Dimensional accuracy and strength comparison in hole making of GFRP composite using Co2 laser and abrasive water jet technologies

Abstract

The dimensional accuracy and strength of a part is of critical importance in the manufacturing industry, especially for precision assembly operation. In the manufacturing process, the designed part will be presented in a drawing with all dimensions normally given within a certain range of tolerances. The tolerance defines the limits of induced deviation for which allowance should be made in the design, and within which actual size is acceptable. In laser and abrasive water jet cutting, dimensional accuracy is one of the important parameters to define the quality of produced part. The aim of the present work is to compare experimentally the influence of cutting parameters on dimensional accuracy and strength of hole making in GFRP by using laser beam and abrasive water jet cutting technologies. Full factorial design is used as a statistical method to study the effects of predictor variables on the response variables. The results show that abrasive water jet cutting gives a less out of roundness in cutting hole diameter, less reduction in strength and large difference between upper and lower diameter compared to the laser cutting technology of hole making in the type of the glass fiber reinforced plastic composite material used in the present work.