Determination of vibration frequency depending on abrasive mass flow rate during abrasive water jet cutting

The paper deals with the determination of vibration emission frequency depending on the impact of abrasive particles during cutting of materials. In order to verify the investigated hypothesis, the factor of the abrasive mass flow rate ma = 250 and 400 g min−1 at the traverse speed of cutting head v = 50, 75, 100 and 150 mm min−1 was determined. The Barton Garnet with MESH 80 and focusing tube with diameter of 0.8 and 1.4 mm were used in the experiment. Vibrations were recorded during experimental cutting by sensors PCB IMI type 607A11 placed on the stainless steel AISI 309. During the experimental sample cutting, vibrations were monitored and consequently processed by the LabVIEW 8.5 software. Research results are useful for improving the quality of surface created by abrasive water jet, and they can encourage the on-line process control of abrasive water jet cutting with the minimum human intervention in case of a fault or error during the supply of abrasives to cutting head.