10th International Multidisciplinary Scientific GeoConference SGEM 2010, Albena, Bulgaria, 20 - 26 June 2010, pp.365-371
Abrasive waterjet technology (AWJ) is one of the fastest growing machining processes. It is environmentally friendly, can machine almost any engineering materials. It has received considerable attention from various industries due to its beneficial characteristics. Compared with traditional and most non traditional machining technologies, AWJ exhibits a high potential in the field of the shape machining of hard or brittle materials such as ceramics, glass and rocks. The present study investigates the machinability of granite by abrasive waterjet technology. The target parameters are cut depth and cutting wear zone that are inherent to AWJ. The experimental studies were carried out on the basis of Taguchi orthogonal array and results were evaluated with respect to mean of means responses. As a result of the study, it is determined that abrasive waterjet technology can be used for machinability of granite for especially decorative production owing to enabling the shape cutting.