Abrasive water jet machining of glass fibre metal laminates

Abstract

Glass fibre metal laminates (GFMLs) have been machined successfully with an abrasive water jet. The mechanism of material removal of the aluminium layer is by microcutting and plastic deformation similar to that observed in machining ductile materials. The glass fibres that are transverse to the direction of work travel are machined by microcutting and/or brittle fracture. The glass fibres that are parallel to the direction of work travel are removed in bulk by brittle feature. The fibres undergo substantial secondary erosion. No delamination has been observed except for the laminates with thinner aluminium layers. The quality parameters associated with kerf, the taper quality parameter, the amount of burr formation, the straightness of the edge at the exit side, etc., correlate quite well with the cutting ability parameter. A quantitative relation, irrespective of the structure and build-up of the laminates, has been attempted between the taper quality parameter and the cutting ability parameter.