Modeling of the influence of the abrasive waterjet cutting parameters on the depth of cut based on fuzzy rules

Currently, the abrasive waterjet cutting parameters for the milling operation have to be determined by a combination of prior experience and trial and error. It is shown that the selection of the abrasive waterjet cutting parameters for a required depth of cut in the given material can be effectively done by applying the principles of the fuzzy set theory. This approach will eliminate the need for extensive experimental work in order to select the magnitudes of the most influential abrasive waterjet parameters on the depth of cut. Fuzzy logic provides a methodology and imitation of a human's way of making decisions which is very useful in such applications where the mathematical model of the process does not exist, and one of such processes is indeed abrasive waterjet cutting. A number of case studies are performed to verify the validity of the proposed methodology for selecting the abrasive waterjet cutting parameters in order to achieve the predetermined depth of cut.