The invention provides a machining system (201) comprising: a machining apparatus (202), notably an abrasive waterjet cutting system (203), said machining apparatus being adapted for machining a workpiece (204); a monitoring device (228) adapted for monitoring machining conditions of the machining apparatus (202) and/or of the workpiece, the monitoring device comprising a plurality of sensors, said plurality of sensors comprising a first sensor (237) at a first location and a second sensor (239) at a second location which is distant from the first location. The plurality of sensors comprises a fourth sensor (243) which is formed by an array of microphones (254) arranged on a grid. The plurality of sensors comprises accelerometers, strain gauges and microphones. The invention also provides a monitoring method of a machining system (201) wherein a specific benchmark signature is chosen from a library.

The invention provides a machining system (201) comprising: a machining apparatus (202), notably an abrasive waterjet cutting system (203), said machining apparatus being adapted for machining a workpiece (204); a monitoring device (228) adapted for monitoring machining conditions of the machining apparatus (202) and/or of the workpiece, the monitoring device comprising a plurality of sensors, said plurality of sensors comprising a first sensor (237) at a first location and a second sensor (239) at a second location which is distant from the first location. The plurality of sensors comprises a fourth sensor (243) which is formed by an array of microphones (254) arranged on a grid. The plurality of sensors comprises accelerometers, strain gauges and microphones. The invention also provides a monitoring method of a machining system (201) wherein a specific benchmark signature is chosen from a library.

An improved media blasting system that separates the fluid velocity development, the introduction of media and the acceleration of media from each other. The preferred arrangement has a supersonic nozzle that produces supersonic velocity air discharged into a coupled acceleration chamber. No shot travels within the supersonic nozzle, so no wear of the supersonic nozzle interior occurs, thus making the nozzle shorter, of plain metal alloys, less expensive to manufacture and lasting indefinitely. The shot is separately introduced into the acceleration chamber thus avoiding it's otherwise limitation to the air mass flow rate in the air supply hose or pipe. Thus the average velocity used to transfer momentum to the shot is much higher than the lower average velocity currently available within other blasting nozzles, which occurs from throat to exit. Further, the nozzle design parameters are selected to match the higher maximum power output of a selected air compressor and are not constrained by nozzle wear factors requiring frequent replacement of the nozzle for reasons of nozzle wear.

An improved media blasting system that separates the fluid velocity development, the introduction of media and the acceleration of media from each other. The preferred arrangement has a supersonic nozzle that produces supersonic velocity air discharged into a coupled acceleration chamber. No shot travels within the supersonic nozzle, so no wear of the supersonic nozzle interior occurs, thus making the nozzle shorter, of plain metal alloys, less expensive to manufacture and lasting indefinitely. The shot is separately introduced into the acceleration chamber thus avoiding it's otherwise limitation to the air mass flow rate in the air supply hose or pipe. Thus the average velocity used to transfer momentum to the shot is much higher than the lower average velocity currently available within other blasting nozzles, which occurs from throat to exit. Further, the nozzle design parameters are selected to match the higher maximum power output of a selected air compressor and are not constrained by nozzle wear factors requiring frequent replacement of the nozzle for reasons of nozzle wear.

A blasting device has a spray unit for spraying blasting agent onto the surface to be treated. The spray unit has an insert 23′ in which a nozzle 13′ is rotatable. This nozzle 13′ is provided with a number of spray channels 19′ which are at an angle 21′ relative to the supply direction 17 of the blasting agent. The blasting agent is pressed through the spray channels 19′ under pressure and exerts a force on the wall of the spray channels 19′ causing the nozzle 13′ to rotate. The jets emerging from the rotating nozzle 13′ will make a rotating movement. The joint area of the cross-sections of the spray channels 19′ is larger than one third of the cross-sectional area of the circular-cylindrical part of the nozzle. The angle 21′ at which the spray channels are located with respect to the supply direction 17 of the blasting agent is greater than zero and less than 10 degrees.

A blasting device has a spray unit for spraying blasting agent onto the surface to be treated. The spray unit has an insert 23′ in which a nozzle 13′ is rotatable. This nozzle 13′ is provided with a number of spray channels 19′ which are at an angle 21′ relative to the supply direction 17 of the blasting agent. The blasting agent is pressed through the spray channels 19′ under pressure and exerts a force on the wall of the spray channels 19′ causing the nozzle 13′ to rotate. The jets emerging from the rotating nozzle 13′ will make a rotating movement. The joint area of the cross-sections of the spray channels 19′ is larger than one third of the cross-sectional area of the circular-cylindrical part of the nozzle. The angle 21′ at which the spray channels are located with respect to the supply direction 17 of the blasting agent is greater than zero and less than 10 degrees.

An apparatus and method for treating a surface with a jet utilizing a multiplicity of particles, using a mixing chamber for mixing a stream of propellant gas with the multiplicity of particles, a particle generator, which is designed to generate the multiplicity of particles and introduce them into the mixing chamber in a solid state, the particle generator having at least one screen plate, and it being possible for the multiplicity of particles to be formed in a solid state by pressing a solid starting material through the screen plate, a propellant gas line with a propellant gas nozzle for introducing the propellant gas into the mixing chamber, and an outlet from the mixing chamber for the stream of propellant gas.

An apparatus and method for treating a surface with a jet utilizing a multiplicity of particles, using a mixing chamber for mixing a stream of propellant gas with the multiplicity of particles, a particle generator, which is designed to generate the multiplicity of particles and introduce them into the mixing chamber in a solid state, the particle generator having at least one screen plate, and it being possible for the multiplicity of particles to be formed in a solid state by pressing a solid starting material through the screen plate, a propellant gas line with a propellant gas nozzle for introducing the propellant gas into the mixing chamber, and an outlet from the mixing chamber for the stream of propellant gas.

A high pressure water jet cutting apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a cutting head body having a first end configured to connect to a water line, a second end configured to connect to a nozzle, and a passageway therethrough. One or more sensors is associated with the cutting head body, and an electrical connector is coupled to the sensor. The electrical connector is configured to transmit data from the sensor to detect the occurrence of an event.

A high pressure water jet cutting apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a cutting head body having a first end configured to connect to a water line, a second end configured to connect to a nozzle, and a passageway therethrough. One or more sensors is associated with the cutting head body, and an electrical connector is coupled to the sensor. The electrical connector is configured to transmit data from the sensor to detect the occurrence of an event.