Modeling incision profile in AWJM of Titanium alloys Ti6Al4V

Tarek Sultan,Guillaume Cohen,Patrick Gilles,Walter Rubio,François Cenac

doi:10.1051/meca/2015102

Abstract

Abrasive water jet milling (AWJM) is a new way to perform controlled depth milling especially for hard materials, but it’s not yet enough reliable because of large variety of process parameters and complex footprint geometries that are not well mastered. In order to master the milling device in AWJM, a deep study on the footprint of a single path of the cutting head should first be considered. The flow of the AWJ and the distribution of abrasive particles coming out of the jet are related to the profile measured on the footprint. In this study, experiments were made on titanium alloys specimen to compare several theoretical models to the measured profile of the footprint. This study establishes new models to fit the incision profile taking in consideration the behavior of the abrasive particles impacting the workpiece.

Highlights

Controlled depth milling appeared in the early 1990s and is intended for the production of pockets
The experience presented in this sheet includes 27 incisions made on titanium alloys specimens with a constant pressure (1000 bars), with a silicon carbide 80 mesh abrasive granules, and an abrasive flow rate (0.34 kg.min−1) involving various ranges of process parameters: Traverse speed f (66–2182)
This paper presents a study based on theoretical models fitting the footprint done by a single path of the jet on titanium workpiece

Summary

Introduction

Controlled depth milling appeared in the early 1990s and is intended for the production of pockets. Until now this process has not yet been mastered, especially for hard materials. Several works were established to investigate this technology, Cenac studied controlled depth milling on Composites and aluminum alloys [1, 2], and Flower worked on Titanium alloys [3]. In their studies masks were used to avoid irregularities in the bottom of the milled pocket. In the case of maskless pocket milling in AWJ, a precise

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