A device for providing abrasive to a cutting head in a liquid jet cutting system can include an abrasive inlet configured to receive abrasive from an abrasive source, an abrasive outlet downstream from the abrasive inlet and configured to provide the abrasive to the cutting head, and a backflow diverter configured to discharge backflow from the device. In some embodiments, the backflow diverter can be configured to discharge a first portion of the backflow from the device, and device can further include one or more spillways configured to discharge a second portion of the backflow from the device. The one or more spillways can be positioned upstream from the backflow diverter and/or downstream from the abrasive inlet. The backflow diverter and/or the spillways can at least partially or fully prevent the backflow from flowing upstream through the abrasive inlet and/or into the abrasive source.

A mesh spray erosion assembly includes a spray board having a length, a width, and a material thickness, a tile blank having a length, a width, and a material thickness supported on one side of the spray board, a mesh frame having a length and width greater than that of the tile blank, and a material thickness equal to or less than that of the tile blank, the mesh frame centered over the tile blank and mounted to the spray board, and a mesh screen having a length and a width, the mesh screen centered over the mesh frame and mounted thereon, the mesh screen including non-masked portions and masked portions, characterized in that a user may apply a pressurized liquid spray through the non-masked portions of the mesh screen against the surface of the tile blank eroding material from the surface thereof according to artist design.

A mesh spray erosion assembly includes a spray board having a length, a width, and a material thickness, a tile blank having a length, a width, and a material thickness supported on one side of the spray board, a mesh frame having a length and width greater than that of the tile blank, and a material thickness equal to or less than that of the tile blank, the mesh frame centered over the tile blank and mounted to the spray board, and a mesh screen having a length and a width, the mesh screen centered over the mesh frame and mounted thereon, the mesh screen including non-masked portions and masked portions, characterized in that a user may apply a pressurized liquid spray through the non-masked portions of the mesh screen against the surface of the tile blank eroding material from the surface thereof according to artist design.

Examples are disclosed that relate to opening lithium-ion batteries in an end-of-life process using a fluid cutting apparatus. One example provides a method of opening a battery in an end-of-life process where the battery comprises a plurality of electrode layers. The method comprises placing the battery in a fluid cutting apparatus, and forming a stream of a cutting fluid. The method further comprises impinging the stream of the cutting fluid onto the battery at a sufficient pressure to form a cut entirely through all layers of the battery, wherein the cutting fluid forms a passivating layer at an interface formed by the cut by reacting with one or more electrode materials within the battery.

Various embodiments of abrasive jet cutting systems are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, an abrasive jet system includes a cutting head configured to receive abrasives and pressurized fluid to form an abrasive jet. The system also includes an abrasive source configured to store abrasives that are supplied to the cutting head, as well as a fluid source configured to store fluid that is supplied to the cutting head. The system further includes a gas source configured to store pressurized gas that is selectively supplied to the cutting head. When supplied to the cutting head, the pressurized gas can advantageously affect, such as by at least partially diffusing, the abrasive jet.

A manufacturing method is provided. During this method, a preform component is provided for a turbine engine. The preform component includes a substrate comprising electrically conductive material having an outer coating comprising non-electrically conductive material applied over a surface of the substrate. A preform aperture is formed in the preform component using an electrical discharge machining electrode. The preform aperture includes a meter section of a cooling aperture in the substrate. The preform aperture also includes a pilot hole in the outer coating. A diffuser section of the cooling aperture is formed in at least the outer coating using a second machining process.

The invention relates to a liquid jet cutting method using a compressor unit (3) that comprises a liquid for generating a liquid jet and using a nozzle (10) that is connected to the compressor unit (3) and has an outlet opening (11) through which the compressed liquid exits in the form of a liquid jet (14). The flow of the compressed liquid to the outlet opening (11) can be interrupted or released by means of an interruption unit (8). The method has the following steps: compressing the liquid by means of the compressor unit (3), moving the outlet opening (11) closer to a workpiece (15) to be machined up to a machining distance (d), and alternatively releasing and interrupting the liquid jet (14) by means of the interruption unit (8), wherein the nozzle is simultaneously moved relative to the workpiece in a machining direction (22), and the machining angle between the workpiece surface (115) and the liquid jet (14) is less than 90°.

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.

A method for strengthening an edge of a glass laminate including a glass core layer positioned between a first glass clad layer and a second glass clad layer may include forming a channel in the edge of the glass laminate. Sidewalls of the channel may be formed from the first glass clad layer and the second glass clad layer. Glass filler material having a filler coefficient of thermal expansion greater than a core coefficient of thermal expansion may be positioned in the channel. The glass filler material and the sidewalls of the channel may be fused to the second glass clad layer thereby forming an edge cap over the channel. The edge of the glass laminate is under compressive stress after the glass filler material is enclosed in the channel.

A method for strengthening an edge of a glass laminate including a glass core layer positioned between a first glass clad layer and a second glass clad layer may include forming a channel in the edge of the glass laminate. Sidewalls of the channel may be formed from the first glass clad layer and the second glass clad layer. Glass filler material having a filler coefficient of thermal expansion greater than a core coefficient of thermal expansion may be positioned in the channel. The glass filler material and the sidewalls of the channel may be fused to the second glass clad layer thereby forming an edge cap over the channel. The edge of the glass laminate is under compressive stress after the glass filler material is enclosed in the channel.