Abstract

The importance of cutting hardened materials without influencing their structural properties makes abrasive waterjet machining a favorable choice in certain applications in comparison with other manufacturing technologies. Using this technology, faulty surface structures and errors caused by high thermal loads such as burrs, burns and cracks, can be avoided. In this paper, the results of applying the abrasive waterjet technology for cutting of hardened steel and its advantageous properties in comparison with cut-off grinding will be presented. The influence of process parameters on surface properties and burr formation has been determined by experimental analysis.

Introduction

Separating bars with small diameters made of hardened steel is usually conducted by applying the cut-off grinding technology [1]. This approach results in high temperatures within the cutting process, which leads to thermally influenced structural and surface errors on the workpiece, such as grinding burns, burrs and residual stress within the material [2]. These negative effects can be lowered by optimizing the machining strategy and process parameters in addition to using a CBN grinding wheel, which exhibits a high thermal conductivity and reduces the temperature transferred in the workpiece [3]. However, such an approach increases tooling costs and the overall processing time per one workpiece, which makes the application of these strategies applicable only when these factors are not of high importance. In this paper, a different approach for separating bars made of hardened steel using the abrasive waterjet technology is investigated.

Conclusion

In this research work, the influence of common abrasive waterjet process parameters and different cutting strategies on the surface quality and kerf properties were presented. Based on the study of the results gathered within the conducted experimental analysis of the abrasive waterjet cutting of the hardened high-strength steel 1.7102, following statements can be concluded: