Abrasive Jet Machining (AJM)

• Basic mechanism of material removal

• AJM equipment
• Working principle of AJM equipment
• Process parameters of AJM
• Machining characteristics of AJM
• Effect of process parameters on MRR
• Applications of AJM
• Limitations of AJM
Basic mechanism of material removal
• Material removal occurs due to impact of
high velocity air stream of abrasive particles
on the w/p.
• Abrasives are propelled by high velocity air
to erode material from the w/p.
• The high velocity stream of abrasive is
generated by converting the pressure
energy of air into kinetic energy and hence
high velocity jet.
Contd…
• Material removal takes place by micro-cutting
action and brittle fracture of w/p.
Schematic of AJM equipment
 Working of AJM equipment
• Air compressor- Air (carrier gas) may be
supplied from either a compressor or a cylinder.
Air is compressed in an air compressor.
The compressed air at a pressure of around 5
bar is used as a carrier gas.
• Pressure control valve- The carrier gas is first
passed through a pressure control valve to
obtain desired working pressure.
• Air drier- The gas is then passed through an air
drier to remove any residual water vapor.
Contd…
• Filter- To remove any oil vapor or particulate
contaminant, the gas is then passed through a
filter.
• Mixing chamber- The gas now enters a closed
chamber known as the mixing chamber. At the
top of chamber, abrasive particles are fed by
abrasive feeder through a metallic sieve.
• Electro-magnetic shaker- The metallic sieve is
constantly vibrated (or shaked) by electro-
magnetic shaker.
Contd…
• Electro-magnetic on-off valve- The proper
amount of mixture of abrasive particles and the
carrier gas discharging through the nozzle is
passed through this valve.
Process parameters and machining
characteristics
Effect of process parameters on MRR
Contd…
• The mathematical model (or equation) for MRR
is given by

where v = velocity of abrasive particles

m = mass of abrasive grit
ρ = density of abrasive grit
H = Hardness of w/p material
Contd…(See the graphs)
• As abrasive flow rate and mixing ratio is
increased, MRR increases.
• But, beyond a particular point, there are so
many abrasive particles that gas does not have
enough momentum to accelerate them. So,
MRR reduces.
• Velocity of abrasives is increased by increase in
gas pressure which increases MRR.
• As abrasive flow rate increases, gas flow rate
increases to get constant mixing ratio and
hence MRR increases.
 Effect of Stand-off distance (SOD)
• As jet is discharged from the nozzle, jet
interacts with the air molecules.
• Therefore, flaring of jet takes place by
entrapping the air as the SOD is increased.
• When the SOD is less, MRR is low but accuracy
of machining is high.
Applications and Limitations