The effect of pressure on the surfaces generated by waterjet: Preliminary analysis

The pressure fluctuation in the waterjet (WJ) process is due to the mechanism of high pressure generation, characterized by a cyclical working, and to physical causes (water compressibility at the exercise pressures). This phenomenon cannot, at present, be removed; however, it can be dampened, depending on the selected constructive system, by installing a pulsation attenuator below the intensifier or by conveniently phasing the pumping cycles of more intensifiers in parallel. In this paper, the effects of the pressure on the WJ process have been investigated. The pressure signals generated by a double-acting reciprocating intensifier pump system have been analysed; the effects of the pressure fluctuation and of the pressure signal form on the cutting quality have been studied through the acquisition of the roughness profiles of the surface of various materials (rubber, polycarbonate, plasticine) generated by waterjet.