Application of Grey Relational Analysis for Geometrical Characteristics in Abrasive Water Jet Milled Channels

In this study, the effects of process parameters on the geometrical characteristics and the topography were investigated in milling of SS304 material using Abrasive Water Jet machining technique. In addition, optimal control of the input variables for achieving the quality of the channel was determined by using Grey relational analysis. The input process parameters include traverse speed, abrasive flow rate; abrasive size and standoff distance each at three levels are considered for experimentation. Grey relational analysis was employed to minimize and maximize the response parameters as per the requirement. Parameters like surface roughness, taper, impact force, vibration are minimized; depth is maximized and the width of cut is kept optimum which is the inside diameter of the focusing tube. Based on the grey coefficients and grades of the experimental data, a traverse speed of 3000 mm/min, a diameter of 0.125 mm of abrasive particle at 0.49 kg/min abrasive flow rate and a standoff distance of 4mm gives an optimum machining conditions for the required output.