PRECISION DRILLING OF COMPOSITES WITH ABRASIVE-WATERJETS

摘要

This paper addresses the process of precision drilling of small-diameter holes in a composite material with abrasive-waterjets (AWJs). A newly developed technique in which the jet's pressure-time profile and the abrasive flow rate are computer-controlled was used and found to be critically important in controlling hole size and shape and the quality of surfaces. Quantitative drilling data and microscopic inspection of drilled holes revealed some of the drilling process mechanics and indicated that holes of high quality can be drilled.