Abstract: A waterjet cutting method is provided which includes directing a waterjet onto a surface of a workpiece that is exposed to the surrounding atmosphere, the interaction of the waterjet with the exposed surface defining a cutting location, and simultaneously directing a gas stream onto the exposed surface of the workpiece at or adjacent the cutting location to maintain a cutting environment at the cutting location that is, apart from the waterjet, substantially devoid of fluid or particulate matter. The method may further include moving a source of the waterjet relative to the workpiece to cut the workpiece along a desired path while continuously directing the gas stream onto the exposed surface of the workpiece at or adjacent the cutting location.

Abstract: A waterjet cutting head assembly is provided which includes an orifice unit to generate a high-pressure waterjet, a nozzle body and a nozzle component coupled to the nozzle body with the orifice unit positioned therebetween. The nozzle component may include a waterjet passage, at least one jet alteration passage and at least one environment control passage. The jet alteration passage may intersect with the waterjet passage to enable selective alteration of the waterjet during operation via the introduction of a secondary fluid or application of a vacuum. The environment control passage may include one or more downstream portions aligned relative to the fluid jet passage so that gas passed through the environment control passage during operation is directed to impinge on an exposed surface of a workpiece at or adjacent to a location where the waterjet is cutting the workpiece. Other high-pressure waterjet cutting systems, components and related methods are also provided.

Abstract: Land cultivating systems and methods utilizing high-pressure fluid jet cutting techniques are disclosed. An example system includes a mobile unit, a traveler arrangement operably coupled to the mobile unit to ride on the surface of stubble residues as the mobile unit moves across land to be cultivated, and a fluid jet cutting head supported by the traveler arrangement. The cutting head is configured to selectively discharge a high-pressure fluid jet to make a cut through the stubble residues and underlying soil as the mobile unit moves across the land. A soil opening device is provided to form a furrow in the ground in line with the cut made by the high-pressure fluid jet, and a liquid injector nozzle is provided to discharge fertilizer or other chemical(s) into the soil.

Abstract: Fluid jet systems, components and related methods are provided which are well adapted for processing workpieces under particularly work-friendly conditions. Embodiments include fluid jet systems and related methods that reduce, minimize or eliminate a gap between a workpiece being processed and jet receiving devices that receive and dissipate the energy of a fluid jet passing through the workpiece. Other embodiments include fluid jet systems and related methods involving fluid jet processing of workpieces in a submerged condition. Still further embodiments include fluid jet systems and related methods involving position and orientation adjustment of a fluid jet receptacle to coordinate the path of an incoming fluid jet with a central axis or other feature of the fluid jet receptacle.

Abstract: Fluid jet systems, components and related methods are provided which are well adapted for processing workpieces under particularly work-friendly conditions. Embodiments include fluid jet systems and related methods that reduce, minimize or eliminate a gap between a workpiece being processed and jet receiving devices that receive and dissipate the energy of a fluid jet passing through the workpiece. Other embodiments include fluid jet systems and related methods involving fluid jet processing of workpieces in a submerged condition. Still further embodiments include fluid jet systems and related methods involving position and orientation adjustment of a fluid jet receptacle to coordinate the path of an incoming fluid jet with a central axis or other feature of the fluid jet receptacle.

Abstract: Methods of trimming fiber reinforced polymer composite workpieces are provided which use a pure waterjet discharged from a cutting head in liquid phase unladened with solid particles at an operating pressure of at least 60,000 psi and in combination with other cutting parameters to provide a final component profile without delamination, splintering, fraying or unacceptable fiber pullout or fiber fracture.

Abstract: An abrasive slurry delivery system configured to discharge a high pressure mixture of water (30) and abrasives (54, 54?) for further admixture with a flow of high pressure water (30) to generate an abrasive slurry and ultimately an abrasive slurry jet is provided. The delivery system includes a storage chamber (56), a discharge chamber (58) and a shuttle chamber (60) positioned therebetween. The shuttle chamber (60) is configured to intermittently receive abrasives (54) from the storage chamber (56) and intermittently supply the abrasives (54, 54?) mixed with high pressure water (30) to the discharge chamber (58) to be selectively discharged therefrom. High pressure abrasive slurry cutting systems and related methods are also provided.

Abstract: Fluid jet systems, components and related methods are provided which are well adapted for processing workpieces under particularly work-friendly conditions. Embodiments include fluid jet systems and related methods that reduce, minimize or eliminate a gap between a workpiece being processed and jet receiving devices that receive and dissipate the energy of a fluid jet passing through the workpiece. Other embodiments include fluid jet systems and related methods involving fluid jet processing of workpieces in a submerged condition. Still further embodiments include fluid jet systems and related methods involving position and orientation adjustment of a fluid jet receptacle to coordinate the path of an incoming fluid jet with a central axis or other feature of the fluid jet receptacle.

Abstract: A high-pressure waterjet cutting system includes a pump operable to produce a flow of pressurized hydraulic fluid, a piston receiving the flow of pressurized hydraulic fluid and reciprocating in response to a pressure differential produced by the flow of pressurized hydraulic fluid, and an intensifier connected to the piston and operable to produce a high-pressure flow of water in response to reciprocation of the piston. A valve is positioned to receive the flow of hydraulic fluid and is movable between a first position in which the pressure differential is a first value and a second position in which the pressure differential is a second value less than the first value.

Abstract: A jet receiving receptacle is provided which is coupleable to a high-pressure fluid jet system opposite a nozzle thereof to receive a fluid jet discharged from the nozzle after it acts on a workpiece. The jet receiving receptacle may include an elongated inlet alignable with a direction of travel of the nozzle to receive the fluid jet in a deflected state. The jet receiving receptacle may further include a jet deflection device positioned downstream of the elongated inlet to redirect at least a portion of the fluid jet and a jet rebound device located upstream of the jet deflection device to be impinged on by the redirected portion of the fluid jet. The jet deflection device and jet rebound device may form, in combination with a housing, a device to trap the fluid jet. Fluid jet cutting systems incorporating a jet receiving receptacle and related methods are also provided.

Abstract: A high-pressure waterjet cutting system includes a pump operable to produce a flow of pressurized hydraulic fluid, a piston receiving the flow of pressurized hydraulic fluid and reciprocating in response to a pressure differential produced by the flow of pressurized hydraulic fluid, and an intensifier connected to the piston and operable to produce a high-pressure flow of water in response to reciprocation of the piston. A valve is positioned to receive the flow of hydraulic fluid and is movable between a first position in which the pressure differential is a first value and a second position in which the pressure differential is a second value less than the first value.

Abstract: A method of machining a component including a substrate having an outer surface and an inner surface defining at least one interior space includes: disposing a distributed medium having a plurality of irregularly shaped particles in the interior space and forming at least one hole in the substrate, while the distributed medium is disposed within the interior space, such that the distributed medium provides backstrike protection for an opposing wall during the formation of the hole(s). Each hole extends through the substrate to provide fluid communication with the respective interior space; and the method further includes removing the distributed medium from the interior space.

Abstract: Fluid jet systems, components and related methods are provided which are well adapted for processing workpieces under particularly work-friendly conditions. Embodiments include fluid jet systems and related methods that reduce, minimize or eliminate a gap between a workpiece being processed and jet receiving devices that receive and dissipate the energy of a fluid jet passing through the workpiece. Other embodiments include fluid jet systems and related methods involving fluid jet processing of workpieces in a submerged condition. Still further embodiments include fluid jet systems and related methods involving position and orientation adjustment of a fluid jet receptacle to coordinate the path of an incoming fluid jet with a central axis or other feature of the fluid jet receptacle.

Abstract: A waterjet cutting head assembly is provided which includes an orifice unit to generate a high-pressure waterjet, a nozzle body and a nozzle component coupled to the nozzle body with the orifice unit positioned therebetween. The nozzle component may include a waterjet passage, at least one jet alteration passage and at least one environment control passage. The jet alteration passage may intersect with the waterjet passage to enable selective alteration of the waterjet during operation via the introduction of a secondary fluid or application of a vacuum. The environment control passage may include one or more downstream portions aligned relative to the fluid jet passage so that gas passed through the environment control passage during operation is directed to impinge on an exposed surface of a workpiece at or adjacent to a location where the waterjet is cutting the workpiece. Other high-pressure waterjet cutting systems, components and related methods are also provided.

Abstract: A method of machining a component including a substrate having an outer surface and an inner surface defining at least one interior space includes: disposing a distributed medium having a plurality of irregularly shaped particles in the interior space and forming at least one hole in the substrate, while the distributed medium is disposed within the interior space, such that the distributed medium provides backstrike protection for an opposing wall during the formation of the hole(s). Each hole extends through the substrate to provide fluid communication with the respective interior space; and the method further includes removing the distributed medium from the interior space.

Abstract: Fluid jet systems, components and related methods are provided which are well adapted for processing workpieces under particularly work-friendly conditions. Embodiments include fluid jet systems and related methods that reduce, minimize or eliminate a gap between a workpiece being processed and jet receiving devices that receive and dissipate the energy of a fluid jet passing through the workpiece. Other embodiments include fluid jet systems and related methods involving fluid jet processing of workpieces in a submerged condition. Still further embodiments include fluid jet systems and related methods involving position and orientation adjustment of a fluid jet receptacle to coordinate the path of an incoming fluid jet with a central axis or other feature of the fluid jet receptacle.

Abstract: A cutting head of a waterjet cutting system is provided having an environment control device and a measurement device. The environment control device is positioned to act on a surface of a workpiece at least during a measurement operation to establish a measurement area on the surface of the workpiece substantially unobstructed by fluid. The measurement device is positioned to selectively obtain information from within the measurement area indicative of a position of the cutting head relative to the workpiece. A control system is further provided and operable to position the cutting head relative to the workpiece at a standoff distance based at least in part on the information indicative of the position of the cutting head relative to the workpiece obtained by the measurement device. A method of operating a waterjet cutting system is also provided.

Abstract: A jet receiving receptacle is provided which is coupleable to a high pressure fluid jet system opposite a nozzle thereof to receive a fluid jet discharged from the nozzle after it acts on a workpiece. The jet receiving receptacle may include an inlet feed component having a tapered inlet that defines a jet receiving surface about a central axis to receive the fluid jet and direct the fluid jet downstream and toward the central axis. The jet receiving receptacle may further include a drive mechanism adapted to rotate the inlet feed component about the central axis such that impact of the fluid jet with the inlet feed component is distributed around the jet receiving surface. The drive mechanism may rotate the inlet feed component continuously or intermittently. Fluid jet cutting systems incorporating a jet receiving receptacle and related methods are also provided.

Abstract: A jet receiving receptacle is provided which is coupleable to a high-pressure fluid jet system opposite a nozzle thereof to receive a fluid jet discharged from the nozzle after it acts on a workpiece. The jet receiving receptacle may include an elongated inlet alignable with a direction of travel of the nozzle to receive the fluid jet in a deflected state. The jet receiving receptacle may further include a jet deflection device positioned downstream of the elongated inlet to redirect at least a portion of the fluid jet and a jet rebound device located upstream of the jet deflection device to be impinged on by the redirected portion of the fluid jet. The jet deflection device and jet rebound device may form, in combination with a housing, a device to trap the fluid jet. Fluid jet cutting systems incorporating a jet receiving receptacle and related methods are also provided.

Abstract: A jet receiving receptacle is provided which is coupleable to a high pressure fluid jet system opposite a nozzle thereof to receive a fluid jet discharged from the nozzle after it acts on a workpiece. The jet receiving receptacle may include an inlet feed component having a tapered inlet that defines a jet receiving surface about a central axis to receive the fluid jet and direct the fluid jet downstream and toward the central axis. The jet receiving receptacle may further include a drive mechanism adapted to rotate the inlet feed component about the central axis such that impact of the fluid jet with the inlet feed component is distributed around the jet receiving surface. The drive mechanism may rotate the inlet feed component continuously or intermittently. Fluid jet cutting systems incorporating a jet receiving receptacle and related methods are also provided.