An abrasive waterjet system in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology includes a cutting head, a catcher downstream from the cutting head, and a conveyance configured to carry slurry including abrasive material and liquid collected from the catcher toward the cutting head. The cutting head includes a jet-forming orifice and a mixing chamber downstream from the jet-forming orifice. The cutting head also includes a slurry inlet through which the mixing chamber receives slurry including abrasive material and liquid collected from the catcher. The abrasive waterjet system can be configured for substantially closed-loop recycling of wet abrasive material. This can be useful, for example, to increase abrasive material utilization efficiency and to decrease abrasive material disposal costs. These and/or other benefits may be realized both in the context of low pressure abrasive waterjet systems and in the context of high pressure abrasive waterjet systems.

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.

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.

Fluid jet cutting systems, components and related methods for generating relatively low load abrasive fluid jets that are particularly well suited for cutting fragile, brittle or otherwise sensitive materials are provided. An example method includes supplying fluid at an operating pressure of at least 60,000 psi to an orifice having a circular cross-sectional profile with a diameter that is less than or equal to 0.010 inches to create a fluid jet that leaves a fluid jet cutting head through a jet passageway having a circular cross-sectional profile with a diameter that is less than or equal to 0.015 inches.

An abrasive waterjet system in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology includes a cutting head, a catcher downstream from the cutting head, and a conveyance configured to carry slurry including abrasive material and liquid collected from the catcher toward the cutting head. The cutting head includes a jet-forming orifice and a mixing chamber downstream from the jet-forming orifice. The cutting head also includes a slurry inlet through which the mixing chamber receives slurry including abrasive material and liquid collected from the catcher. The abrasive waterjet system can be configured for substantially closed-loop recycling of wet abrasive material. This can be useful, for example, to increase abrasive material utilization efficiency and to decrease abrasive material disposal costs. These and/or other benefits may be realized both in the context of low pressure abrasive waterjet systems and in the context of high pressure abrasive waterjet systems.

An abrasive head with clean gas infeed for cleaning/removing material surfaces and splitting/cutting materials by a liquid beam enriched with solid abrasive particles to extend the tool lifetime by eliminating damage to the liquid jet's aperture by the abrasive, avoid degrading the abrasive inside the tool and increase the cutting power and flow efficiency.

A system and method for selectively filtering abrasive particles for a cutting machine serves to filter variously shaped and dimensioned abrasive particles into a hopper through use of multiple, interchangeable screens. Each screen forms multiple openings defined by a shape and dimension, and each screen has a unique shape and dimension. A pneumatic variable speed motor vibrates the screens at variable speeds, depending on intensity of air flow through an air inlet. The sieve subassembly has a main base and containment ring. A two-piece split clamp ring sandwich the perimeter region of screens. From the hopper, a flow of high-pressure air carries the filtered abrasive particles to a waterjet cutting machine. The filtered abrasive particles are mixed with high pressure water to cut a workpiece. The shape and dimension of the abrasive particle is determinative of the type of workpiece to be cut.

A system and method for selectively filtering abrasive particles for a cutting machine serves to filter variously shaped and dimensioned abrasive particles into a hopper through use of multiple, interchangeable screens. Each screen forms multiple openings defined by a shape and dimension, and each screen has a unique shape and dimension. A pneumatic variable speed motor vibrates the screens at variable speeds, depending on intensity of air flow through an air inlet. The sieve subassembly has a main base and containment ring. A two-piece split clamp ring sandwich the perimeter region of screens. From the hopper, a flow of high-pressure air carries the filtered abrasive particles to a waterjet cutting machine. The filtered abrasive particles are mixed with high pressure water to cut a workpiece. The shape and dimension of the abrasive particle is determinative of the type of workpiece to be cut.

A method for machining at least one portion of a surface of a component for a vehicle, which is painted with a layer of clear coat of a given first layer thickness. The component is situated in an inner space of a blasting chamber. An opening of at least one conveying device for a blasting material emerges into the inner space. The inner space of the blasting chamber and the component are placed entirely under a partial vacuum. Blasting material in a carrier air flow generated by the partial vacuum is supplied through the opening of the conveying device to the inner space. The portion of the surface being machined and the opening of the conveying device are moved relative to each other. The blasting material is shot from the opening of the conveying device onto the portion of the surface being machined.

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.