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Abrasive Waterjet Technologies

Site Objectives

  1. Provide an overview of the functioning and capabilities of abrasive waterjets.
  2. Discuss the evolution from precision to high precision machining with the introduction of abrasive waterjet micromachining centres.
  3. Compare the operation of the three major non contact cutting methods – lasers, wire EDM and abrasive waterjets.
  4. Outline future developments in the capabilities of abrasive waterjets.

Introduction

Abrasive waterjets are firmly established as a precision machine tool and their capabilities have recently been extended to high precision machining with the introduction of Abrasive Waterjet Micromachining Centres (AWMCs). This web site was original set up in 2006 to increase awareness of the potential of abrasive waterjets for micromachining. It is now appropriate to revise the content of the site towards how to utilise the micromachining capabilities of abrasive waterjets. Changing and updating the web site will extend into 2011.

It is important to have a common reference when discussing macro and micromachining. As no standard definition exists for micromachining the author has adopted the following based on definitions used by companies and organisations involved in micromachining.

Definition of micromachining

  • The capability to create miniature discrete components
  • The capability to machine features in the range of 10 to 300 microns on larger components
  • Machining Centre repeatability of 3 microns and feature accuracy, depending on material and thickness, down to 10 microns.

Miniature component micromachined by a abrasive waterjet - © Finecut AB

Web Content Copyright - D S Miller 2006-2011. Updated 5 February 2011