Abstract

Abrasive waterjet (AWJ) possesses inherent technological and manufacturing advantages unmatched by most machine tools. Recent advancements in AWJ processes have enhanced those merits. Multidisciplinary advancements include process automation, position accuracy, cutting models, range of part dimensions, ergonomics, user and environmental friendliness, feature recognition, and others. Among the technological merits, AWJ is material independent and a cold cutting tool, capable of preserving the structural and chemical integrity of parent materials. For heat sensitive materials, AWJ often cuts over 10 times faster than thermal cutting tools such as lasers and electrode discharge machining. Unlike photochemical etching, AWJ is environmentally friendly, producing no toxic byproducts. Additionally, AWJ requires only a single tool assisted with accessories to qualify for multimode machining; it is cost effective with fast turnaround for small and large lots alike. Recent advancements together with relevant R&D, engineering, and industrial applications will be presented for precision multimode machining from macro to micro scales.

Highlights

  • Abrasive waterjet (AWJ) is a machine tool that removes materials by an erosion process of abrasive particles impacting the workpiece at supersonic speeds [1–3]

  • Waterjet performance has been elevated to the degree that it competes on an equal footing with conventional tools such as lasers, electronic discharge machining (EDM), and photochemical etching

  • One of the most recent advancements in waterjet technology was the development of micro abrasive waterjet technology for meso-micro machining

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Summary

Introduction

Abrasive waterjet (AWJ) is a machine tool that removes materials by an erosion process of abrasive particles impacting the workpiece at supersonic speeds [1–3]. In a 2005 marketing report, Frost and Sullivan stated that waterjet machine tools emerged as the fastest growing segment of the overall machine tool industry in the last decade, and this trend is expected to continue.. The lack of awareness among potential end-users, posed a stiff challenge to market participants on increasing the end-user base. Waterjet technology has made advancements to take full advantage of its inherent merits. Waterjet performance has been elevated to the degree that it competes on an equal footing with conventional tools such as lasers, electronic discharge machining (EDM), and photochemical etching. Its performance greatly exceeds those of its conventional counterparts. The lack of awareness of these merits, though, still presents a considerable challenge to a broader acceptance as a precision machine tool

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