Abstract: The invention relates to a device and method for cleaning, activating or pre-treating workpieces by blasting a carbon dioxide snow which is produced from pressurized CO2-containing fluids and at least one type of carrying compressed gas and is accelerated by means of a discharge nozzle (14), wherein a two-phase carbon dioxide mixture of a carbon dioxide gas and carbon dioxide particles is produced in an agglomeration chamber (8) by agglomerating and compressing carbon dioxide snow crystals which are radially added to the carrying gas in a multistage mixing chamber (10, 11, 12) comprising a central jet pipe (4), around which the carbon dioxide mixture circulates and which is used for supplying said carrying gas in such a manner that a high-energy turbulent gas flow for processing a workpiece is obtainable.

Abstract: A high pressure cutting arrangement is formed by combining a liquid stream, such as water, and a slurry stream, the slurry comprising abrasive particles suspended in a liquid. Energy is supplied to the liquid stream by a first energising means, such as a constant pressure pump. Energy is supplied to the slurry stream by a second energising means, such as by a piston powered by a constant volume pump. The liquid stream and the slurry stream are combined in a cutting tool, in which the supplied energy is converted to kinetic energy to produce a combined liquid and abrasive stream at high velocity.

Abstract: A fluid jet system for achieving a kerf width less than 0.015 inches is provided. In one embodiment, the system includes an orifice mount having a high-pressure fluid bore and an abrasive bore configured to communicate an abrasive mixture in form of a paste or foam to at least a portion of the high-pressure fluid bore. The system further includes a pressure-generating bore and a thin kerf mixing tube respectively provided toward opposing longitudinal ends of the mount body, minimizing a distance therebetween. A method of in-situ recycling of abrasives in the high-pressure fluid jet system includes catching the exiting abrasive-fluid mixture in a catching device, filtering the mixture in a filtering device, and directly pumping the filtered abrasive-fluid mixture to the mixing area without requiring conditioning of the mixture to remove liquids.

Abstract: Various embodiments of waterjet cutting systems are described herein. In one embodiment, a waterjet cutting system includes a high-pressure water source and a waterjet cutting head coupled to the high-pressure water source via a high-pressure water supply. The waterjet cutting head has an orifice and a mixing tube. The orifice forms a waterjet from the high-pressure water. The mixing tube has an inlet aperture through which the waterjet enters the mixing tube, an exit aperture through which waterjet exits the mixing tube, and a passage between the inlet and exit apertures. The waterjet cutting system further includes a light alignment device operably coupled to the waterjet cutting head. In one aspect of this embodiment, the light alignment device is configured to generate a light beam that enters the mixing tube through the inlet aperture, passes through the passage, and exits the mixing tube through the exit aperture.

Abstract: A cutting head for a water jet cutting machine includes a base with a bore and an orifice member having an inlet, an outlet, and a passage extending between the inlet and outlet which increases velocity of fluid flowing through the passage to form a fluid jet. A wear insert has first and second ends, a passage extending between the two ends, the body second end being connected with the base and the body first end supporting the orifice member. A fluid focusing device includes a tubular body with a central passage having inlet and discharge ports, the tubular body being disposable within the base bore such that the body inlet port is fluidly coupleable with the orifice outlet. The tubular body and/or the base are/is configured such that the tubular body is separately positionable at one of a plurality of discrete, predetermined angular positions about the base bore axis.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for comminuting dry ice granules, comprising a housing having a flow channel for dry ice granules which can be applied, by means of compressed gas, to a surface to be cleaned, and also comprising a first comminution member for comminuting the dry ice granules which are to be dispensed. In order to provide a device of this kind with which different degrees of comminution of dry ice granules can be achieved in a simple manner, it is proposed according to the invention that the device has at least one second comminution member which can be disposed in the housing in a position in which a total degree of comminution, which is greater than the individual degree of comminution which can be achieved solely by the first comminution member, can be achieved in combination with the first comminution member. A dry ice dispensing arrangement for dispensing a mixture of compressed gas and dry ice granules is also proposed, having a device of the above kind.

Abstract: A nozzle and method of providing CO2 for cleaning includes providing a CO2 flow; phase transferring the CO2 flow into gaseous CO2 and CO2 pellets; interrupting the CO2 flow with a screen member; retaining the CO2 pellets of a select larger size upstream of the screen member; permitting the CO2 pellets of a select smaller size to pass through the screen member for cleaning.

Abstract: This invention provides a conveying apparatus and a blasting machine equipped with the conveying apparatus that can prevent workpieces from being damaged by the used abrasives attached to the conveying rollers. For the conveying apparatus, a peripheral part 33a disposed at the peripheral surface of a rolling member 33 of a rolling roller 31 is made of a softer elastic material than the material of the panel P, wherein when used abrasives get stuck between the peripheral part 33a of the rolling member 33 and the panel P, since the peripheral part 33a acts as a cushioning material that can reduce the force caused by the used abrasives and loaded on the panel P, even if the panel P is made of a fragile material, such as glass, the panel P can be conveyed without flaws being caused by the used abrasives.

Abstract: A nozzle, a nozzle unit having a plurality of nozzles, and a blasting machine equipped with the nozzle unit, which can achieve a micro-machining with a high precision and a high productivity for the blasting process, are provided. Since the portion for escape 13c is formed at the distal end of the ejecting portion 13, if the distance between the surface of the work and the nozzle 11 is shortened to suppress the broadening of the flow of the abrasives, the reflected abrasives do not remain within the space between the surface of the work and the distal end of the ejecting portion 13. Thus, the blasting process with a high precision can be achieved. Further, since the nozzle 11m and the nozzle 11n can be arranged so as to correspond to the width of the surface of the work to be processed by the rotational device 16, it is possible to blast a wider area of the surface of the work while the nozzle unit 10 or the blasting machine 20 sweep one time.

Abstract: In one aspect of the invention, an abrasion resistant nozzle has at least two sintered diamond bodies having flat, mating, exterior surfaces and a thickness, the surfaces being held against each other under compression. An enclosure is formed between the mating surfaces, at least one surface having a groove forming a portion of the enclosure and the other surface forming a remaining portion of the enclosure. The enclosure connects an entry and an exit formed in at least one side of at least one of the bodies.

Abstract: A fluid jet system includes an upstream high-pressure body having a high-pressure bore axially positioned, a retaining nut configured to couple to the upstream high-pressure body, and an orifice mount assembly. The retaining nut includes a mounting chamber configured to laterally receive the orifice mount assembly without application of a torque while the retaining nut is coupled to the upstream high-pressure body and the system is at ambient pressure. A face seal may be mounted in either a downstream portion of the high-pressure bore or the orifice mount assembly to provide a high-pressure seal while the system is pressurized.

Abstract: A blasting device includes a flow passage (14) for a carrier gas, the flow passage (14) forming a blasting nozzle (12) at its downstream end, and a supply line (22) for liquid CO2, the supply line opening out into an expansion chamber (26) that is coaxially accommodated in the flow passage (14), the expansion chamber (26) being formed by a pipe (20) that is held at its upstream end by a holder' (18) which is passed by the flow of carrier gas in the flow passage, and in that the supply line (22) extends through the holder (18) in transverse direction of the flow passage and opens into an expansion valve (24) that extends in parallel with the axis of the flow passage (14).

Abstract: A nano grinding and dispersing assembly has a raw material feeder, a liquid supply unit connecting to the delivering pipe of the raw material feeder, a gas supply unit connecting to the delivering pipe of the raw material feeder, a pressure equalized assembly and a subsequent treatment plant. The raw material feeder has a feeding pipe connecting to the raw material feeder and a delivering pipe connecting to the raw material feeder. The pressure equalized assembly has a pressure equalizer, a pressurized feeding pipe, a gas-liquid separator, a pressure gage and a first grinding device. The first grinding device connects and communicates with the pressure equalizer and has at least one ground fluid outlet. The subsequent treatment plant connects the ground fluid outlet of the first grinding device. Therefore, the present invention completely mixes, grinds and disperses fluid to make the fluid homogeneous.

Abstract: A fluid jet based micromachining device and method include a workpiece, and fluid jets directing synchronized forces at the workpiece so as to converge forces at a dynamic contact zone on the workpiece and provide mechanical support to the workpiece during periods of contact with the fluid jets.

Abstract: A nozzle head, having a feed line for a high-pressurized fluid, a channel for delivering an abrasive substance, with which the fluid can be loaded, as well as a discharge line, from which the fluid, loaded with abrasive substance, can issue, is designed such that the feed line and the channel run parallel or almost parallel to each other, and that the discharge line issues sideways from the nozzle head so as to run at an angle to the feed line.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide multi-head fluid jet cutting systems and methods of utilizing such devices. A multi-head fluid jet cutting system includes a body having a plurality of fluid jet cutting heads installed therein. Each cutting head receives pressurized fluid from an intensifier and directs the fluid along a jet axis out of a nozzle of the head to form a cutting stream. In some embodiments, an abrasive material can be mixed with the fluid to form an abrasive fluid cutting stream. The body can be mounted to a motion system which moves the body, and therefore the cutting heads, relative to a work piece mounted upon a work bed. Each of the fluid jet cutting heads is coupled to an actuator which can control an on/off state of the cutting head. In some embodiments, an actuator mounting plate is provided to enable mounting of the actuators off of the jet axes.

Abstract: A nozzle for spraying sublimable solid particles and preventing frost from forming at surfaces of the nozzle. The nozzle includes: a cleaning agent block for phase-changing a cleaning agent into a snow containing sublimable solid particles; a nozzle block for growing the cleaning agent snow through adiabatic expansion and spraying the grown cleaning agent snow onto a surface of an object; a carrier gas block for supplying a carrier gas to the nozzle block to mix with the cleaning agent snow; and a heater for heating at least a portion of the carrier gas supplied from the carrier gas supply source. Fine dry ice particles and liquid CO2, passing through a solenoid valve from a CO2 reservoir tank and a pressure drop of a flow rate regulation valve, are introduced into the spray nozzle and then mixed with the carrier gas, such as N2 or purified air, and discharged.

Abstract: In one aspect of the invention, an abrasion resistant nozzle has at least two sintered diamond bodies having flat, mating, exterior surfaces and a thickness, the surfaces being held against each other under compression. An enclosure is formed between the mating surfaces, at least one surface having a groove forming a portion of the enclosure and the other surface forming a remaining portion of the enclosure. The enclosure connects an entry and an exit formed in at least one side of at least one of the bodies.

Abstract: A nozzle assembly and method is configured to apply coherent jets of coolant in a tangential direction to the grinding wheel in a grinding process, at a desired temperature, pressure and flowrate, to minimize thermal damage in the part being ground. Embodiments of the present invention may be useful when grinding thermally sensitive materials such as gas turbine creep resistant alloys and hardened steels. Flowrate and pressure guidelines are provided to facilitate optimization of the embodiments.

Abstract: A method for generating a jet of dry ice particles, in which liquid carbon dioxide is expanded in an expansion space (12) in order to form dry ice particles which are then introduced into a flow of a carrier gas, and the discharge of the dry ice particles from the expansion space (16) is throttled by a constriction (20, 26; 28; 30; 32; 36; 38).

Abstract: A method of producing a mold for use in duplicating a light diffusion sheet is provided. The method includes a step of conducting sand blasting for blasting abrasive material from a blast gun to a surface of a mold base material to form unevenness in the surface of the mold base material, wherein the abrasive material is blasted to the surface of the mold base material at a blast angle of less than 90°.

Abstract: A method of deburring channel inlet edges inside a cavity of a gas diffuser case is disclosed. The diffuser case has a plurality of channels each having an inner surface and an inlet edge defining an inlet of the channel. The surfaces of adjacent channels co-operate to provide said inlet edge therebetween. The inlet edges of the channels are provided in an inwardly facing circular array around a central axis of the gas diffuser case. The method comprises: inserting a tool head having at least one nozzle in the cavity of the gas diffuser case; and then ejecting abrasive particles from at least one nozzle towards at least one of the channel inlet edges of the gas diffuser case to at least one of decrease a radius of at least one said edge and improve a smoothness of at least one said surface.

Abstract: A polishing head is presented. The polishing head includes a housing having top and bottom surfaces. The housing is formed from a single piece of material. The polishing head includes grooves disposed on the bottom surface and an inlet in communication with the grooves for coupling to a pressure medium supply to supply a pressure medium to the grooves. The pressure medium when supplied to the grooves exerts pressure on a template when attached to the bottom surface to provide back side pressure on a back surface of an article when temporally attached to the template.

Abstract: A method for drilling or cutting a pin (31) surrounded by solid material (32) includes the use of a water jet tool (10) having a nozzle (11) that is arranged at an angle with respect to a main body (12) of the water jet tool (10). The water jet is directed over a portion of the surface of the pin (31), and removes that portion thereby fragmenting the pin (31). In order to minimise damage to the surrounding material, the portions removed touches the interface between the pin and the surrounding solid material at a minimal number of points and over a minimal extent of the interface. The method is applicable in particular to the removal of pins (31) used in a press-fit for the securing of blades (3) on a turbine rotor (1). The method facilitates “in situ” removal of pins within a confined space in a short time and at reduced cost.

Abstract: The present invention is a micro-abrasive blasting device (75) constructed from a disposable pipette structure (80) comprising a delivery conduit (30) extending from a delivery conduit inlet (35) through a tapered section (33) to form a delivery conduit outlet (37) and a inlet port (27); contiguous pipette structure (80) expands from inlet port (27) to form a hollow bulb mixing chamber (23) and then narrows to form a discharge port (29) section; a discharge conduit (10) is in fluid communications with discharge port (29) and extends from a discharge conduit inlet (12) internal to mixing chamber (23) to a discharge conduit outlet (14) external to mixing chamber (23); a particulate matter (50) is disposed within mixing chamber wall (25); discharge conduit inlet (12) abuts inlet port (27) preventing particulate matter (50) from exiting mixing chamber 23.

Abstract: A nozzle assembly (1) generates a jet (9) of water, or abrasive particles suspended in water, for use in an abrasive waterjet-cutting head. The nozzle assembly (1) comprises a nozzle element (5, 80, 84, 86, 91) with a tapering bore (7) therethrough, mounted to a carrier (2, 52) so that the bore (7) is connected coaxially to a passage (4) through the carrier (2, 52), the bore (7) and passage (4) preferably having the same diameter where they meet. The nozzle element comprises a superhard material, such as diamond, in the form of a solid body (5, 81, 83, 86) or a coating (90). The nozzle element is mounted to the carrier (2, 52) by a brazed or soldered joint (6), extending normally to a longitudinal axis of the passage (4) and bore (7).

Abstract: [Problem] To provide a blasting device for steel pipe inner surface with improved blast performance as well as the capability to sufficiently blast the inner surface of the steel pipe from the beginning portion to the end portion; a blasting method for steel pipe inner surface; and a method for producing a steel pipe with excellent inner surface texture. [Solution] A blasting device for blasting steel pipe inner surface includes a tubular carrier fluid inflow unit 21 connected to one end of a horizontal steel pipe 6, and a negative-pressure suction unit connected to the other end of the steel pipe 6, and is characterized in that a polishing material or a wiping material 5 is injected horizontally into the carrier fluid inflow unit along with a carrier fluid 20 from a hole 19 formed in the edge face of the tubular carrier fluid inflow unit 21.

Abstract: An abrasive cutting or drilling system, apparatus and method, which includes an upstream supercritical fluid and/or liquid carrier fluid, abrasive particles, a nozzle and a gaseous or low-density supercritical fluid exhaust abrasive stream. The nozzle includes a throat section and, optionally, a converging inlet section, a divergent discharge section, and a feed section.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for forming or working optical elements and/or optical forming elements (1) comprising a working apparatus (18) for forming surfaces of form parts by machining or an abrasive technique, wherein at least one measuring device (17) is provided for measuring changes in form and/or surface roughness of said surface when said surface is being worked and, on the basis thereof controlling said working apparatus (18).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the descaling of metal surfaces without the use of caustic substances is provided. The apparatus includes a first and second blast heads containing nozzles that spray high velocity jets of media at a scale covered continuous sheet of steel. The continuous sheet of steel is advanced into an abrading station containing a pair of brush assemblies that include stainless steel bristled brushes. The stainless steel brushes engage the surface of the sheet of steel and abrade away the cracked scale, leaving a surface clean of scale. The surface produced is pH neutral and therefore resists additional corrosion and does not require oil coatings, or other protective treatments. Eliminating these steps makes for a faster, more robust process and saves considerable cost.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for down hole abrasive jet-fluid cutting, the apparatus includes a jet-fluid nozzle and a high pressure pump capable of delivering a high-pressure abrasive fluid mixture to the jet-fluid nozzle, an abrasive fluid mixing unit capable of maintaining and providing a coherent abrasive fluid mixture, a tube to deliver the high pressure coherent abrasive mixture down hole to the jet-fluid nozzle, a jetting shoe adapted to receive the jet-fluid nozzle and directing abrasive jet-fluid mixture towards a work piece, a jetting shoe controlling unit that manipulates the jetting shoe along a vertical and horizontal axis and a central processing unit having a memory unit capable of storing profile generation data for cutting a predefined shape or window profile in the work piece and coordinating the operation of various subsystems.

Abstract: An apparatus and method to test the abrasion resistance of materials. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a conduit network, a primary air stream generating device to generate a primary air stream in the conduit network, a secondary air stream generating device to produce a secondary air stream in the conduit network, and a particulate handling device to deposit particulate into the conduit network so that the particulate enters the secondary air stream. The conduit network merges the secondary air stream into the primary air stream to allow the particulate to enter the primary air stream, and allow the primary air stream to blow the particulate at a test sample positioned within the conduit network.

Abstract: A nozzle unit for generating an abrasive jet. The nozzle unit has a first nozzle connected to a pressurized carrier fluid supply; a mixing chamber in which the first nozzle discharges; and a second nozzle connected to the mixing chamber. An abrasive particle inlet discharges in the mixing chamber. A proportion of the cross sectional area of the first nozzle opening (A1) and the cross sectional area of the second nozzle opening (A2) is in a range of 0.50-1.0.

Abstract: A nozzle for spraying sublimable solid particles and preventing frost from forming at surfaces of the nozzle. The nozzle includes: a cleaning agent block for phase-changing a cleaning agent into a snow containing sublimable solid particles; a nozzle block for growing the cleaning agent snow through adiabatic expansion and spraying the grown cleaning agent snow onto a surface of an object; a carrier gas block for supplying a carrier gas to the nozzle block to mix with the cleaning agent snow; and a heater for heating at least a portion of the carrier gas supplied from the carrier gas supply source. Fine dry ice particles and liquid CO2, passing through a solenoid valve from a CO2 reservoir tank and a pressure drop of a flow rate regulation valve, are introduced into the spray nozzle and then mixed with the carrier gas, such as N2 or purified air, and discharged.

Abstract: A fluid jet system for achieving a kerf width less than 0.015 inches is provided. In one embodiment, the system includes an orifice mount having a high-pressure fluid bore and an abrasive bore configured to communicate an abrasive mixture in form of a paste or foam to at least a portion of the high-pressure fluid bore. The system further includes a pressure-generating bore and a thin kerf mixing tube respectively provided toward opposing longitudinal ends of the mount body, minimizing a distance therebetween. A method of in-situ recycling of abrasives in the high-pressure fluid jet system includes catching the exiting abrasive-fluid mixture in a catching device, filtering the mixture in a filtering device, and directly pumping the filtered abrasive-fluid mixture to the mixing area without requiring conditioning of the mixture to remove liquids.

Abstract: A pneumatic sanding machine for cleaning and scraping replaces a sanding disc with a high pressure compressed air disc swirling powder abrasive. Acceleration and ejection functions of the sanding nozzle are dissociated in two portions, allowing very thin ejection ports, even smaller than 400 micrometres in diameter, without clogging. The nozzle acceleration channel common to all ejection ports emerges on an anti-splash cone that bursts the jet of compressed air/abrasives exiting the nozzle, directing the air-abrasive flux towards tungsten carbide ejection members. Thus, the ejection ports are holes/slots drilled in tungsten carbide boards inserted in a disc/platen. The disc/platen may be driven to rotary speeds (RPM) obtained using a mini-turbine of 1,000-20,000, possibly exceeding 30,000, but generally 4,000-12,000, enabling high pressure work.

Abstract: The invention relates to abrasive water jet systems comprising an abrasive water jet mixing tube having a longitudinal bore lined with a superhard material, including such systems which use cubic boron carbide (CBN), diamond, or other materials with a hardness greater than that of alumina as the abrasive material. The invention also comprises methods of using an AWJ system having a mixing tube having a longitudinal bore lined with a superhard material. Some embodiments include AWJ mixing tubes comprised of a plurality of connected components. Such connections may be disconnectable.

Abstract: An adjustable sand blasting gun has a body, a sand inlet and an adjusting device. The body has a chamber, a blasting head, a mounting tube and a connecting pipe. The blasting head is attached to the body and communicates with the chamber. The mounting tube is formed on the body. The connecting pipe is formed on and laterally extends from the mounting tube. The sand inlet is attached to the mounting tube and has a passage and a through hole. The passage is formed through the sand inlet and communicates with the chamber. The through hole is formed through the sand inlet and communicates with the connecting pipe. The adjusting device is connected to the body and the sand inlet and has an adjusting post and a mounting pin. The adjusting post is connected to the connecting pipe and the sand inlet. The mounting pin is connected to the adjusting post.

Abstract: An abrasivejet cutting head assembly comprises abrasive inlet means for permitting entry of abrasive material into the head's longitudinally-extending passageway about an inlet axis that is preferably non-intersecting with the passageway's longitudinal axis. The abrasive is then prevented from entrainment into the waterjet by means within the passageway that only permits entrainment downstream from the region of abrasive entry after the abrasive particles have attained a generally coherent downstream velocity. The foregoing can be accomplished within the cutting head, within a user-replaceable insert in the cutting head or within the abrasivejet nozzle.

Abstract: A hydroentangling jet strip device is provided, wherein such a device comprises a plate member having opposing sides and defining at least one nozzle orifice extending between the opposing sides. Each of the at least one nozzle orifice includes an axially-extending capillary portion having an aspect ratio between a length of the capillary portion and a diameter of the capillary portion, wherein the aspect ratio is less than about 0.70 so as to be capable of providing a cavitation-free constricted waterjet.

Abstract: Improved systems and methods for singulating a substrate into a plurality of integrated circuit devices are disclosed. One aspect of the invention corresponds to a fixture that holds the substrate during the dicing process. Another aspect of the invention pertains to a nozzle assembly that provides better fluid flow over the cutting blades. Another aspect of the invention corresponds to a nozzle adjustment assembly that helps position the nozzles relative to the blades. Another aspect of the invention corresponds to spacers that reduce the problem of imbalance caused by fluid retained therein. Yet another aspect pertains to the composition of the fluid, which is distributed by the nozzle assembly to the blades.

Abstract: A micro-abrasion device includes a base station, a handpiece configured to spray a powder onto skin, a flexible supply pipe configured to supply powder from the base station to the handpiece, a flexible return pipe configured to return powder from the handpiece to the base station, a first reservoir containing a powder to be supplied to the handpiece via the flexible supply pipe and a first reservoir endpiece initially closed by a puncturable seal, and a second reservoir configured to collect powder returning via the flexible return pipe. The first reservoir and the second reservoir are assembled together and mounted onto the base station during use. Once mounted, the seal is punctured. Preferably the first and second reservoirs are configured so that they cannot be interchangeably mounted on the base station. This prevents reuse of the collected used powder in the second reservoir.

Abstract: A disposable apparatus for propelling particulate matter against a surface of a target material that includes: a mixing chamber having a chamber wall, a multi-conduit receiving port, a propellant-gas receiving conduit, and a discharge conduit. The gas delivery conduit extends from the propellant-gas receiving port into the chamber, a mixture discharge conduit extending from the mixture discharge port into the chamber, and a quantity of particulate matter inside the chamber. The disposable apparatus further includes a membrane capable of allowing a gas stream to pass through when the gas stream is flowing and seals the mixing chamber when the gas stream is not flowing. The membrane can be of a hemispherical shaped, molded piece that includes at least one slit to provide an opening when the gas stream is flowing.

Abstract: An improved atomizer, in which the liquid to be sprayed is circulated around the nozzle tip to prevent degradation of the liquid in hot environments. The circulation is controlled by a valve, which permits the liquid to circulate even when no liquid is being sprayed.

Abstract: A suspended abrasive waterjet narrow kerf cutting method is reconfigured to simultaneously drill multiple, closely-spaced holes in a target, including holes in confined non line-of-sight locations. Working fluid nozzles can be located on a flat or non-flat tool surface and arranged in uniform or non-uniform patterns, in an angled or perpendicular orientation, and in parallel or non-parallel arrangements. Individual nozzles or nozzle groups can be easily changed to provide increased or diminished working diameters, allowing control over the hole sizes and resultant airflow thru the drilled workpiece.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for abrading the inner surface at the intersection region of a branch outlet with the wall of a body having a passageway. Using abrasive flow machining, it is possible to abrade the intersection region to provide a smooth transition between the wall and the branch outlet.

Abstract: A cold gas spraying method and device, whereby the sprayed particles are accelerated in a gas flow. A powder tube and an outer nozzle body together form a Laval nozzle that produces high gas flow velocities. The injection of the sprayed particles occurs in the divergent section of the Laval nozzle.

Abstract: A grinding method is provided which can grind a processing surface of a workpiece by a blast processing without use of specific abrasives to obtain a glossy surface such as a mirror surface. Abrasives together with compresses fluid are injected to the processing surface of the workpiece with an incident angle ? to meet the condition shown in the following equation: 0<V·sin ??½·VEquation 1; V=speed of the abrasive in an injection direction ?=incident angle of the abrasive to the processing surface of the workpiece.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided to simplify sandblasting processes while increasing applied coverage areas in sandblasting operations. The method and apparatus provide a manifold assembly having a plurality of nozzles and that is rigidly attached to an air supply. The manifold is supplied with abrasive material via a plurality of angularly attached sand supply hoses which are coupled to an abrasive material supply. The manifold assembly is pressurized with the supply of air. An article is sandblasted by drawing sand through the hoses and out of the plurality of nozzles using the pressurized air through the manifold assembly.

Abstract: A hand-holdable apparatus useful for abrading a surface is provided. The invention is particularly useful for dental applications using a stream of abrasive particles suspended in a gas stream to abrade the surface of a tooth. The apparatus of the invention may be modified to easily minimize “bleed down” of the gas/abrasive stream using a pinch valve and to remove worn flexible conduits for routine maintenance and autoclaving of the apparatus. The apparatus of the invention also provides a novel pick-up assembly for delivery of abrasive particles.