.
Figure 1.1 shows the operating range for the known cutting head types. MAWs are shown as being able to operate down to micron cutting jet diameters. In practice minimum cutting jet diameters will depend on the economics of producing abrasive of appropriate size and preparing and being able to deliver abrasive to a cutting nozzle without contamination.
.
Figure 1.2 Cutting heads for general, fine and micro machining
The relative size of cutting heads for general, fine and micro machining can be seen from Figure 1.1. Typical water powers at inlet to cutting heads, water pressures and flow rates and abrasive flow rates are shown in Table 1.1.
Table 1.1. Typical operating parameters
Water power kW |
Water pressure bar |
Water flow l/min |
Abrasive flow grams/min |
|
AWJs |
20 |
3500 |
2.5 |
300 |
FAWs |
1 |
3500 |
0.1 |
15 |
MAWs |
0.1 |
700 |
0.05 |
10 |
The author has taken a positive approach in writing about flow processes in cutting heads. In other words, statements are made as if they were known facts. In reality, there are no reliable measurements of flows within cutting heads. Descriptions of flow behaviour are based on the author's understanding of complex fluid flows and interpretation of published information on cutting heads.
The author is well aware that fluid flow behaviour is often counter intuitive, so revisions to the text can be expected as reliable data becomes available and as mental models of cutting head flows are revised.
In the literature the component in which an abrasive waterjet is generated is variously referred to as a:
On this Web site the term cutting nozzle is used for the component in which an abrasive waterjet is generated.
