Exploring kerf cut by abrasive waterjet

Abrasive waterjet (AWJ), due to its unique advantages over the traditional machining process, has been used as a main machining tool extensively. However, the kerf profile defect, which is inherent to AWJ cutting, is one of the major obstructions that limit its applications in high-precision cutting. To improve the precision of AWJ cutting, an intensive study on kerf profile is very important. Previous researchers used taper to characterize kerf profile generated by AWJ in past years. However, we find that the requirement of precision cutting cannot be satisfied by using taper error to describe the kerf profile defect and further by tilting cutting nozzle a taper angle in the opposite direction to eliminate taper error. In this paper, the parameters which might affect the kerf profile have been investigated in detail. Based on the investigation, the kerf profile has been characterized by a mathematical model instead of a taper angle. With this mathematical model, predicting the kerf profile accurately according to the cutting conditions becomes feasible.