Experimental investigation of quality characteristics during abrasive water jet machining on borosilicate glass

Abstract

Abrasive water jet machining process (AWJM) is a modern machining technique that is excellent for cutting materials of all hardness, from Inconel to rubber. Abrasive water jet machining has drawn greater focus from researchers because of its extensive operations and exceptional finish obtained during the machining process. The framed study addresses machining parameters effect on material removal rate (MRR) and radius of curvature (Rc) of borosilicate glass during cutting by AWJM. For the trials, four different levels of each of the machining parameters namely, - water pressure, abrasive mass flow rate, traverse speed and standoff distance - have been selected. Experiments have been conducted using response surface methodology (RSM) and investigated how machining parameters affect material removal rate and radius of curvature. Significance of the machining parameters on material removal rate and radius of curvature have been found using analysis of variance (ANOVA). Observations have been taken on the most significant input parameters affecting the variations of MRR and radius of curvature. Single-objective optimization and multi-objective optimization have been performed and compared together with desirability function approach (DFA). At last, confirmation test has been performed to validate the obtained result.