Process monitoring of abrasive waterjet formation

Difficult to machine materials require innovative processing solutions for a stable and high quality contouring process of complex forms. Abrasive waterjet cutting gains in importance due to the continuous development of novel high performance materials and multi-material components. A reliable process monitoring during the machining operation becomes essential to avoid waste production. However, the measurement of the process conditions during abrasive waterjet cutting is difficult based on the rough environment inside the machining zone. In this paper appropriate methods for in-process monitoring of the jet conditions, in particular the critical nozzle wear as well as other process output parameters are being tested, discussed and classified.