Jet Machining

Copyright, 1999 © Yaseen Mahmud & Associates, Inc.

Consisting of:

Fluid Jet Machining

Abrasive Jet Machining

Airbrasive Jet Machining

Airbrasive Jet Machining

• Also called MicroBlast Machining is a process using:– High pressure air with fine powder,

blended together to form an abrasive mixture.

– This mixture is sent through a small, precisely machined nozzle.

– The result is a highly accurate abrasive stream used for cleaning, cutting, drilling, deburring.

Airbrasive Jet Machining

• Airbrasive Machines are extremely versatile and have limitless applications. They have the power to cut and drill materials as hard as diamonds as well as the precision of delicate items like fabric and paper.

Fluid Jet Machining

• Water-jet machining– It is manufacturing

through the use of highly pressurized liquid, forced through a nozzle and used as the cutting tool.

– The orifice can range from 5 to 20 thousandth of an inch.

Fluid Jet Machining

• Water-jet machining– Water is most common liquid, however

alcohol,oil, or glycerol may be used – Water jets machining has been in use

since 1970.

• Water jets have many applications– ranging from cutting steels to sheets of

candy (using a sugar water or syrup for cutting).

Fluid Jet Machining • Some examples

are: – Nickel alloys,

Titanium, tool steels, glass, marble, brass, copper, wood, rubber, paper and plastics.

– The cutting thickness is normally for any size under 6".

Fluid Jet Machining

• Advantages of water-jet machining– The water stream

makes very little noise.

– Chips or waste is moved out of the way of the cutting process.

Fluid Jet Machining

• Advantages of water-jet machining– There are no bits or tools touching the

material surface, thus there is no tool replacement costs.

– Ultrahigh-pressure Water-jets cut to accuracy's of +/-0.010".

– Low level of mechanical stress (less than a pound) placed on the work piece preventing damage and deformations.

Fluid Jet Machining

• Advantages of water-jet machining– Omni-directional

cutting capabilities allow the cutting of intricate shapes and curves not possible with conventional cutting tools.

Fluid Jet Machining

• Advantages of water-jet machining– Especially suited

for short run production because there are no tooling expenses.

– There are no heat affected zone's.

Abrasive Jet Machining

• Abrasives, such as garnet, diamond or powders, can be mixed into the water to make a slurry with better cutting properties than straight water.

Abrasive Jet Machining

Advantages of Abrasive Jets

• Quality finish Materials cut by the abrasive jet have a smooth, satin-like finish, similar to a fine sandblasted finish.

• Minimal burrNo heavy burrs are produced by the abrasive jet process. Parts can often be used directly without deburring

Advantages of Abrasive Jetsover Water Jets

• Increased AccuracyCompared to the water jet 0.010”, abrasive jets average from 0.00 5”.

• In this example, the wall are a 0.025 wafer thin.

Versatile Machining

• Cuts in wood

Versatile Machining

• Etching- using a rapid feed rate.

Conclusion

• Jet Machining is the right choice of tools for:– Heat-sensitive or Brittle materials

– Glass

• Composites and Nonmetals

• Burrless Applications

• Produce long tapered walls in deep cuts