Method and apparatus for controlling waterjet edge cut taper

摘要

A waterjet head (16) is tilted relative to vertical in order that the edge of a cut made by the head when severing a part from a workpiece (60) is perpendicular to the workpiece surface(62) , or is oriented at another desired inclination. As the waterjet head (16) is moved along a cutting path over the workpiece, the plane in which the waterjet head is tilted is maintained at a constant bevel control angle (74) relative to the direction of movement of the waterjet head (16). The waterjet head (16) together with a tilt control assembly (56) is carried by a support (54) that is moved by a CNC controlled three axis drive system (48) . The tilt control assembly (56) includes provision for adjustably tilting the waterjet head and for rotating the waterjet head to maintain the bevel control angle as the direction of waterjet head movement changes.