Abrasive water jet milling

Abrasive water jet (AWJ) machining and abrasive water jet cutting (AWJC) are widely used, especially where very hard materials like titanium (Ti) alloys, high-strength steel, ceramics, etc. need to be machined or cut. In this chapter, an overview of the abrasive water jet milling (AWJM) process is presented. The essential challenge is at controlling the depth of cut (DoC) produced by varying the important AWJ machining process parameters. Experimental studies, process modeling and control based on FEM, artificial intelligence techniques and regression, and mechanisms of material removal are covered from the recent literature with the focus being on Titanium alloys. Experimental study and nonlinear regression-based process modeling of controlled depth AWJ milling of Grade 2 Ti alloy is also presented. Finally, various challenges including scope of future research in AWJM are highlighted. © 2013 Springer-Verlag London. All rights are reserved.