Water Jet Technology: Experimental Verification of the Input Factors Variation Influence on the Generated Vibration Levels and Frequency Spectra

Abstract

Vibration measurement belongs amongst the most important activities for the correct and stable operation of machines in terms of quality, economy, and safety. Monitoring the condition of the machine provides the key data for the detection of machine parts damage, thus preventing unexpected failure states and production drop-outs. Therefore, special attention is paid in the paper to the measurement and evaluation of basic parameters of vibration, particularly the frequency of vibrations and the amplitude of vibration acceleration. Experimental measurements were performed while machining the material HARDOX 500/10 on a production system using the abrasive water jet technology (AWJ) with the varied abrasive mass flow and the feed rate. By evaluating the results of measurements, recommendations of suitable and inappropriate combinations of operating parameters were formulated, widening current knowledge in the field of the abrasive parameters and the speed of movement of the technological head influence the amplitudes of vibration acceleration in the operation of production systems with AWJ technology.