Review of Accomplishments in Abrasive-Waterjet Technology from Macro to Micro Machining – Part 2
Abrasive- waterjet (AWJ) technology possesses inherent characteristics unmatched by most machine tools. The initial commercialization of AWJ in the mid-1980s took advantage of its superior cutting power for the raw cutting of thick, difficult-to-machine materials. Subsequently, considerable R&D effort was devoted to take full advantage of the above characteristics while refining machining processes toward precision machining and automation. This two-part paper presents the accomplishments that have advanced AWJ technology in terms of improving its cutting accuracy and efficiency, broadening applications for machining delicate materials from macro to micro scales, and enabling 3D capability for multimode machining. In Part 1, six topical areas are presented to demonstrate some of the important achievements in advancing AWJ technology, including control software, meso micro and stack machining, macro to micro machining, cold cutting, hole drilling, and gear making. Seven more topical areas are included in Part 2: biomedical applications, milling and etching, 3D machining, near-net shaping and hybrid machining, special applications, aerospace applications, and field deployment.
