A Machinability Study of Mild Steel using Abrasive Water Jet Machining Technology
Abrasive water jet machining is a non conventional machining process in which removal of material takes place by impact erosion of high pressure, high velocity of water and entrained high velocity of grit abrasives on a work piece. The objective of experimental investigation is to conduct research of machining parameters impact on Material removal rate and Surface roughness of work piece of Mild Steel (MS). The approach was based on Taguchi’s method, analysis of variance and signal to noise ratio (SN Ratio) to optimize the Abrasive Water Jet Machining process parameters for effective machining and to predict the optimal choice for each AWJM parameter such as Traverse speed, Abrasive flow rate, and Standoff distance. There is L9 orthogonal array used by varying Transverse Seed, Abrasive flow rate, standoff distance respectively and for each combination we have conducted three experiments and with the help of Signal to Noise ratio we find out the optimum results for AWJM. It was confirmed that determined optimal combination of AWJM process parameters satisfy the real need for machining of Mild Steel (MS) in actual practice.
Optimization of abrasive water jet machining parameters for α-β brass using Taguchi methodology
The usages of nonferrous alloys in industries are rapidly increasing due to their excellent properties such as strength, ductility, malleability, tough– ness and corrosion resistance. Brass is one of the nonferrous alloy which is used in many applications such as automobile, aerospace medical and electrical fields. In this experimental investigation, α-β brass was formulated by stir casting technique and the material characterization is examined with the Scanning Electron Microscope and Energy Dispersive Analysis of X-rays. The process parameters of Abrasive Water Jet Machining such as water pressure, traverse speed and mass flow rate are considered to study the machining of α-β brass using the Taguchi methodology. The effect of these process parameters on the responses such as Surface Roughness and Material Removal Rate were studied by varying the control process parameters. The optimum permutation of the process parameters were identified for maximum MRR and minimum SR. The most prominent parameters were found out by Analysis of Variance.
Professional support in rural New South Wales: perceptions of new graduate occupational therapists.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the experiences of professional support among new graduates working in rural New South Wales, including the current availability of professional support and the impact of support levels on professional practice.


DESIGN
Qualitative, using semistructured face-to-face or telephone interviews.


SETTING
New graduate occupational therapists employed in public and private hospitals and community health services in rural New South Wales.


SUBJECTS
Nine new graduate occupational therapists within their first year of practice.


MAIN OUTCOME
A description of participant experiences of professional support and strategies to enhance the recruitment and retention of occupational therapists in rural areas.


RESULTS
Participants reported varied experiences of professional support and emphasised the importance of having access to a wide variety of resources. Participants highlighted that professional support could assist in developing independence and other skills. However, ultimately a lack of support resulted in decreased confidence and subsequent decreased job satisfaction among participants.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings suggest that greater effort should be directed to ensuring that all new graduates have access to professional support, including structured supervision, and that strategies be explored and adopted to ensure that this occurs.