Dry and residue-free cutting with high-pressure CO2-blasting

Jet cutting with high-pressure CO2 jets has the potential for a dry and residue-free machining of materials. However, a high-pressure CO2 blasting plant as well as experimental expertise for the continuous jet cutting with high-pressure CO2 at atmospheric conditions are not available. A pilot plant for the continuous jet cutting with liquid carbon dioxide was developed and realized at the Fraunhofer-Institute for Production Systems and Design Technology. Identical cutting tests were carried out in polyurethane blocks of different Shore D-hardness and density with high-pressure CO2 and water jets. Based on the first results in polyurethane blocks the tests were extended to cutting carbon fibre reinforced plastic plates with the high-pressure CO2 jet. Finally the possibilities and limits of the high-pressure CO2 jet cutting were summarised.