Waterjet cutting systems, including waterjet cutting systems having light alignment devices, and associated methods

Abstract

Various embodiments of waterjet cutting systems are described herein. In one embodiment, a waterjet cutting system includes a high-pressure water source and a waterjet cutting head coupled to the high-pressure water source via a high-pressure water supply. The waterjet cutting head has an orifice and a mixing tube. The orifice forms a waterjet from the high-pressure water. The mixing tube has an inlet aperture through which the waterjet enters the mixing tube, an exit aperture through which waterjet exits the mixing tube, and a passage between the inlet and exit apertures. The waterjet cutting system further includes a light alignment device operably coupled to the waterjet cutting head. In one aspect of this embodiment, the light alignment device is configured to generate a light beam that enters the mixing tube through the inlet aperture, passes through the passage, and exits the mixing tube through the exit aperture.

1 . A waterjet cutting system comprising:
 a high-pressure water source;   a waterjet cutting head coupled to the high-pressure water source via a high-pressure water supply, the waterjet cutting head including
 an orifice configured to form a waterjet from high-pressure water provided by the high-pressure water source; and 
 a mixing tube having an inlet aperture through which the waterjet enters the mixing tube, an exit aperture through which waterjet exits the mixing tube, and a passage between the inlet and exit apertures; and 
   a light alignment device configured to be coupled to the waterjet cutting head, the light alignment device configured to generate a light beam that enters the mixing tube through the inlet aperture, passes through the passage, and exits the mixing tube through the exit aperture.   
     
     
         2 . The waterjet cutting system of  claim 1  wherein the light alignment device includes at least one optical component configured to redirect the light beam prior to the light beam entering the mixing tube through the inlet aperture. 
     
     
         3 . The waterjet cutting system of  claim 1  wherein the light alignment device includes at least one optical component configured to focus the light beam. 
     
     
         4 . The waterjet cutting system of  claim 1 , further comprising a pressurized air source coupled to waterjet cutting head, wherein the pressurized air source is configured to generate pressurized air that enters the mixing tube through the inlet aperture, passes through the passage, and exits the mixing tube through the exit aperture. 
     
     
         5 . The waterjet cutting system of  claim 4  wherein the waterjet cutting head further includes a one-way valve configured to allow pressurized air from the pressurized air source to enter the waterjet cutting head. 
     
     
         6 . The waterjet cutting system of  claim 1  wherein the light beam passes through the orifice prior to the light beam entering the mixing tube through the inlet aperture. 
     
     
         7 . The waterjet cutting system of  claim 1  wherein the waterjet cutting head further includes an aperture in an external surface, and wherein at least a portion of the light alignment device is inserted into the aperture in the external surface. 
     
     
         8 . The waterjet cutting system of  claim 7  wherein the aperture is an abrasive inlet aperture. 
     
     
         9 . The waterjet cutting system of  claim 7  wherein the aperture is configured to be coupled to a vacuum assist device via a conduit. 
     
     
         10 . A fluid jet cutting system comprising:
 a fluid jet cutting head coupled to a fluid supply, the fluid jet cutting head including a mixing tube having a longitudinal bore through which cutting fluid is conveyed; and   a light alignment device configured to be coupled to the cutting head and configured to generate light that passes through at least a portion of the longitudinal bore of the mixing tube.   
     
     
         11 . The fluid jet cutting system of  claim 10  wherein the light alignment device includes at least one optical component configured to redirect the light prior to the light passing through the at least portion of the longitudinal bore of the mixing tube. 
     
     
         12 . The fluid jet cutting system of  claim 10 , further comprising a pressurized air source coupled to fluid jet cutting head, wherein the pressurized air source is configured to generate pressurized air that passes through the at least portion of the longitudinal bore of the mixing tube. 
     
     
         13 . The fluid jet cutting system of  claim 10  wherein the fluid jet cutting head further includes an orifice configured to form a fluid jet, and wherein the light passes through the orifice prior to passing through the at least portion of the longitudinal bore of the mixing tube. 
     
     
         14 . The fluid jet cutting system of  claim 10  wherein the fluid jet cutting head further includes an external surface and an aperture in the external surface, and wherein at least a portion of the light alignment device is inserted into the aperture in the external surface. 
     
     
         15 . The fluid jet cutting system of  claim 14  wherein the aperture is an abrasive inlet aperture configured to selectively receive an abrasive supply conduit. 
     
     
         16 . A fluid jet cutting system comprising:
 means for flowing cutting fluid through a bore; and   means for generating light that is directed through at least a portion of the bore.   
     
     
         17 . The fluid jet cutting system of  claim 16  wherein the means for generating light includes means for redirecting the light prior to the light passing through the at least portion of the bore. 
     
     
         18 . The fluid jet cutting system of  claim 16 , further comprising means for providing pressurized air, wherein the means for providing pressurized air is configured to provide pressurized air that passes through the at least portion of the bore. 
     
     
         19 . The fluid jet cutting system of  claim 16 , further comprising means for forming a fluid jet, and wherein the light passes through the means for forming a fluid jet prior to the light passing through the at least portion of the bore. 
     
     
         20 . The fluid jet cutting system of  claim 16  wherein the flowing has an aperture in an external surface, and wherein at least a portion of the means for generating light is inserted into the aperture in the external surface. 
     
     
         21 . The fluid jet cutting system of  claim 20  wherein the aperture is an abrasive inlet aperture. 
     
     
         22 . A method of operating a fluid jet cutting system, the method comprising:
 generating a light beam;   directing the light beam at a workpiece through at least a portion of a bore of a fluid jet cutting head; and   based upon the position of the light beam upon the workpiece, cutting the workpiece with the fluid jet.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 coupling the light alignment device to the fluid jet cutting head;   after the directing, decoupling the light alignment device from the fluid jet cutting head; and   after the decoupling, performing at least one fluid jet cutting operation.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22  wherein generating a light beam includes generating a light beam by a light alignment device coupled to the fluid jet cutting head. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising directing the light beam using at least one optical component. 
     
     
         26 . A method of aligning a fluid jet with a point on an object, the method comprising sending a light beam toward the object through at least a portion of a fluid jet nozzle. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising performing at least one fluid jet cutting operation. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising generating the light beam by a light alignment device coupled to the fluid jet nozzle. 
     
     
         29 . A method of determining the extent of wear of a mixing tube of a fluid jet cutting head of a fluid jet cutting system, the method comprising:
 generating a light beam;   directing the light beam at a surface through at least a portion of a bore of a mixing tube of the fluid jet cutting head;   determining an area of the light beam upon the surface; and   based upon the area of the light beam upon the surface, determining the extent of wear of the mixing tube.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29  wherein directing the light beam at a surface through at least a portion of a bore of the mixing tube of the fluid jet cutting head includes directing the light beam at a light-sensitive surface through at least a portion of a bore of the mixing tube of the fluid jet cutting head, and wherein determining an area of the light upon the surface includes receiving signals from the light-sensitive surface indicating the area of the light beam.