Abstract: An abrasive jet cutting system may include a differential pressure measurement apparatus configured to measure a differential pressure between points in an abrasive supply system. The differential pressure may be used to determine one or more conditions of the jet and the abrasive delivery. The measured differential pressure may be used in a feedback control system, feed forward control system, and/or an alarm or safety system.

Abstract: An adapter for a plasma arc torch comprising a torch body is provided. The adapter includes a body defining a longitudinal axis between a proximal end and a distal end and at least one protruding portion extending from the proximal end of the body. The at least one protruding portion is configured to be inserted into a cavity of the torch body to physically engage a switch inside of the cavity. The engagement of the switch is adapted to indicate installation of a consumable component in the plasma arc torch.

Abstract: A disposable seal carriage for use with a liquid jet cutting system can include a body having a first end portion, a longitudinal axis, and a second end portion opposite the first end portion along the longitudinal axis. The first end portion can have a first outer width as measured perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the second end portion can have a second outer width as measured perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and the first outer width can be greater than the second outer width. The seal carriage can further include a flexible region extending through at least a portion of the body along a portion of the longitudinal axis. In some embodiments, the body includes a plurality of exterior projections positioned between the first and second end portions.

Abstract: An electrode for a consumable cartridge of a plasma arc torch is provided. The electrode comprises a substantially hollow body defining a proximal end, a distal end and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween. The electrode also includes a plurality of flanges, including a proximal flange and a distal flange, disposed circumferentially about an external surface of the hollow body and extending radially outward. Each flange defines one or more holes configured to conduct a gas flow therethrough along the external surface of the hollow body. The one or more holes on the proximal flange define a first combined cross-sectional flow area that is different from a second combined cross-sectional flow area defined by the one or more holes on the distal flange.

Abstract: A facility for automated modelling of the cutting process for a particular material to be cut by a beam cutting tool, such as a waterjet cutting system, from empirical data to predict aspects of the waterjet's effect on the workpiece across a range of material thicknesses, across a range of cutting geometries, and across a range of cutting quality levels, all of which may be broader than, and independent of the actual requirements for a target workpiece, is described.

Abstract: A double nozzle for a laser processing head includes an inner body portion having an interior surface defining a bore for passing a laser beam, a first interface surface near a distal end of the inner body portion, the first interface surface including a plurality of channels, and an exterior surface near a proximal end of the inner body portion and shaped to engage the laser processing head. Each channel includes interior and exterior linear edges in a cross-section that passes though a central longitudinal axis of the double nozzle. The double nozzle also includes an outer body portion connected to the inner body portion. The outer body portion defines a jet surface, which together with the plurality of channels defines a corresponding plurality of auxiliary fluid flow paths about the bore and between the inner body portion and the outer body portion.

Abstract: The invention features methods and apparatuses for altering a cutting operation during operation of the pressurized liquid jet cutting system. A pressurized liquid jet cutting system includes a pressurized fluid jet cutting head having a plurality of components. The cutting head further includes a sensor configured to sense an operating condition. The sensor transmits a value of the operating condition to a computing device, which alters a subsequent cutting operation. Further, the fluid jet cutting head is configured to work with a data storage mechanism and a reader, such that the data storage mechanism in contact with a body of the fluid jet cutting head is configured to communicate information to a reader of the pressurized liquid jet cutting system. The information is usable to determine a condition of replacement (e.g.

Abstract: An operational monitoring system for use with a liquid jet cutting system can include an accelerometer coupled to a cutting head of the liquid jet cutting system. The accelerometer can be configured to generate motion data associated with movement of the cutting head. The system can include a computing device operably connected to the accelerometer and having a memory and a processor. The memory can store a planned data set including expected parameters associated with movement of the cutting head along a planned cut path. In some embodiments, the computing device is configured to receive the motion data from the accelerometer and correlate the motion data to the planned data set.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method is provided for shaping an edge of a part to be cut from a workpiece using a material processing system comprising a processing head configured to deliver a processing stream. The method includes calculating a start point and an end point of a shaping path proximate to the edge of the part based on a desired edge profile and determining a set of operating parameters to controllably impinge the processing stream about the edge of the part to execute the shaping path from the start point to the end point. The method further includes positioning the processing head normal to a surface of the part and controllably impinging the processing stream at the edge of the part, by the processing head, to shape the desired edge profile.

Abstract: A jacketed consumable cartridge is provided for a liquid cooled plasma arc torch. The jacketed consumable cartridge comprises an electrode, a swirl ring securely affixed to and disposed circumferentially about a distal end of the electrode, and a nozzle securely affixed to the swirl ring, the nozzle disposed circumferentially about the distal end of the electrode with a portion of the swirl ring located therebetween. The cartridge also comprises a cartridge jacket securely affixed to and disposed circumferentially about a distal end of the nozzle and a shield securely affixed to and disposed circumferentially about a distal end of the cartridge jacket. A proximal end of the cartridge jacket is adapted to extend (i) axially past a proximal end of the shield and (ii) radially beyond a radial extent of the shield.

Abstract: Automatically controlled adjustable dump orifices (ADO) for use with liquid jet cutting systems are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the automatically controlled ADOs described herein include a motor (e.g., an electric motor) and a coupling configured to operably couple the motor to a valve. The valve is configured to cooperate with a dump orifice connected in fluid communication with a high-pressure pump of the cutting system. The motor is operable to move the valve in a first direction to increase the pressure of high-pressure liquid (e.g., water) flowing through the dump orifice and in a second direction, opposite to the first direction, to reduce the pressure of the high-pressure liquid flowing through the dump orifice.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to abrasive material delivery systems for liquid jet cutting systems. The abrasive material delivery systems can include a valve configured to adjust an inflow of abrasive material into the abrasive material delivery system from a source of abrasive material. The systems can include a chamber downstream of the valve and configured to receive the inflow of abrasive material from the valve. The systems can include a metering component configured to control an outflow of abrasive from the chamber to a cutting head of the liquid jet cutting system. In some embodiments, the systems include a sensor configured to monitor movement of a top surface of a portion of abrasive material within the chamber as the top surface moves through the chamber; and a processing device operably connected to the sensor and configured to determine an abrasive flow rate through the metering component based on a speed of the top surface as monitored by the sensor.