Influence of Operating Parameters in Abrasive Waterjet Cutting of Aluminium

Abrasive waterjet cutting is one of the non-traditional cutting processes capable of cutting wide range of hard-to-cut materials. This paper assesses the influence of process parameters on depth of cut and surface roughness which are important cutting performance measures in abrasive waterjet cutting of aluminium. Experiments were conducted in varying water pressure, nozzle traverse speed, abrasive mass flow rate and standoff distance for cutting aluminium plates using abrasive waterjet cutting process. The effects of these parameters on depth of cut and surface roughness have been studied based on the experimental results. It was recommended that a combination of high water pressure, more abrasive mass flow rate, low traverse speed and short standoff distance be used to produce more depth of cut and less surface roughness.