Installation for Precise Feed Micro Abrasive and Experiments Based on Auger Mechanism

In order to resolve the difficulty of micro abrasive feed continuously and precisely in micro abrasive water jet machining, an installation for precise feed micro abrasive was designed based on principle of material conveying by auger mechanism. The auger is driven by DC motor reducer. The abrasive flow rate is controlled precisely by regulating the revolve speed of DC motor. The relationship between abrasive flow rate and voltage of DC motor was linearly fitted based on experimental results. It shows that within 10-24V, the average error and maximum error of abrasive flow rate is 1.3g.min^-1 and 1.96g.min^-1 respectively, the average relative error and maximum relative error of abrasive flow rate is 0.2% and 1.79% respectively. Therefore it can be used as controlling equation of the installation for precise feed micro abrasive. The experiments on micro abrasive water jet cutting with installation for precise feed abrasive was carried out. It was showed that the surface roughness of the cutting face is greatly improved by 2.64 times in average with respect to traditional abrasive feed system. Therefore the newly installation for precise feed micro abrasive has great application value in micro abrasive water jet precise machining.