By Damion Pratt

Micromachining using an Abrasive Jet

Abrasive Jet micromachining

• Non-traditional way of machining• Cost effective• Can be used with many different materials• Uses complex mathematic formulas• Based on erosion

Abrasive air jet

• High pressure air shoots from nozzle• Abrasive material mixed with air• Concentrated stream to hit only the areas being

machined• More precise than traditional methods

How it works

• The abrasives cause cracks in the material that break down and fall away

• The machine takes the math and uses it like a pattern to cut the material

• It will cut out the shape very quickly• It works the best with brittle materiel but can be used with other

material as well

The machine is still undergoing research

• Particle interference and fragmentation is still being researched

• The materials are still being tested to see what the machine can handle

• The nozzle diameter and distance from the work piece are not yet determined as to all the confirmed materials

Conclusion

• The machine is effective and functional but still ahs room for improvement

• There’s still work being done about the particle velocity

Resources

http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA296378744&v=2.1&u=mlin_c_montytech&it=r&p=GPS&sw=w

Achtsnick, M., Geelhoed, P. F., Hoogstrate, A. M. & Karpuschewski, B. 2005, "Modelling and evaluation of the micro abrasive blasting process", Wear, Vol. 259, No. 1-6, pp. 84-94.

What can be made using a (AJM)