Experimental Investigation on Dimensional Stability and Cutting Quality in Cutting Process of Sugar Palm Fiber Reinforced Unsaturated Polyester Composites with Laser Beam and Abrasive Water Jet Cutting Technologies

This study aims to evaluate the influence of the input parameters on the resulted cutting quality and dimensional stability in cutting different thicknesses of sugar palm fiber reinforced unsaturated polyester (SPF-UPE) cut utilizing abrasive water jet (AWJ) and lease beam (LBM) machining techniques. In this research, broad ranges of input parameter values were applied and then evaluated their impact on cutting quality and dimensional stability by means of examination with the naked eye and microscopic testing to determine the defects resulting in both cutting process, and then determining the ranges of input parameters that give the best results which can be used as start points in subsequent studies related to evaluating of surface quality, and kerf taper angle, etc. In this study, specific ranges of input parameters were obtained through which successful cutting process can be achieved that give good cutting quality with stable specimen dimensions. Also, through this study, the ranges of input parameters that result in unsuccessful cutting processes were determined, whether those ranges that produce defects represented in the various types of damages at the cutting zone or uncompleted cuts due to the application of unsuitable parameter values. From the study, it can be concluded that the desired results from both cutting processes can be achieved by applying the appropriate ranges of the input parameters.