Machinablity of Hybrid Natural Fiber Composite with and without Filler as Reinforcement

The filler materials are reinforced along with natural fibers in the composite to improve the quality and property of the component materials based on the requirements and its applications. In this paper, hybrid natural fiber composites were developed with and without filler materials as reinforcement. The developed hybrid natural fiber composites are machined using abrasive water jet cutting process with three different cutting parameters. The influences of cutting parameters are evaluated with respect to the kerf wall inclination, material removal rate, and surface roughness. The surface morphology was also studied to infer the basic mechanism involved during composite machining. The hybrid fiber composite with filler has proved that it can produce good engineering component without delamination and fiber pullouts during machining.     

Investigation on the cutting quality characteristics of abrasive water jet machining of AA6061-B4C-hBN hybrid metal matrix composites

Aluminum metal matrix composites (AMMCs) explicitly show better physical and mechanical properties as compared to aluminum alloys and results in a more preferred material for a wide range of applications. The addition of reinforcements embargo AMMCs employment to industry requirements by increasing order of machining complexity. However, it can be machined with a high order of surface integrity by nonconventional approaches like abrasive water jet machining. Hybrid aluminum alloy composites were reinforced by B₄C (5–15?vol%) and solid lubricant hBN (15?vol%) particles and fabricated using a liquid metallurgy route. This research article deals with the experimental investigation on the effect of process parameters such as mesh size, abrasive flow rate, water pressure and work traverse speed of abrasive water jet machining on hybrid AA6061-B₄C-hBN composites. Water jet pressure and traverse speed have been proved to be the most significant parameters which influenced the responses like kerf taper angle and surface roughness. Increase in reinforcement particles affects both the kerf taper angle and surface roughness. SEM images of the machined surface show that cutting wear mechanism was largely operating in material removal.     

Investigation of process parameters influence in abrasive water jet cutting of D2 steel

In the present experimental study, abrasive water jet (AWJ) cutting tests were conducted on D2 steel by different jet impingement angles and abrasive mesh sizes. The experimental data was statistically analyzed using the simos–grey relational method and ANOVA test. In addition, the outcome of influencing cutting parameters, namely jet pressure, jet impingement angle, and abrasive mesh size on the different response parameters, namely, the jet penetration, material removal rate, taper ratio, roughness, and topography, were studied. Micro-hardness test and surface morphology analysis were employed to examine the D2 cut surfaces at different AWJ cutting conditions. The chemical element study was performed to determine the abrasive particle contamination in the AWJ kerf wall cut surfaces. The ANOVA test result indicated the jet pressure and jet impingement angle as the influencing process parameters affecting the various performance characteristics of AWJ cutting. The overall AWJ cutting performance of the D2 steel has been improved through proper identification of the optimal process parameter settings, namely jet pressure 225?MPa, abrasive mesh size #100, and jet impingement angle 70° by the simos–grey relational analysis.     

Investigation on performance of abrasive water jet in machining hybrid composites

For machining of composites, abrasive water jet machining is widely employed. For assembly of the machine tool structure, production of slots is essential. In this paper, abrasive water jet machining of composite laminates was experimentally investigated for various cutting parameters in terms of average surface roughness (R_a) and kerf taper (K_t). By generating a response surface model, the experimental values obtained for quality characteristics (R_a and K_t) were empirically related to cutting parameters. The effects of cutting parameters on quality characteristics were analyzed by utilizing empirical models and also optimized within the tested range based on desirability approach. The optimum parameter levels were also validated by confirmation test. From this investigation, it is evident that for obtaining a minimum kerf taper, traverse speed, water pressure, and abrasive mass flow rate are significant parameters and for obtaining less surface roughness traverse speed is the significant parameter.     

Abrasive waterjet cutting of cladded material: kerf taper and MRR analysis

Gas/plasma cutting of cladded materials provides inferior cut quality that demands subsequent finishing processes. Abrasive waterjet cutting could be a proficient alternate in terms of cut quality. However, the inherent problem of kerf taper and low material removal rate in comparison to the said thermal cutting processes limit its application. Therefore, potential of aforesaid machining process for cutting of stainless-clad steel is investigated with a prior focus on maximizing the material removal rate with minimum kerf taper. Abrasive mass flow, traverse speed, water pressure, and stand-off distance have been selected as input parameters. ANOVA analysis revealed that traverse rate as well as abrasive mass flow are the major contributing factors for both the responses. Optimal settings of parameters developed by S/N ratio analysis results in an improvement of 18.6% in material removal rate and 39% in the kerf taper. Moreover, regression models are developed and validated through various statistical tests.     

Machinability study of abrasive aqua jet parameters on hybrid metal matrix composite

The present work involves investigation of the abrasive aqua jet (AAJ) machining of hybrid metal matrix which consists of Al 6063 reinforced with boron carbide (B₄C) and zirconium silicate (ZrSiO₄) in the form of particulates in the proportion of 5% B₄C and 5% ZrSiO₄. The Response surface method using a central composite design was adopted for conducting experiments by changing the aqua jet pressure, abrasive flow rate, and traverse rate. The results were taken with different types of abrasives of various mesh sizes in this study, which were analyzed using response surface graphs. The striation effect on the bottom-machined surfaces was also examined using the striation length and its frequency. Surface topography and morphology were analyzed on the AAJ-machined composite kerf wall cut surfaces. The machined surface exhibited the inherent characteristics of AAJ which included wear tracks, and contamination generated in the metal surface. The experimental results revealed that higher abrasive flow rate (400 g/min), lower traverse rate (30 mm/min), and higher aqua jet pressure (300 MPa), the production of a higher material removal rate, lower surface roughness and kerf taper angle.     

Effect of abrasive jet process parameters on machining glass fibre reinforced polymer composite

An experimental and theoretical research work on abrasive jet machining of glass fiber reinforced polymer composite materials was conducted using abrasive jet machining setup fabricated in our workshop. The objective of this research work is to machine holes on the glass fiber reinforced polymer composite using an abrasive jet machine under various levels of process parameter. The material removal rate and hole geometry (kerf analysis) were observed as a part of the investigation. Four factors five levels central composite rotatable design matrix was used for optimizing the required number of experiments. The objective of the present investigation is to develop mathematical models using the response surface methodology. The adequacy of the models has been checked using the ANOVA technique. Use of the developed mathematical models, material removal rate and hole geometry of the machined glass fibre reinforced polymer composite helps prediction at 95% confidence level.     

Investigation of multiple process parameters in abrasive water jet machining of tiles

This paper discusses the optimization of an abrasive water jet machining process with multiple characteristics, using the Taguchi orthogonal array and grey relational analysis (GRA). The machining process variables, such as mesh size, nozzle diameter, abrasive flow rate, water pressure, stand-off distance, and feed rate, were optimized with respect to multiple performance characteristics, namely, the surface roughness and the kerf angle. Experiments were performed using an L₁₈ orthogonal array, and the optimum machining process variables were determined, using GRA. Analysis of variance was used to identify the most significant factor in the machining performance. A confirmatory test was performed to verify the improvement of the performance characteristics. The microstructure of the machined surfaces was also examined by scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. The results showed that the surface roughness and kerf angle were minimized under optimal machining conditions.     

Surface texturing on SiC by multiphase jet machining with microdiamond abrasives

The multiphase microabrasive jet machining is a new type of surface texturing technique using compressed air to accelerate the mixtures of abrasive and water to remove material. It is effective for surface texturing on different materials, and can also reduce the pollution and cost by recycling the microabrasive particles easily. Basing on this technique and using the micro synthetic diamond as the abrasive, a multiphase jet technique is developed for machining on silicon carbide (SiC) surfaces. The processing results are compared to other abrasives, and influences of the processing parameters such as jet distance, jet pressure, abrasive concentration, particle size, and jet angle are investigated experimentally. The improvement on machining quality and efficiency are confirmed.     

Multi-performance optimization of abrasive water jet machining of Inconel 617 using WPCA

Inconel 617 is a hard-to-machine material used for various high-temperature components like headers, pipes and turbine blades in ultra-supercritical power plants. This material necessitates nontraditional machining methods. The processing of these alloys using abrasive water jet machining (AWJM) needs attention. This paper details the multi-response optimization in the AWJM of Inconel 617 using weighted principal components analysis (WPCA). The significant process parameters are water pressure, abrasive flow volume, standoff distance and table feed. The performance characteristics are material removal rate (MRR), circularity, cylindricity, perpendicularity and parallelism. Multi-performance optimization is performed using the weighted principal component analysis method. Mean response tables are developed and plotted and the optimal factor levels for the best values of the objectives are reported. The developed technique shows flexibility as different responses with different weightages based on the product application could be tested and established.     

Study the parametric effect of abrasive water jet machining on surface roughness of Inconel 718 using RSM-BBD techniques

This paper presents an experimental investigation to ascertain the parametric impact of abrasive water jet machining on the surface quality of Inconel 718 material. Experiments were designed according to response surface methodology-box Behnken design by maintaining three levels of four process parameters—abrasive flow rate, water pressure, stand-off distance and traverse speed. The surface irregularity is measured during machining. The design expert software was used to establish an optimized mathematical model of process parameters for achieving the required surface roughness. Desirability function has also been used to optimize the process parameters. The confirmation experiments validate the reliability and capability of the developed model. Further, the surface characteristics were analyzed through scanning electron microscope images and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy.     

Wire EDM Mechanism of MMCs with the Variation of Reinforced Particle Size

The size of reinforced particles notably affects the electro-discharge machining (EDM) of metal matrix composites (MMCs). This paper explores the mechanism of wire EDM of MMCs with different sizes of reinforced particles as well as the corresponding unreinforced matrix material. The mechanisms of material removal, surface generation, and taper kerf formation were investigated. This study shows that the particles’ ability to protect matrix materials from the intense heat of electric arc controls the material removal rate, surface generation, and taper of kerf. The low melting point matrix material is removed very easily, but the heat resistance reinforced particles delay the removal of material and facilitate the transfer of the workpiece material to wire electrode and vice versa. Thus, the material stays longer in touch with intense heat and affects the surface generation, wire electrode wear, and width of the kerf.     

Water jet and abrasive water jet cutting of unidirectional graphite/epoxy composite

Unidirectional graphite/epoxy composite material has been machined by water jet and abrasive water jet cutting processes. Topography and morphology of the machined surfaces were evaluated with surface profilometry and scanning electron microscopy. The surface characteristics in terms of roughness and the micromechanisms of material removal for both processes were analysed and compared. Abrasive water jet surface characteristics of graphite/epoxy were found to be significantly different from those of the water jet cutting process and micromechanical behaviour of material removal was strongly dependent on the fibre orientation.     

Surface integrity studies on abrasive water jet cutting of AISI D2 steel

This article investigates the 3D surface topography and 2D roughness profiles, and micrographs were analyzed in the abrasive water jet (AWJ) cutting of AISI D2 steel kerf wall cut surfaces by varying water jet pressures and jet impact angles. In 3D surface topography, roughness parameters such as Sq, Ssk, Sp, Sv, Sku, Sz, and Sa were improved by various jet impact angles with different water jet pressures. However, the roughness parameters Ssk and Sku strongly depend on the water jet pressure and jet impact angle. This is confirmed by kerf wall cut profile structures. Fine irregularities of peaks and valleys are found on the AWJ cut surfaces, as evident from 2D roughness profiles. The scanning electron microscope micrographs confirm the production of an upper zone not very much damaged and a lower striation free bottom zone, by using the jet impact angle of 70° with a water jet pressure of 200?MPa. Finally, the results indicate a jet impact angle of 70° maintaining the surface integrity of D2 steel better than normal jet impact angle of 90°. The results are useful in mating applications subjected to wear and friction. This has resulted in enhancement of the functionality of the AWJ machined D2 steel components.     

Parametric optimization of abrasive water-jet machining processes using grey wolf optimizer

Abrasive water-jet machining (AWJM) is a hybrid advanced machining process, which can be economically applied to machine almost any kind of material. It employs a high velocity waterjet to propel abrasive particles through a nozzle on the workpiece surface for material removal. The machining performance of AWJM process naturally depends on its several control (input) parameters, like water pressure, nozzle diameter, jet velocity, abrasive concentration, nozzle tip distance etc., which have also predominant effects on its responses, i.e., material removal rate, surface roughness, overcut, taper etc. In this paper, a new evolutionary algorithm, i.e., grey wolf optimizer (GWO), a technique based on the hunting behavior of grey wolves, is applied for finding out the optimal parametric combinations of AWJM processes. The main advantage of this algorithm is that it does not accumulate towards some local optima, and the presence of a social hierarchy helps it in storing the best possible solutions obtained so far. The derived results using GWO exhibit a significant improvement in the response values as compared to the previous attempts for parametric optimization of AWJM processes while applying other algorithms.     

Cutting performance of glass-vinyl ester composite by abrasive water jet

Polymer matrix composite materials have been increasingly used in aerospace, defense, automotive and marine industries. In these fields, nontraditional machining method of abrasive water jet (AWJ) has been used significantly in order to form polymer matrix components. In this study, glass fiber reinforced vinyl ester composite plates have been investigated under various AWJ cutting parameters by using the Taguchi experimental design in detail. For Taguchi experimental design, experimental parameters of standoff distance, abrasive mass flow rate, traverse speed, pressure and material thickness were determined at three levels. Top kerf width and the surface roughness were investigated in order to understand the cutting performance. Finally, linear regression models were conducted and all performance parameters were examined using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and main effects plots. According to the overall test results, standoff distance was determined as the most effective one. The optimal parameter levels were obtained by the ‘main effects plots’, and finally, the predictive modeling was validated by performing the optimal combination of parameter levels.     

Influence of input parameters on the near-dry WEDM of Monel alloy

Near-dry wire electrical discharge machining (WEDM) is a modified WEDM process, which has no adverse effects on the environment, in which metal removals have been done with the dielectric medium being used in the form of a mist. As the increase in production by reducing the machining time is a costly affair, the input parameters attract considerable attention for their optimization. The predominant control characteristics in this study are the time-bound material removal and surface quality. The time duration of the electrical pulse on and off, wire feed, air inlet pressure, and water flow rate are the parameters considered for this experimental analysis. In this paper, the optimization techniques such as RSM method and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to route the experiments and optimize the responses of near-dry WEDM process for machining the material Monel alloy. A model has been formulated mathematically for the two vital responses needed, under the influence of regression analysis. Additivity test has been performed to validate the mathematical model. The air–water mixture in the form of a mist was used in place of dielectric medium to study the impact on material removal rate (MRR), surface roughness (R_a), and environment. It was observed that a high surface finish could be obtained at 3 bar pressure.     

Processing of duplex stainless steel by WEDM

This study investigates the manufacturing process of 2205 duplex stainless steel by wire electrical discharge machining where the effects of pulse-on time (PONT), wire tension and pulse-off time (POFT) on surface finish, kerf width, and material removal rate (MRR). It was found that the kerf width was unchanged with the change of PONT at long pulse-of time and higher wire tension. However, it decreased initially and then increased due to the rise of PONT at low values of wire tension and POFT. Low wire tension and PONT, POFT and contributed towards widest kerf. Longer PONT increased MRR due to higher machining/processing speed. Lower wire tension and shorter POFT increased MRR more than that of higher wire tension and POFT. Craters and recast layer were on the machined surfaces at all machining conditions. Increased PONT raised surface roughness at the lower POFT and tension in the wire. The surface finish at high wire tension and longer PONT is always better than that at smaller PONT and lower tension in the wire. The microstructure underneath the recast layer remains unchanged and the failure of wire electrode occurred at higher wire tension, longer PONT and shorter POFT.     

An Experimental Study on Electrical Discharge Machining of Manganese-Zinc Ferrite Magnetic Material

The objective of this research is to investigate the machining characteristics of manganese-zinc (Mn-Zn) ferrite magnetic material using electrical-discharge machining (EDM). The material removal rate, the surface topography, the surface roughness, the recast layer, and the chemical composition of the machined surface were studied in terms of EDM processing variables. Experimental results indicate that the morphology of debris revealed the mechanism of material removal. The surface microgeometry characteristics are not always uniform and homogenous and the EDM process produces much damage on the machined surface. The material removal rate, the surface roughness, and the recast layer are proportional to the applied discharge energy.     

Multiresponse Optimization of Abrasive Water Jet Cutting Process Parameters Using TOPSIS Approach

This paper describes how optimization studies were carried out on an abrasive water jet (AWJ) cutting process with multiresponse characteristics based on Multi Criteria Decision Making Methodology (MCDM) using the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) approach. The process parameters water jet pressure, traverse rate, abrasive flow rate, and standoff distance are optimized with multiresponse characteristics, including the depth of penetration (DOP), cutting rate (CR), surface roughness (R_a), taper cut ratio (TCR), and top kerf width (TKW). The optimized results obtained from this approach indicate that higher DOP and CR and lower R_a, TCR, and TKW were achieved with combinations of the AWJ cutting process parameters, such as water jet pressure of 300 MPa, traverse rate of 120 mm/min, abrasive flow rate of 360 g/min, and standoff distance of 1 mm. The experimental results indicate that the multiresponse characteristics of the AA5083-H32 unit used during the AWJ cutting process can be enhanced through the TOPSIS method. Analysis of variance was carried out to determine the significant factors for the AWJ cutting process.