Fabrication and Analysis of Micro-pillars by Abrasive Water Jet Machining

Publication date: 2014 Source:Procedia Materials Science, Volume 6 Author(s): Vijay Kumar Pal , S.K. Choudhury Now-a-days, fabrication of 3-D features employing Abrasive Water Jet (AWJ) milling by partially superimposing two consecutive passes is a major research interest. This paper presents an innovative water jet path strategy to fabricate micro-pillars with good geometrical accuracy. These micro-pillars can be used as fins (cooling purpose) and tool fabrication for Electro Discharge Machining and Electro Chemical Machining (EDM/ECM). The novelty of the paper relies on the proposal of path strategy for jet movement that moves along two crossed (90 degree) raster path and keeping the Step Over (SO) more than the diameter of nozzle (1.25d). Micro pillars were fabricated by varying the process parameters; pressure and abrasive size, respectively on three different work materials, namely, Al6061 (Aluminium alloy), SS304 (Stainless steel) and Ti6Al4V(Titanium alloy). Pillars of different aspect ratios were achieved varying height in the range of 265 to 720 micronsand taper ratio in the range of 10-150. Geometry and surface roughness of micro-pillars were measured by 3-D optical profilometer and processed using scanning probe image software (SPIP).Digital and scanning electron microscopes (SEM) were used to observe and analyse the microscopic behaviours of machined surface.
Source: Procedia Materials Science - Category: Materials Science Source Type: research