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 plasma arc torch is provided for use in a plasma cutting system. The plasma arc torch includes a torch body for conducting electrical current. The torch body includes a torch tip configured to pass the electrical current to at least one consumable component connected to the tip. The plasma arc torch also includes at least one antenna positioned relative to the torch tip. The antenna is used to wirelessly detect the presence of the at least one consumable component. The plasma arc torch further includes a detection circuit configured to permit passing of the electrical current from the torch tip to the at least one consumable component based on at least the wireless detection.

Systems and methods according to one or more embodiments are provided for forming canted holes in materials. In one example, a forming angle and a central axis for a vent through a panel is determined. A vent is formed in the panel about the central axis along the forming angle. The angled vent is formed with a circular shape at a first opening of the vent on a first surface of the panel when viewed at an angle perpendicular to the first surface of the panel. Additional systems and methods are also provided.

An orifice for a high-pressure waterjet cutter includes a first surface defining an inlet plane, a second surface defining an outlet plane, and an inner bore aligned along a flow axis and extending from the first surface to the second surface. The orifice also includes a first layer of polycrystalline diamond extending from the first surface to a plane between the inlet plane and the outlet plane, and a second, separate layer of polycrystalline diamond extending from the plane to the second surface. The first layer and the second layer are coupled to one another to define a single component. The second layer has material properties different than the first layer.

An abrasive fluid jet cutting device is disclosed comprising a rotating joint that includes a first path for abrasive and a second path for fluid, a mixing chamber where the first and second paths meet, a first expanding volume arranged above the first path to accumulate abrasive, and a second expanding volume arranged below the first path to accumulate abrasive between the first volume and the mixing chamber, in which the second volume forms a barrier against the return flow of humidity along the first path.

Multi-jet abrasive head for cleaning/removing material surfaces and splitting/cutting materials by a liquid beam enriched with solid abrasive particles with a uniform velocity and density profile allowing the cutting power to be increased with more efficient cutting beam usage.