Abrasive Jet Machining

Dr. Harlal Singh Mali

Introduction
In Abrasive Jet Machining (AJM), abrasive particles are made to impinge on the work material at
a high velocity. The jet of abrasive particles is carried by carrier gas or air. The high velocity
stream of abrasive is generated by converting the pressure energy of the carrier gas or air to its
kinetic energy and hence high velocity jet. The nozzle directs the abrasive jet in a controlled
manner onto the work material, so that the distance between the nozzle and the work piece and
the impingement angle can be set desirably. The high velocity abrasive particles remove the
material by micro-cutting action as well as brittle fracture of the work material

Definition
In abrasive jet machining, a focused stream of abrasive particles carried by high pressure air or
gas is made to impinge on the work surface through a nozzle and the work material is removed
by erosion by high velocity abrasive particles.
PROCESS

Carrier gas is accelerated in the nozzle

Pressure energy is converted into kinetic energy
This K.E is transferred to the abrasive particles
Abrasives gain high velocity
Striking of the high velocity abrasives on to the work piece
High velocity abrasives remove the work material by brittle fracture.
Nozzle controls the flow of abrasives on to the work material.
Equipment
A schematic layout of AJM is shownin Fig1. The filtered gas, supplied under pressure to the
mixing chamber containing the abrasivepowder and vibrating at 50c/s,entrains the
abrasiveparticle and is the passed intoa connecting hose. This abrasiveand gas mixture
emerges from a small nozzle at high velocity. The abrasivepowder feedrate is controlled bythe
amplitudeof vibration of the mixing chamber.A pressure regulatorcontrolsthe gas flowand
pressure.

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 The nozzle is mounted on a fixture. Either the work piece or the nozzle is moved by cams
pantograph or other suitable mechanismstocontrol the size and shape of the cut. Hand operation
issometimes adequate toremovesurface contaminations or in cutting where accuracy isnot very
critical.Dust removal equipment is necessary toprotect the environment.Commercial bench
mountedunits including all controls, motion producing devices, and dust control equipment are
available.

FIG1: SCHEMATIC LAYOUT OFABRASIVEJETMACHINE

Working

A schematic layout of AJM is shown above. The gas stream is then passed to the nozzle
through a connecting hose. The velocity of the abrasive stream ejected through the nozzle is
generally of the order of 330 m/sec.

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 COMPONENT OF AJM
1) Gas propulsion system
2) Abrasive feeder
3) Machining Chamber
4) AJM Nozzle
5) Abrasives
Gas propulsion system:
Supplies clean and dry air. Air, nitrogen and carbon dioxide to propel the abrasive particles.
Gas may be supplied either from a compressor or a cylinder. In case of a compressor, air filter
cum drier should be used to avoid water or oil contamination of abrasive powder. Gas should be
non-toxic, cheap, easily available.
Abrasive feeder:
Required quantity of abrasive particles is supplied by abrasive feeder. The filleted
propellant is fed into the mixing chamber where in abrasive particles are fed through a sieve. The
sieve is made to vibrate at 50-60 Hz and mixing ratio is controlled by the amplitude of vibration
of sieve.

Machining Chamber:
It is well closed so that concentration of abrasive particles around the working chamber does
not reach to the harmful limits. Machining chamber is equipped with vacuum dust collector.
Special consideration should be given to dust collection system if the toxic material (like
berilium) are being machined.
AJM Nozzle:
AJM nozzle is usually made of tungsten carbide or sapphire (usually life 300 hours for
sapphire, 20 to 30 hours for WC) which has resistance to wear. The nozzle is made of either
circular or rectangular cross section and head can be head can be straight, or at a right angle.
ABRASIVE
Aluminium oxide (Al2O3) Silicon carbide (SiC) Glass beads, crushed glass and sodium
bicarbonate are some of abrasives used in AJM. Selection of abrasives depends on MRR, type of
work material.

Properties of abrasive:
1) Good flow ability
2) Hardness
3) Friability

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4) Grain shape
5) Grain size
Abrasive Hardness:
Knoop Hardness
Aluminium Oxide 20003000
Silicon Carbide 21003000
Cubic Boron Nitride 40005000
Diamond 70008000
Knoop hardness use for brittle material and thin sheet.
Knoop hardness =
P =load
L =length
=

Abrasive Friability:
The ability of the individual grains to fracture or split into smaller pieces.

PROCESS PARAMETER

The variables that influence the rate of metal removal and accuracy of machining in this
process:
1. Carrier gas
2. Types of abrasive
3. Size of abrasive grain
4. Velocity of abrasive jet
5. Flow rate of abrasive
6. Work material
7. Geometry, composition and material of nozzle
8. Nozzle work distance (standoff distance)
9. Shape of cut and operation type

Abrasive:
Material , SiC, Glass beads, Crushed glass, Sodium bi carbonate
Shape irregular/regular
Size 10 to 50 microns
Mass flow 2-20 gm/min

Carrier Gas:
Composition - Air, ,
Density 1.3 kg/m3
Velocity - 500 to 700 m/s
Pressure - 2 to 10 bar
Flow rate - 5 to 30 ltr/min
Abrasive Jet:
Velocity - 100 to 300 m/s
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 Mixing ratio Volume flow rate of abrasives/Volume flow rate of gas
Stand- off distance (SOD) - 0.5 to 15mm.
Impingement angle 60 to 90 deg.
Nozzle:
Material WC, Sapphire
Diameter 0.2 to 0.8 mm
Life 300 hours for sapphire, 20 to 30 hours for tungsten car

Mixing Ratio

MR = =(Va/Vg)

Mass Ratio
=
Where, ma is Abrasive mass flow rate and (ma+mc) is abrasive and carrier gas combined mass
flow rate.

Characteristics of different variables:

Medium Air , CO2,N2
Abrasive SiC, Al2O3(of size 20 to 50)
Flow rate of abrasive 3to 20gram/min
Velocity 150to300 m/min
Pressure 2to 8kg/cm2
Nozzle size 0.07to 0.40mm
Material of nozzle WC, Sapphire
Nozzle life 12to 300hr
Standoff distance 0.25to 15 mm (8mm generally)
Work material Non Metals like glass, ceramics, and granites. Metals and
alloys of hard materials like germanium, silicon etc
part application Drilling, cutting, deburring, cleaning

MODEL OF MATERIAL REMOVAL RATE

Material removal in AJM takes place due to brittle fracture of the work material due to impact of
high velocity abrasive particles.
Assumptions:
1) Abrasives are spherical in shape and rigid.
2) The particles are characterized by the mean grit diameter.
3) The kinetic energy of the abrasives are fully utilized in removing material.
4) Brittle materials are considered to fail due to brittle fracture
5) Fracture volume is considered to be hemispherical with diameter equal to chordal length
of the indentation
6) For ductile material, removal volume is assumed to be equal to the indentation volume
due to particulate impact.
Interaction of abrasive particles with work piece:

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From the geometry of indentation
= +
= =
=
= +
r= ( )
Case-1 brittle material
Volume of the material removed is the volume of the hemispherical crater due the fracture is
given by
Volume of the material removed

Let us assume that grits also move with velocity (V) then we can write

On the impact, work material would be subjected to maximum force F, which would lead to
indentation of
Work done during such indentation is

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Using equation (3) and (4) we get
Work done by grit = =
It is assumed that Kinetic energy of the abrasives is fully used for material removal
Kinetic energy of the particles = Work done by the particle

MRR in AJM material can be expressed as

=
.

MRR = X

( )
= ( )
Upon simplifying we get

( )
MRR =
( ) ( )

Case-2 MRR for ductile material

Volume for ductile material =
= = =

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 =

As =
=

Eroded Material Volume (Empirical)

()
Q=
Where and are constants, is minimum flow stress of work material, v is velocity of
impacting particles, m is mass of impacting particle and is impingement angle.

Material Removal Rate (Empirical)

Q = xZd v ( ) /
Where, is no. of particles impacting per unit time, d is mean diameter of abrasive grains, v is
velocity of abrasive grains, is density of abrasive particles, H is hardness of work material (or
the flow stress), and x is a constant.

Effect of MRR on various parameter:

Effect of Nozzle pressure on MRR:

The abrasive flow rate increasing the flow rate of the carrier gas. This is possible by increasing
the inernal gas pressure abrasive mass flow rate increase .

MRR

Nozzle pressure

Effect of Mixing ratio on MRR:

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Material removal rate increase with mixing ratio but after certain limit it will be decreasing.

Mixing ratio =

Effect of abrasive flow rate on MRR:

MRR increase with abrasive flow rate but after certain limit it will be decreasing.

Effect of gas pressure on MRR:

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The material removal rate can be improved by increasing the abrasive flow rate provided the
mixing ratio can be kept constant.

mixing ratio constant

MRR

Abrasive flow rate

Effect of abrasive flow rate on MRR at constant mixing ratio:

MRR and abrasive flow rate increasing in same rate at constant mixing ratio. The mixing ratio is
unchanged only by simultaneous increase of both gas and abrasive flow rate.

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Effect of stand of distance on MRR:

MRR increase with stands-off distance a to b in below fig. After b point MRR is not increase but
it will be decreasing after c point because abrasive particle does not accelerate more velocity.

PROCESS CAPABILITY
1) Material removal rate 0.015 cm3/min
2) Narrow slots 0.12 to 0.25mm 0.12mm
3) Surface finish -0.25 micron to 1.25 micron
4) Sharp radius up to 0.2mm is possible
5) Steel up to 1.5mm, Glass up to 6.3mm is possible to cut
6) Machining of thin sectioned hard and brittle material is possible.
ADVANTAGE
1)High surface finish can be obtained upon the grain size
Particle size (in micron) Surface roughness (in micron)
10 0.152 to 0.203
25 to 27 0.355 to 0.675
50 0.965 to 1.27
2) Depth of damage is low
3) It provides cool cutting action, so it can machine delicate and heat sensitive material.
4) Process is free from chatter and vibration as there s no contact between the tool and work
piece.
5) Capital cost is low and it is to operate and maintain AJM.
6) Thin section of hard brittle materials like germanium, mica, glass, ceramic can be machined.
7) It has capability of cutting holes of intricate shape in materials.
LIMITATION
1) MRR is low (around -15 mm3/min for machining glass)
2) Abrasive particles tend to get embedded particularly if the work material is ductile.
3) Tapering occurs due to flaring of the jet.
4) Environmental load is very high.

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5) Abrasives may get embedded in the work surface, especially while machining soft material
like soft plastics.
6) The accuracy of cutting is hampered by tapering of hole due to unavoidable flaring of abrasive
jet.
6) Stray cutting is difficult to avoid.
7) A dust collection system is a basic requirement to prevent atmospheric pollution and health
hazards.
8) Nozzle life is limited (300 hours)
9) Abrasive powders cannot be reused as the sharp edges are worn and smaller particles can clog
the nozzle.
10) Short stand- off distances when used for cutting, damages the nozzle.
APPLICATION
1) This is used for abrading and frosting glass more economically as compared to etching or
grinding
2) Cleaning of metallic smears on ceramics, oxides on metals, resistive coating etc.
3) AJM is useful in manufacture of electronic devices, drilling of glass wafers, de burring of
plastics, making of nylon and Teflon parts permanent marking on rubber stencils, cutting
titanium foils
4) Deflashing small castings, engraving registration numbers on toughened glass used for car
windows
5) Used for cutting thin fragile components like germanium, silicon etc.
6) Register treaming can be done very easily and micro module fabrication for electrical contact,
semiconductor processing can also be done effectively.
7) Used for drilling, cutting, deburring etching and polishing of hard and brittle materials.
8) Most suitable for machining brittle and heat sensitive materials like glass, quartz, sapphire,
mica, ceramics germanium, silicon and gallium.
9) It is also good method for deburring small hole like in hypodermic needles and for small
milled slots in hard metallic components.
10) For drilling holes of intricate shapes in hard and brittle materials
11) For machining fragile, brittle and heat sensitive materials
12) AJM can be used for drilling, cutting, deburring, cleaning and etching.
Micro-machining of brittle materials
CONCLUSION
The better performance, and the applications presented above statements confirm that
ABRASIVE JET MACHINING (AJM) will continue to expand. Industry is convinced that the
large aerospace segment will take off in near the future together with other segments that are
currently showing interest in AJM method. From operator experiences the abrasive jets are
capable of anywhere from 0.5mm-0.025mm precision. High precision manufacturing needs can
be met by using AJM method. Newer machines are capable of 3D machining thus making it an
important in specialty manufacturing. The new softwares used will minimize time and
investments, thereby making it possible for more manufacturers of precision part to install AJM
center.

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