Title: Analysis of abrasive waterjet factors influencing the cast aluminium surface roughness

Authors: S. Hloch, M. Gombar, J. Valicek

Addresses: Department of Technology Systems Operation, Technical University of Kosice with a seat in Presov, Bayerova 1, Presov 080 01, Slovak Republic. ' Department of Natural Sciences and Technological Disciplines, University of Presov, Namestie legionarov 3, Presov 080 01, Slovak Republic. ' Institute of Physics, VSB-Technical University of Ostrava, Ostrava-Poruba 708 33, Czech Republic

Abstract: This paper deals with experimental research and evaluation of abrasive waterjet cutting technology process by evaluation of technology factors, which influence the microgeometry (average roughness) of 10 mm thick aluminium tooled workpiece surface through design of experiments. Significance of six chosen process factors – independent variables (traverse rate, abrasive mass flow rate, pressure, J/T abbreviation and feeding direction) that influence on the surface quality - has been evaluated by full factorial design with six factors at two levels. The surface quality has been evaluated by static quality characteristic average roughness Ra. The multiple non-linear regression equation obtained from ANOVA gives the level quality Ra as a function of the treatment factors. Different factor significance was found, which generated surface profile under defined conditions by abrasive waterjet.

Keywords: modelling; factor analysis; average roughness; abrasive waterjets; water jet cutting; cast aluminium; surface roughness; AWJ; design of experiments; DOE; surface quality; factorial design.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPTECH.2007.015339

International Journal of Precision Technology, 2007 Vol.1 No.1, pp.1 - 10

Published online: 10 Oct 2007 *

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