The aim of this thesis is an innovative approach to design of machines for waterjet cutting with technical, aesthetic, ergonomic and ecological requirements. The work focuses on the interaction between user and machine in small batch operation.

During the past several decades, the water jet cutting concept has developed from a novel concept into a well-accepted machine cutting tool. With the addition of abrasive particles and the improvement of high pressure pumps, the water jet stream is currently capable of cutting through metal, concrete, and composite materials. Water jet systems have been utilized at a wide range of different pressures. Research performed at Brigham Young University has revealed that low pressure water jets have the ability to cut human teeth. Experiments have shown that when abrasive particles are added to the water jet stream, an greater amount of tooth material can be removed at lower input pressures. Many different methods have been proposed to entrain and suspend particles in a high pressure water jet system. The abrasive particles can be entrained before the water is pressurized, while the water is being pressurized, or after the water jets stream exits the pressurized system. Each method has its advantages and disadvantages. Unfortunately, keeping abrasive particles homogeneously entrained and suspended in a water jet stream has proven to be difficult. Research at Brigham Young University has encountered similar problems. Researchers are attemping to place abrasive particles in a low pressure water jet stream, but have not been able to maintain a suspended homogeneous slurry. It is the objective of this research to investigate and suggest several possible methods to entrain and suspend abrasive particles into a low pressure water jet system intended for a dental cutting application. A broad review of methods to entrain abrasives in high pressure water jet systems was performed. A list of methods and concepts as possible solutions to entrain abrasives in a low pressure system has been generated. Product design principles were applied to screen, score, and rank these generated concepts to narrow down the list to the most viable concepts for BYU's low pressure dental water jet. Several tests and experiments were also performed to validate the suggested concepts and to provide useful information for future research. It is anticpated that one or more of these methods will be applicable for the proposed dental application as well as other similar applications.

Silicon carbide has many properties that make it a promising and desirable material for diverse applications. One such application for silicon carbide wafers is as a transparent cryogenic probe card. This thesis briefly describes the design of a probe card based on a silicon carbide wafer substrate. It includes a description of electroplating fundamentals and demonstrates the feasibility of electroplating copper onto a wafer for the formation of bond pads between the substrate and external PCB ring. The process for electroplating copper with good adhesion and quality based on metal alloy formation, current control, and materials selection is outlined. Results of this process are also presented. This work also demonstrates the ability to machine silicon carbide using electrical discharge machining, abrasive water jet machining, and diamond bit milling, proving diamond grinding to be the most versatile of the described methods for machining intricate patterns into the wafers.

In diploma thesis there is elaborated the analysis of assumed development of water jet technology and there is analyzed the level of water jet method in production. There are introduced the possibilities of new applications of water jet machining and the possibilities of it’s future development. There is think over the enlargement of this method in next 5 years. Simultaneously there is solved the question of techno economic operation severity of this technology.

Nowadays naval units are participating in international missions, where new and in many cases tougher conditions will affect their propulsion.   This essay deals with some of the now developed nanostructure coatings and gives a presentation of how the coatings could function on some exposed parts of the naval powertrain. The essay investigates the possibility that the coatings can be used as a protective layer that will reduce or prevent wear on selected parts of the naval powertrains. As a basis for the essay, nanotechnology is described, as well as different reasons that wear occurs and application techniques for coatings   The conclusion is that nanostructured coatings can be applied and provide a much better result on hardness and wear resistance as of naval powertrains compared to micro-structural coatings, both for manufacturing and renovation.   The essay presents a few examples of the military utility of the nanostructure coatings as well as suggestions for further research. / Då marina enheter numera deltar i internationella missioner, kommer den nya och i många fall tuffare miljön som enheterna opererar i att påverka bland annat deras framdrivning.   Den här studien avhandlar några av de nu framtagna nanostrukturella ytbeläggningarna och ger en presentation av hur de kan fungera på några marina drivlinors utsatta delar. Studien undersöker ytbeläggningarnas möjliga förmåga att utgöra ett skyddande lager som ska minska eller i bästa fall förhindra slitaget på valda delar av marina drivlinor. Som underlag till studien beskrivs i allmänna termer nanoteknik, olika anledningar till att slitaget uppstår samt något om hur ytbeläggningen kan appliceras.   Studiens slutsats är att det med all sannolikhet går att applicera nanostrukturella ytbeläggningar och få ett mycket bättre resultat avseende hårdhet samt nötnings- och reptålighet jämfört med mikrostrukturella ytbeläggningar. Detta gäller såväl vid nytillverkning som renovering av de studerade delarna av drivlinor.   Studien ger exempel på den militära nyttan med denna ytbeläggning samt ger förslag på fortsatt forskning.

No estado do Rio Grande do Sul, estão localizadas importantes regiões de extração e processamento do material gemológico ágata. No Distrito Mineiro do Salto do Jacuí encontram-se as maiores jazidas de ágata do Brasil e do Mundo. No município de Soledade se concentram as principais empresas de beneficiamento e comércio de materiais gemológicos. Apesar da abundância de material, a maioria dos objetos produzidos apresenta baixo grau de inovação, os produtos oferecidos no mercado são muito semelhantes entre si e tem, em comum, a falta de diferencial e de utilização de processos que envolvam tecnologia. A ágata é geralmente exportada em estado bruto ou apresentando baixo grau de aproveitamento. O processamento mais comum, utilizado na maior parte das empresas, é o corte em chapas que posteriormente são lixadas, polidas e tingidas em diversas cores. Entre as empresas pesquisadas no presente estudo apenas uma já utiliza processos envolvendo novas tecnologias. Pode-se afirmar que a pesquisa e estudos que auxiliem em um melhor aproveitamento do material ágata possam representar novas oportunidades de produção de objetos e adornos pessoais (jóias) modificando um cenário onde o design inovador é pouco explorado e apresentado. A metodologia empregada para a realização deste estudo contemplou etapas de conhecimento da realidade dos locais de extração, beneficiamento e comercialização de ágata, avaliação dos processos, ensaio de usinagem convencional CNC, ensaios de usinagem não convencional por jato d’água CNC e desenvolvimento de produtos em formas complexas. Foram realizados vinte e quatro ensaios de usinagem, a análise posterior identifica larguras e espessuras ideais buscando a otimização da matéria-prima. Desta forma foi possível alcançar o objetivo principal nesta pesquisa de realizar o corte de ágata com utilização de tecnologia CNC em peças com formas complexas. / Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil, has important regions of extraction and processing of agate. Salto Jacuí Mining District, in the central region of this State, is one of the largest and more importante agate’s mines region of Brazil and even of the World. In Soledade town, there are the most important gemstone processing and trade companies of this State. Despite the abundance of gem materials, most of the objects produced in the different companies are very similar and have in common that they seldom are manufactured using new technological processes. Agate is usually exported as raw material or as cut polished slabs which can be dyed in various colors. Among several companies studied in this research, only one uses industrial processes involving new technologies. So, scientifical studies to indicate a better use of agate produced in Rio Grande do Sul, can provide new opportunities for the production of objects and personal ornaments (jewelry), modifying the trade where innovative designs are little explored. The methodology used in this study had several steps: identification of the extraction, processing and trade places of agate; evaluation of the industrial benefit processes used in agate; testing of conventional CNC machining on agate slabs; and testing on agate slabs of non-conventional computer controled machining by water jet cutting (WJC), with development of complex forms agate products. Twenty-four machining tests were carried out, with further analysis identifying ideal widths and thicknesses to optimize the use of agate raw material. With these tests, it was possible to achieve the goal of this study, which is to cut agate using water jet technology, in order to produce agate objects with complex forms.

L’industrie aéronautique nécessite l’utilisation de métaux durs et légers, comme le Titane et l’Inconel mais différentes problématiques d’usinage en fraisage ou par usinage chimique compliquent leur mise en oeuvre. L’objectif du travail de thèse est de développer une méthode d’usinage non débouchant de ces métaux durs par jet d’eau abrasif (JEA) pour la réalisation de poches. Actuellement, ce procédé est limité à la découpe mais en contrôlant les paramètres d’usinage il permet la réalisation de poches à profondeurs constante ou variable en maitrisant les caractéristiques géométriques imposées. Ce travail présente l’étude de passages élémentaires et leur superposition afin de générer un parcours nécessaire à la réalisation d’une poche. Il introduit également diverses stratégies pour l’usinage de poches rectangulaires et propose une correction des paramètres opératoires afin d’obtenir un fond à profondeur contrôlée. / The aviation industry requires the use of hard and light metals such as Titanium and Inconel, but different machining problems in milling process or by chemical machining complicate their implementation. The aim of this thesis is to develop a controlled depth milling on these hard metals with abrasive water jet (AWJ) technology for pockets machining. Currently, this process is limited to cutting operation but by controlling the input parameters and the geometric characteristics it allows the realization of pockets with constant or variable depth. This work shows the study of elementary passages and their superposition to generate a necessary path for the realization of a pocket in AWJ. It also introduces a variety of strategies for machining rectangular pockets and provides a correction of the operating parameters to obtain a controlled depth.

No estado do Rio Grande do Sul, estão localizadas importantes regiões de extração e processamento do material gemológico ágata. No Distrito Mineiro do Salto do Jacuí encontram-se as maiores jazidas de ágata do Brasil e do Mundo. No município de Soledade se concentram as principais empresas de beneficiamento e comércio de materiais gemológicos. Apesar da abundância de material, a maioria dos objetos produzidos apresenta baixo grau de inovação, os produtos oferecidos no mercado são muito semelhantes entre si e tem, em comum, a falta de diferencial e de utilização de processos que envolvam tecnologia. A ágata é geralmente exportada em estado bruto ou apresentando baixo grau de aproveitamento. O processamento mais comum, utilizado na maior parte das empresas, é o corte em chapas que posteriormente são lixadas, polidas e tingidas em diversas cores. Entre as empresas pesquisadas no presente estudo apenas uma já utiliza processos envolvendo novas tecnologias. Pode-se afirmar que a pesquisa e estudos que auxiliem em um melhor aproveitamento do material ágata possam representar novas oportunidades de produção de objetos e adornos pessoais (jóias) modificando um cenário onde o design inovador é pouco explorado e apresentado. A metodologia empregada para a realização deste estudo contemplou etapas de conhecimento da realidade dos locais de extração, beneficiamento e comercialização de ágata, avaliação dos processos, ensaio de usinagem convencional CNC, ensaios de usinagem não convencional por jato d’água CNC e desenvolvimento de produtos em formas complexas. Foram realizados vinte e quatro ensaios de usinagem, a análise posterior identifica larguras e espessuras ideais buscando a otimização da matéria-prima. Desta forma foi possível alcançar o objetivo principal nesta pesquisa de realizar o corte de ágata com utilização de tecnologia CNC em peças com formas complexas. / Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil, has important regions of extraction and processing of agate. Salto Jacuí Mining District, in the central region of this State, is one of the largest and more importante agate’s mines region of Brazil and even of the World. In Soledade town, there are the most important gemstone processing and trade companies of this State. Despite the abundance of gem materials, most of the objects produced in the different companies are very similar and have in common that they seldom are manufactured using new technological processes. Agate is usually exported as raw material or as cut polished slabs which can be dyed in various colors. Among several companies studied in this research, only one uses industrial processes involving new technologies. So, scientifical studies to indicate a better use of agate produced in Rio Grande do Sul, can provide new opportunities for the production of objects and personal ornaments (jewelry), modifying the trade where innovative designs are little explored. The methodology used in this study had several steps: identification of the extraction, processing and trade places of agate; evaluation of the industrial benefit processes used in agate; testing of conventional CNC machining on agate slabs; and testing on agate slabs of non-conventional computer controled machining by water jet cutting (WJC), with development of complex forms agate products. Twenty-four machining tests were carried out, with further analysis identifying ideal widths and thicknesses to optimize the use of agate raw material. With these tests, it was possible to achieve the goal of this study, which is to cut agate using water jet technology, in order to produce agate objects with complex forms.

No estado do Rio Grande do Sul, estão localizadas importantes regiões de extração e processamento do material gemológico ágata. No Distrito Mineiro do Salto do Jacuí encontram-se as maiores jazidas de ágata do Brasil e do Mundo. No município de Soledade se concentram as principais empresas de beneficiamento e comércio de materiais gemológicos. Apesar da abundância de material, a maioria dos objetos produzidos apresenta baixo grau de inovação, os produtos oferecidos no mercado são muito semelhantes entre si e tem, em comum, a falta de diferencial e de utilização de processos que envolvam tecnologia. A ágata é geralmente exportada em estado bruto ou apresentando baixo grau de aproveitamento. O processamento mais comum, utilizado na maior parte das empresas, é o corte em chapas que posteriormente são lixadas, polidas e tingidas em diversas cores. Entre as empresas pesquisadas no presente estudo apenas uma já utiliza processos envolvendo novas tecnologias. Pode-se afirmar que a pesquisa e estudos que auxiliem em um melhor aproveitamento do material ágata possam representar novas oportunidades de produção de objetos e adornos pessoais (jóias) modificando um cenário onde o design inovador é pouco explorado e apresentado. A metodologia empregada para a realização deste estudo contemplou etapas de conhecimento da realidade dos locais de extração, beneficiamento e comercialização de ágata, avaliação dos processos, ensaio de usinagem convencional CNC, ensaios de usinagem não convencional por jato d’água CNC e desenvolvimento de produtos em formas complexas. Foram realizados vinte e quatro ensaios de usinagem, a análise posterior identifica larguras e espessuras ideais buscando a otimização da matéria-prima. Desta forma foi possível alcançar o objetivo principal nesta pesquisa de realizar o corte de ágata com utilização de tecnologia CNC em peças com formas complexas. / Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil, has important regions of extraction and processing of agate. Salto Jacuí Mining District, in the central region of this State, is one of the largest and more importante agate’s mines region of Brazil and even of the World. In Soledade town, there are the most important gemstone processing and trade companies of this State. Despite the abundance of gem materials, most of the objects produced in the different companies are very similar and have in common that they seldom are manufactured using new technological processes. Agate is usually exported as raw material or as cut polished slabs which can be dyed in various colors. Among several companies studied in this research, only one uses industrial processes involving new technologies. So, scientifical studies to indicate a better use of agate produced in Rio Grande do Sul, can provide new opportunities for the production of objects and personal ornaments (jewelry), modifying the trade where innovative designs are little explored. The methodology used in this study had several steps: identification of the extraction, processing and trade places of agate; evaluation of the industrial benefit processes used in agate; testing of conventional CNC machining on agate slabs; and testing on agate slabs of non-conventional computer controled machining by water jet cutting (WJC), with development of complex forms agate products. Twenty-four machining tests were carried out, with further analysis identifying ideal widths and thicknesses to optimize the use of agate raw material. With these tests, it was possible to achieve the goal of this study, which is to cut agate using water jet technology, in order to produce agate objects with complex forms.

In terms of needs of practice, material slicing is one of the first operations at manufacture or fabrication. During the slicing process different conventional and non-conventional methods are used. Among the basic non-conventional methods is water jet cutting of two types: Abrasive Water Jet cutting (AWJ) and Water Jet Machining (WJM). This method is used in the technological process also for cutting devices of unique shapes and diverse materials