An experimental study of waterjet and saw orthogonal cutting of human bones: SEM fractography and surface roughness analyzing

Bone machining methods may be classified as conventional and nonconventional methods. In present study, bone machining using the conventional saw cutting method is analyzed and compared with nonconventional waterjet method. The surface roughnessand cortical tissue damages in orthogonal cutting of distal and proximal diaphysis of human Tibia and Femur bones were investigated using the saw cutting and waterjet methods. At first, the surface roughness was measured and values of Ra, Rz and Rq as well as surfaceroughness profiles were obtained and compared using waterjet and saw cutting methods. Then, the extent of injuries in cortical tissue of both bones were studied by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Surface microcracks are compared between two methods usingthe SEM fractography results. Comparison of SEM results shows that the surface roughness is higher and injuries and microcracks of inner cortical tissue is lower using the waterjet method. On the other hand, the cutting surface which is produced by sawing method is moreuniform than the surface which is produced by waterjet method.

Keywords:

Bone machining , Orthogonal cutting , Hard tissue , Waterjet technology , Sawing , SEM fractography , Surface roughness analyzing.