head traverse speed, abrasive mass flow rate, and the number of passes to evaluate their impact on material removal efficiency. The study emphasizes material removal from the surface, surface evaluation, and potential for industrial application. The findings contribute to bridging the research gap regarding the optimization of AWJ parameters for stainless steel milling applications.