Method and apparatus for piercing brittle materials with high velocity abrasive-laden waterjets.

摘要

An abrasivejet system for cutting brittle materials is disclosed. One feature of the disclosed system is a jet-producing nozzle assembly (10) which includes means for inducing turbulence in the jet-forming liquid during the period in which the jet initially impacts on the brittle material so that impact stress on the material is reduced. A second disclosed feature is a supplementary suction device (12), preferable in the form of a second nozzle dimensioned for maximum suction, which maintains a generally constant feed rate of abrasive into the cutting nozzle assembly during the turbulence-inducing phase of operation.