Abrasive waterjet machining simulation by SPH method

Abrasive waterjet machining (AWJM) is a non-conventional process. The mechanism of material removing in AWJM for ductile materials and existing erosion models are reviewed in this paper. To overcome the difficulties of fluid–solid interaction and extra-large deformation problem using finite element method (FEM), the SPH-coupled FEM modeling for abrasive waterjet machining simulation is presented, in which the abrasive waterjet is modeled by SPH particles and the target material is modeled by FE. The two parts interact through contact algorithm. The creativity of this model is multi-materials SPH particles, which contain abrasive and water and mix together uniformly. To build the model, a randomized algorithm is proposed. The material model for the abrasive is first presented. Utilizing this model, abrasive waterjet penetrating the target materials with high velocity is simulated and the mechanism of erosion is depicted. The relationship between the depth of penetration and jet parameters, including water pressure and traverse speed, etc., are analyzed based on the simulation. The results agree with the experimental data well. It will be a benefit to understand the abrasive waterjet cutting mechanism and optimize the operating parameters.     

Abrasive Waterjet Machining Simulation by Coupling Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics / Finite Element Method

In dealing with abrasive waterjet machining(AWJM) simulation,most literatures apply finite element method(FEM) to build pure waterjet models or single abrasive particle erosion models.To overcome the mesh distortion caused by large deformation using FEM and to consider the effects of both water and abrasive,the smoothed particle hydrodynamics(SPH) coupled FEM modeling for AWJM simulation is presented,in which the abrasive waterjet is modeled by SPH particles and the target material is modeled by FEM.The two parts interact through contact algorithm.Utilizing this model,abrasive waterjet with high velocity penetrating the target materials is simulated and the mechanism of erosion is depicted.The relationships between the depth of penetration and jet parameters,including water pressure and traverse speed,etc,are analyzed based on the simulation.The simulation results agree well with the existed experimental data.The mixing multi-materials SPH particles,which contain abrasive and water,are adopted by means of the randomized algorithm and material model for the abrasive is presented.The study will not only provide a new powerful tool for the simulation of abrasive waterjet machining,but also be beneficial to understand its cutting mechanism and optimize the operating parameters.     

Electrochemical slurry jet micro-machining of tungsten carbide with a sodium chloride solution

Electrochemical slurry jet micro-machining (ESJM) is a new non-conventional process that couples abrasive slurry jet machining (ASJM) and electrochemical jet machining (ECJM) concurrently. A micro-jet of abrasive particles and electrolytic solution is made to impinge on the target while applying a DC potential between the jet nozzle and the workpiece. ESJM can be used to remove material that is difficult to machine through a combination of erosion, corrosion and synergistic effects. This study focuses on ESJM of tungsten carbide (WC) using a pH-neutral NaCl electrolyte rather than an alkaline solution which is more commonly used in the electrochemical processing of WC. For the studied process parameters, it was shown that the erosion due to ASJM alone was not able to erode the WC, and that the corrosion under ECJM was slow and produced unacceptably wide channels. The combined ESJM process however, was found to involve erosion of the developed oxide layer and subsequent exposure of un-corroded WC, leading to a much higher machining current density, corrosion rate, and machining localization than using ECJM alone. It was also found that the total abrasive kinetic energy, working voltage and solution concentration strongly affected the machining current density, material removal rate and aspect ratio (depth to width ratio). The results indicate that ESJM has a high potential to machine difficult-to-cut metals efficiently and economically.     

Effect of workpiece properties on machinability in abrasive jet machining of ceramic materials

Abrasive jet machining (AJM), a specialized form of shot blasting using fine-grained abrasives, is an attractive micro-machining method for ceramic materials. In this paper, the machinability during the AJM process is compared to that given by the established models of solid particle erosion, in which the material removal is assumed to originate in the ideal crack formation system. However, it was clarified that the erosion models are not necessarily applicable to the AJM test results, because the relative hardness of the abrasive against the target material, which is not taken into account in the models, is critical in the micro-machining process. In contrast to conventional erosion by large-scale particles, no strength degradation occurs for the AJM surface, which is evidence that radial cracks do not propagate downwards as a result of particle impacts.     

Parameter estimation for abrasive water jet machining process using neural networks

The abrasive water jet machining process, a material removal process, uses a high velocity jet of water and an abrasive particle mixture. The estimation of appropriate values of the process parameters is an essential step toward an effective process performance. This has led to the development of numerous mathematical and empirical models. However, the complexity of the process confines the use of these models for limited operating conditions; e.g., some of these models are valid for special material combinations while others are based on the selection of only the most critical variables such as pump pressure, traverse rate, abrasive mass flow rate and others that affect the process. Furthermore, these models may not be generalized to other operating conditions. In this respect, a neural network approach has been proposed in this paper. Two neural network approaches, backpropagation and radial basis function networks, are proposed. The results from these two neural network approaches are compared with that from the linear and non-linear regression models. The neural networks provide a better estimation of the parameters for the abrasive water jet machining process.     

Analysis on profile accuracy for ultrasonic machining of alumina ceramics

Ultrasonic machining (USM) is a mechanical material removal process which has great potential for machining hard and brittle materials such as ceramics, semiconductors, glasses, etc. The accuracy of the job profile generated by USM can be improved by optimal control of the process parameters. This paper presents the study on the influences of ultrasonic machining process parameters such as abrasive grit size, slurry concentration, power rating, tool feed rate and slurry flow rate on generated hexagonal hole profile. The angular deviations at corner angles, dimensional deviations across flat surfaces and dimensional deviation across corners of the hexagonal hole profile have been studied. Based on experimental results, the influences of abrasive grit size, slurry concentration, power rating and tool feed rate were analysed. From the analysis of parametric influences based on various test results, the best parametric combination was found as grit number of 600, slurry concentration of 30 %, power rating of 50 % and feed rate of 1.08 mm/min for achieving better profile accuracy during machining of Al₂O₃ ceramics. The experimental investigations carried out for determining the influence of USM process parameters will provide effective guideline to select parametric settings for achieving desired job profile accuracy on non-circular holes during ultrasonic drilling of alumina.     

MACHINING OF SODA LIME GLASS USING ABRASIVE HOT AIR JET: AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY

Abrasive Jet Machining is becoming one of the most prominent machining techniques for glass and other brittle materials. In this article, an attempt has been made to combine abrasive and hot air to form an abrasive hot air jet. Abrasive hot air jet machining can be applied to various operations such as drilling, surface etching, grooving and micro finishing on the glass and its composites. The effect of air temperature on the material removal rate applied to the process of glass etching and grooving is discussed in this article. The roughness of machined surface is also analyzed. It is found that the Material Removal Rate (MRR) increases as the temperature of carrier media (air) is increased. The results have revealed that the roughness of machined surface is reduced by increasing temperature of carrier media. The mechanism of material removal rate has been discussed with aid of SEM micrographs.     

Numerical simulation for abrasive water jet machining based on ALE algorithm

In dealing with fluid impact and large deformation problems by traditional Lagrange grid, calculation failure often happens due to grid distortion. An abrasive water jet machining model is created to simulate the whole stage by software LS-DYNA from the jet into the nozzle to the workpiece material removal process using ALE (Arbitrary Lagrange–Euler) algorithm. The mesh for the abrasive and water is based on the ALE formulation, while the target mesh applies the Lagrange formulation. The effect of jet penetration is implemented by coupling the grids of ALE and Lagrange. The jet traverse speed is achieved by definition of the movement of ALE grid to reduce the mesh domain. The abrasive constitutive equations are also presented in this paper. The uniform mixture for abrasive and water is achieved by definition of volume percentage of the two materials in the initial ALE elements. Simulation results give the relationships between processing parameters and the cutting depth. The good agreement between simulation results and experimental data verifies the correctness of the simulation.     

On the modelling of abrasive waterjet cutting

Abrasive waterjet cutting operates by the impingement of a high-velocity abrasive-laden waterjet against the workpiece. The jet is formed by mixing abrasive particles with high-velocity water in mixing tubes and is forced through a tiny sapphire orifice. The accelerated jet exiting the nozzle travels at more than twice the speed of sound and cuts as it passes through the workpiece.This cutting process is being developed as a net-shape and near-net-shape machining process for cutting many metals and hard-to-machine materials. The narrow kerf produced by the stream results in neither delimitation nor stresses along the cutting path. This new technology offers significant advantages over traditional processes for its ability to cut through most sections of dense or hard materials without the need for secondary machining, to produce contours, and to be integrated into computer-controlled systems.The abrasive waterjet cutting process involves a large number of process and material parameters which are related to the waterjet, the abrasive particles, and workpiece material. Those parameters are expected to effect the material removal rates and the depth of cut. The purpose of the present work is to propose a model which is capable of predicting the maximum depth of cut for different types of materials using different process parameters. A comparison of the results of the proposed model and the models reported in the literature is introduced along with a discussion of the limitations of those models.On leave from: Mechanical Engineering Department, Suez Canal University, Egypt.On leave from: Industrial Production Engineering Department, Mansoura University, Egypt.On leave from: Mechanical Power Engineering Department, Alexandria University, Egypt.     

超声波加工参数的实验研究

超声波加工己被证明是陶瓷、金刚石、半导体等硬脆性材料加工的有效方法,但其加工效率不高制约着它的广泛应用。因此根据超声波加工材料去除率模型,对磨料粒度、静载荷等加工参数进行探讨,可得出各加工参数对材料去除率的影响。     

A study on fine finishing of hard workpiece surfaces using fluidized elastic abrasives

Material removal and surface generation by erosion is the principle adopted in selected manufacturing processes like abrasive jet machining and abrasive water jet cutting. As the jet velocities involved in these processes are high, they are good for material removal. With low impinging velocities, it is possible to micro erode the surface of the workpiece to achieve good finish. To achieve low velocity impingement, abrasives could be fluidized and the target surface moved against them at the required velocities. This procedure has the limitation that fine abrasive particles are difficult or impossible to fluidize and this need to be addressed to achieve significant improvement in surface finish. For this fine abrasives could be embedded on a larger carrier particle of suitable size that is easy for fluidization. If this carrier is made of elastic material, impact erosion could further be reduced paving way for improved surface finish. In this paper, such abrasive-coated elastomeric spheres of average diameter 3 mm are termed as elastic abrasives. Based on mathematical modelling and experimental investigations, the influence of major process variables and optimal operating conditions has been arrived at. At optimum operating conditions, the surface roughness (Ra value) came down to 0.0267 μm from an initial value of 0.182 μm.     

磨料水射流切割玻璃钢复合材料试验研究

磨料水射流对材料具有极强的冲蚀作用,并在冲蚀过程中不改变材料的力学、物理和化学性能,适于切割热敏、压敏、脆性和复合材料。文中选择压强、靶距、横移速度和砂流量四因素,试验研究了各因素对玻璃钢切割断面深度比值q的影响。在磨料流量为0．060kg／min、切割速度为650mm／min、靶距为5mm条件下,切割玻璃钢样件,没有出现分层和起鳞现象,切割表面光滑,充分证实了磨料水射流切割复合材料的优势。     

An access detection and machine cycle tracking system for machine safety

Abrasive water jet (AWJ) machining is characterized by its versatility, i.e., it can be applied to a wide variety of materials. Currently, one important application is for manufacturing gem artifacts, especially agate, which is the largest gemological material produced in the state of Rio Grande do Sul. However, one of the main obstacles to its popularization is the cost associated with the process, due to the high abrasive consumption required for a good quality surface finish. In this sense, this research paper presents a study of the influence of the main process parameters (traverse speed and abrasive mass flow rate) on the surface finish of agates machined by AWJ. The experimental procedure used three different traverse speeds, four abrasive mass flow rate in two different thicknesses of agate’s plates. Surface roughness and angle of striation marks were observed for different depths from the jet entrance surface. Results were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA). Through the study, it was found that the machined surface finish varies according to the depth from the entrance surface of the abrasive jet. Also, it was concluded that the surface finish of the machined surface by AWJ (surface roughness and striation marks) of the agate’s plates machined by AWJ exhibits similar results for both thicknesses tested. ANOVA showed that the traverse speed is more significant than abrasive mass flow rate for the material studied with respect to the surface finish. Thus, for a small material thickness, it is possible to use high traverse speed and low abrasive mass flow rate which makes the process more economical.     

Direct 3D mask modeling for nonplanar workpieces in microabrasive jet machining

Recently, a new microengraving technology, microabrasive jet machining, has been studied as a machining technology for highly brittle materials. The technology implements the machining by using an abrasive jet and it uses mask structures to achieve microscale geometrical accuracy. The mask structure selectively blocks the abrasive jet at the portions of the surface that are not to be machined. Modeling and fabrication of the mask structure are thus key processes in microabrasive jet machining. Microstereolithography is believed to be a better means of mask fabrication for general planar and nonplanar workpieces. However, it is not easy to model a precise 3D mask structure from a given pattern image. Because of inconsistencies between the computer-aided design (CAD) model and the actual workpiece, mask structures modeled from workpiece CAD models often fall off. We therefore propose an automated modeling algorithm for the corresponding 3D nonplanar mask structure by using measured geometry directly. The algorithm takes the workpiece geometry as section images acquired from computer tomography and generates the CAD mask model directly from the section and mask images. Application software was developed to verify the algorithm and was tested by verification and actual cases.     

Abrasive water and slurry jet micro-machining techniques for fabrication of molds containing raised free-standing micro-features

The demand for metallic micro-molds that can be used for inexpensive mass production of polymeric microfluidic chips is increasing. Existing manufacturing techniques such as soft-lithography and photolithography can require multiple time-consuming steps, especially when the aim is to create three-dimensional features. In this study, the feasibility of using abrasive water jet machining (AWJM) and abrasive slurry jet machining (ASJM) to fabricate such micro-molds in Al6061-T6 and SS316 was studied. Jet raster scans under various combinations of process parameters were used in order to machine micro-pockets containing free-standing structures, representing molds for casting microfluidic chips with channel networks. As expected, for both materials and using both ASJM and AWJM, the pocket roughness decreased as the distance between adjacent raster scans (step size) decreased, but the lowest waviness occurred at an intermediate step size. The best quality pockets were achieved on SS316 using ASJM with the intermediate step size and the highest possible slurry mass flow rate. Unmasked machining could not be used to fabricate molds with sharp-edged intersecting features, and a novel hybrid AWJM/ASJM masked machining technique was thus introduced. An undercut and an undesirable erosion near the edges of the mask formed if the position of the last raster scan closest to the mask was not carefully controlled. Possible reasons for these phenomena were discussed in terms of the likelihood of jet deflection off the machining kerf and mask, and the resulting erosion due to secondary slurry flow. By careful selection of the process parameters, it was demonstrated that high quality molds with both single and intersecting free-standing structures at multiple heights could be fabricated, thus making three-dimensional microfluidic chip mold fabrication feasible.     

Fluid dynamic mechanisms of particle flow causing ductile and brittle erosion

Traditional prediction of erosion focuses on the use of velocity and impact angle of particles as independent variables in analytically derived models. This approach is most suitable for numerical predictions of erosion in disperse flow fields where particle trajectories may easily be followed prior to impact. For dense particle flows, the prediction of individual particle or particle cluster movement is nearly never attempted by following trajectories. Instead, two-fluid Eulerian–Eulerian approaches are used in which a continuous particle fluid phase is considered.The present study shows that the impact velocity and angle of attack of particles at the eroding surface are difficult to obtain for dense flows, thus being difficult to consider as parameters for predicting erosion. Instead, it is proposed that the normal and the shearing components of the viscous dissipation of the particulate phase are more suitable as independent flow variables governing the erosion process. These variables describe deformation and cutting wear processes, respectively, and are readily derived from the flow field.Eulerian erosion models are proposed, based on these independent variables. It is possible to implement previous results and theories concerning the material–mechanical interaction between the abrasive and an eroding surface to achieve model improvements. In this work, only a simple model taking into account a threshold elastic strain limit is proposed, to more correctly model the deformation wear.The particle-flow boundary condition — a partial-slip condition — significantly influences the erosion process, particularly the cutting erosion. The boundary condition depends on parameters such as the local particle phase flow, the mean diameter and the sharpness of the abrasive as well as the surface roughness.A simple 2D test application — a jet stream of particles impinging a tilted plate — is presented, and the qualitative angular behaviour of ductile and brittle erosion is reproduced at the target position. A scheme is presented for determination of material constants and suitable boundary conditions to be used in the proposed erosion models.     

Material removal in abrasive waterjet machining of metals Surface integrity and texture

An experimental study was conducted to determine the influence of material properties on the surface integrity and texture that results from abrasive waterjet (AWJ) machining of metals. A microstructure analysis, microhardness measurements, and profilometry were used in determining the depth of plastic deformation and surface texture that result from material removal. Models now available for dry abrasive erosion were adopted and found useful in understanding the influence of material properties on the hydrodynamic erosion process. It was found that the depth of subsurface plastic deformation is inversely proportional to a metals strength coefficient and extends the greatest depth near jet entry in the initial damage region (IDR). Furthermore, surface skewness in AWJ machining of metals increases with ductility and the corresponding critical strain for lip formation.     

磨料水射流抛光技术进展综述

磨料水射流抛光技术具有加工材料范围广、无热加工影响、能满足非线性与复杂曲面零件需要的高形状精度和高表面粗糙度要求等优势,在精密加工领域具有良好的研究价值和应用前景。首先对加工质量高敏感的工艺参数,如射流动能、喷嘴结构、磨料类型、加工路径等研究进行综述,总结了不同材料加工的工艺参数,分析了不同形状的去除函数加工的适用性;然后对磨料水射流与其他技术结合而衍生出的一系列新技术进行了总结,比较各种新技术的特点;最后对磨料水射流加工及其材料去除函数模型研究的发展趋势进行预测。     

Mathematical model for cutting force in rotary ultrasonic face milling of brittle materials

Rotary ultrasonic machining of brittle materials, such as glass, ceramics, silicon, and sapphire, has been explored in a large number of experimental and theoretical investigations. Mechanistic models have been developed to predict the material removal rate or cutting force in the rotary ultrasonic machining of brittle materials. However, most merely describe the rotary ultrasonic machining process of drilling holes in brittle materials. There are no reports on the development of a cutting force model for flat surface rotary ultrasonic machining, i.e., rotary ultrasonic face milling. This paper presents a mathematical model for the cutting force in the rotary ultrasonic face milling of brittle materials under the assumption that brittle fracture removal is the primary mode of material removal. Verification experiments are conducted for the developed cutting force model and show that the trends of input variables for the cutting force agree well with the trends of the developed cutting force model. The developed cutting force model can be applied to evaluate the cutting force in the rotary ultrasonic face milling of brittle materials.     

Processing capabilities of micro ultrasonic machining for hard and brittle materials: SPH analysis and experimental verification

Micro ultrasonic machining (micro-USM) is an unconventional micromachining technology that has capability to fabricate high aspect ratio micro-holes, intricate shapes and features on various hard and brittle materials. The material removal in USM is based on brittle fracture of work materials. The mechanical properties and fracture behaviour are different for varied hard and brittle materials, which would make a big difference in the processing capability of micro-USM. To study the processing capability of USM and exploit its potential, the material removal of work materials, wear of abrasive particles and wear of machining tools in USM of three typical hard and brittle materials including float glass, alumina, and silicon carbide were investigated in this work. Both smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) simulations and verification experiments were conducted. The material removal rate is found to decrease in the order of glass, alumina, and silicon carbide, which can be well explained by the simulation results that cracking of glass is faster and larger compared to the other materials. Correspondingly, the tool wear rate also dropped significantly thanks to the faster material removal, and a formation of concavity on the tool tip center due to intensive wear was prevented. The SPH model is proved useful for studying USM of different hard and brittle materials, and capable of predicting the machining performance.