Fluid jet cutting and shaping system and method of using

A method for cutting a workpiece with a fluid jet comprising:

• feeding a high pressure fluid from a fluid supply assembly to a nozzle head assembly, which nozzle head assembly is limited to movement along a Z-axis coinciding with a central axis of a nozzle of said nozzle head assembly;
• fixing a workpiece on to an X-Y axis support table such that the workpiece is positioned within an open area formed in said X-Y axis support table;
• and
• shifting the X-Y axis support table and supported workpiece in both an X-axis and a Y-axis direction with respect to the nozzle head assembly positioned above such that said workpiece is subjected to a high pressure fluid jet emanating from the nozzle head assembly, and said method further comprising feeding abrasive to a central fluid passageway in said nozzle head assembly through a plurality of abrasive ports extending from an exterior surface of said main housing and directing said abrasive downward along a direction which forms an acute angle with the central axis of the fluid conduit formed in said main housing.

A method for cutting a workpiece with a fluid jet comprising:

• fixing a workpiece to an X-Y axis support table;
• feeding a high pressure fluid from a fluid supply assembly to a nozzle head assembly, which nozzle head assembly has a portion that is fixed in place with respect to an X-Y axis plane;
• and
• shifting the X-Y axis support table and supported workpiece with respect to the fixed in place portion of said nozzle head assembly while said workpiece is subjected to a high pressure fluid jet emanating from the nozzle head assembly, directing the fluid jet, following passage through the workpiece, to a catch tank which remains stationary with respect to the shifting X-Y axis support table during cutting of the workpiece with a fluid jet, and removing said catch tank from its stationary positioning upon becoming filled to a desired extent and installing a replacement catch tank in its place.

A fluid jet cutting system, comprising:

• a high pressure fluid supply assembly;
• a nozzle head assembly;
• a high pressure fluid line extending between said high pressure fluid supply assembly and nozzle head assembly for supplying said nozzle head assembly with high pressure fluid from said high pressure fluid supply assembly;
• an X-Y axis support table assembly, and said X-Y axis support table assembly being designed for supporting a workpiece;
• and
• means for shifting said X-Y axis support table assembly in an X-axis direction and a Y-axis direction such that a workpiece supported by said X-Y axis support table assembly is positionable during cutting to a variety of locations along an X-Y axis plane with respect to the nozzle head assembly such that the shifting of said X-Y axis support table assembly creates a cutting pattern in the workpiece, and wherein said X-Y axis support table assembly has a Y-axis frame structure having an open section formed therein and an X-axis frame structure having an open section formed therein which openings at least partially coincide during cutting.

A fluid jet cutting system, comprising:

• a high pressure fluid supply assembly;
• a nozzle head assembly;
• a high pressure fluid line extending between said high pressure fluid supply assembly and nozzle head assembly for supplying said nozzle head assembly with high pressure fluid from said high pressure fluid supply assembly;
• an X-Y axis support table assembly which includes an open area, and said X-Y axis support table being designed for supporting a workpiece within the open area;
• and
• means for shifting said X-Y axis support table both in an X-axis direction and a Y-axis direction such that a workpiece supported by said support table is positionable to a variety of locations along an X-Y axis plane with respect to the nozzle, and
• wherein said nozzle head assembly is supported by a Z-axis support assembly over the open area in said support table and said nozzle head assembly includes a main body which is precluded from movement with respect to the X-Y axis plane, and wherein said X-Y axis support table assembly has a Y-axis frame structure having an open section formed therein and an X-axis frame structure having an open section formed therein, and said fluid jet cutting system further comprising means for shifting said nozzle head assembly along a Z-axis toward and away from said X-Y axis support table, and
• wherein said nozzle head assembly includes a nozzle which is adjustable along a fourth and fifth axis such that said nozzle forms an acute angle with respect to the Z-axis extending vertically below the nozzle.

A fluid jet cutting system, comprising:

• a high pressure fluid supply assembly;
• a nozzle head assembly;
• a high pressure fluid line extending between said high pressure fluid supply assembly and nozzle head assembly for supplying said nozzle head assembly with high pressure fluid from said high pressure fluid supply assembly;
• an X-Y axis support table assembly which includes an open area, and said X-Y axis support table being designed for supporting a workpiece within the open area;
• and
• means for shifting said X-Y axis support table both in an X-axis direction and a Y-axis direction such that a workpiece supported by said support table is positionable to a variety of locations along an X-Y axis plane with respect to the nozzle, and said fluid jet cutting system further comprising a workpiece support rail extending across said open area and supported by said X-Y axis support table so as to be moveable in combination therewith, and said support rail having an adjustable workpiece clamp supported thereon.

A fluid jet cutting system, comprising:

• a high pressure fluid supply assembly;
• a nozzle head assembly;
• a high pressure fluid line extending between said high pressure fluid supply assembly and nozzle head assembly for supplying said nozzle head assembly with high pressure fluid from said high pressure fluid supply assembly;
• an X-Y axis support table assembly which includes an open area, and said X-Y axis support table being designed for supporting a workpiece within the open area;
• means for shifting said X-Y axis support table both in an X-axis direction and a Y-axis direction such that a workpiece supported by said support table is positionable to a variety of locations along an X-Y axis plane with respect to the nozzle, and wherein said nozzle head assembly comprises a main body having a centralized fluid passageway and at least three abrasive ports formed therein, said abrasive ports being circumferentially spaced about said main body and opening into the fluid passageway and out at an exterior surface of said main housing, and said ports having a central axis which forms an acute angle each with a portion of a central axis of said centralized fluid passageway extending above the ports opening into the fluid passageway;
• and
• a nozzle conduit extending out away from said main body and being aligned with said centralized fluid passageway.

A fluid jet cutting system, comprising:

• a high pressure fluid supply assembly;
• a nozzle head assembly;
• a high pressure fluid line extending between said high pressure fluid supply assembly and nozzle head assembly for supplying said nozzle head assembly with high pressure fluid from said high pressure fluid supply assembly;
• an X-Y axis support table assembly which includes an open area, and said X-Y axis support table being designed for supporting a workpiece within the open area;
• and
• means for shifting said X-Y axis support table both in an X-axis direction and a Y-axis direction such that a workpiece supported by said support table is positionable to a variety of locations along an X-Y axis plane with respect to the nozzle, and said fluid jet cutting system further comprising an abrasive feed assembly which includes
• an abrasive supply source;
• and
• an abrasive feed system for feeding abrasive from said supply source to said nozzle head assembly, said abrasive feed system including a main conduit which is in communication with a downstream multi-port feed assembly having at least three branch ports, said branch ports having ends which open into a plurality of abrasive feed ports circumferentially arranged about a main housing of said nozzle head assembly.

A fluid jet cutting system, comprising:

• a high pressure fluid supply assembly;
• a nozzle head assembly;
• a high pressure fluid line extending between said high pressure fluid supply assembly and nozzle head assembly for supplying said nozzle head assembly with high pressure fluid from said high pressure fluid supply assembly;
• an X-Y axis support table assembly which includes an open area, and said X-Y axis support table being designed for supporting a workpiece within the open area;
• and
• means for shifting said X-Y axis support table both in an X-axis direction and a Y-axis direction such that a workpiece supported by said support table is positionable to a variety of locations along an X-Y axis plane with respect to the nozzle, and wherein said abrasive feed system further comprises a split branch reception member having an abrasive feed conduit for receipt of abrasive from said feed source, a gas reception conduit, and an outlet in communication with said main conduit, and said abrasive feed system further comprising a gas source in communication with said gas reception opening for facilitating transportation of abrasive material to said nozzle head assembly.

A fluid jet cutting system, comprising:

• a high pressure fluid supply assembly;
• a nozzle head assembly;
• a high pressure fluid line extending between said high pressure fluid supply assembly and nozzle head assembly for supplying said nozzle head assembly with high pressure fluid from said high pressure fluid supply assembly;
• an X-Y axis support table assembly which includes an open area, and said X-Y axis support table being designed for supporting a workpiece within the open area;
• and
• means for shifting said X-Y axis support table both in an X-axis direction and a Y-axis direction such that a workpiece supported by said support table is positionable to a variety of locations along an X-Y axis plane with respect to the nozzle, and wherein said high pressure fluid supply assembly includes an intensifier which includes dual fluid reception chambers, means for shifting said fluid reception chambers from a low pressure fluid reception mode to a high pressure fluid release mode, and a pressurizing assembly for pressurizing fluid received within said chambers, and said pressurizing assembly including a bellows member and a reciprocating shaft in contact with said bellows member whereby said bellows member seals the fluid within said reception conduit from an area external to said bellows.

A fluid jet cutting system, comprising:

• a high pressure fluid supply assembly;
• a nozzle head assembly;
• a high pressure fluid line extending between said high pressure fluid supply assembly and nozzle head assembly for supplying said nozzle head assembly with high pressure fluid from said high pressure fluid supply assembly;
• an X-Y axis support table assembly which includes an open area, and said X-Y axis support table being designed for supporting a workpiece within the open area;
• and
• means for shifting said X-Y axis support table both in an X-axis direction and a Y-axis direction such that a workpiece supported by said support table is positionable to a variety of locations along an X-Y axis plane with respect to the nozzle, and said fluid jet cutting system further comprising workpiece sheet supply means, and a sheet feeder device secured to said X-Y axis support table assembly and positioned for receiving workpiece sheeting from said supply means, and said system further comprising a die plate supported on said X-Y axis support table and moveable together therewith, and said die plate having two distinct cutting patterns formed therein positioned downstream of said sheet feeder.

A fluid jet cutting system, comprising:

• a nozzle head assembly;
• a high pressure fluid supply assembly in communication with said nozzle head assembly;
• a workpiece support table assembly, said workpiece support table assembly including a base support, a first table component supported by said base support to allow movement in a first direction, and a second table component adjustably supported by said first table component, and said workpiece support table assembly being dimensioned for positioning the workpiece into contact with a fluid jet emanating from said nozzle head assembly;
• a drive system in driving contact with said first and second table components;
• and
• a control assembly for activating said driving system such that said first and second components are adapted to be moved both independently and in unison to achieve a desired cutting pattern in the workpiece;
• and wherein said first table component is slidingly supported on said base support and defines a first opening, and said driving system includes a linear motor which drives the first table component, and said second table component is slidingly supported by said first table component and defines a second opening, and said driving system includes a linear motor which drives the second table with respect to said first table so as to maintain said first and second openings at least partially coinciding.

A fluid jet cutting system, comprising:

• a nozzle head assembly;
• a nozzle head assembly support connected with said nozzle head assembly;
• an X-Y axis support table assembly having an enclosed, X-axis support table structure defining a first opening, and an enclosed, Y-axis support table structure defining a second opening with said openings being positioned below said nozzle head assembly;
• and
• means for shifting said X-axis support table structure along an X-axis and means for shifting said Y-axis support table along a Y-axis such that said first and second openings at least partly coincide and such that fluid emanating from said nozzle head assembly is free to pass through the coinciding table openings.

A fluid jet cutting system, comprising:

• a nozzle head assembly;
• a high pressure fluid supply system that supplies high pressure fluid to said nozzle head assembly;
• a support table assembly designed for supporting a workpiece;
• means for shifting said support table assembly such that a workpiece supported by said support table assembly is positionable during cutting to a variety of locations with respect to the nozzle head assembly and such that the shifting of said X-Y axis support table assembly creates a cutting pattern in the workpiece;
• and
• a multi-line abrasive feed assembly which includes a plurality of abrasive feed lines connected to said nozzle head assembly at different locations which communicate with abrasive feed passageways extending to a fluid conduit in said nozzle head assembly.