Apparatus and method for abrasive water jet machining

Abstract

To provide an abrasive water jet machining apparatus in which the machining accuracy and machining efficiency is improved by improving the flowability of an abrasive through a nozzle. An abrasive water jet machining apparatus performs machining by directing an abrasive water jet at a workpiece, the abrasive water jet being composed of a mixture of a high-pressure processing fluid with an abrasive. The machining apparatus includes: a nozzle that directs the abrasive water jet; a high-pressure water supply device that supplies the processing fluid to the nozzle; and an abrasive supply device that supplies the abrasive to the processing fluid. The abrasive is composed of a coated abrasive, the coated abrasive being produced by coating a surface of an abrasive material composed of abrasive grains with a water-repellent material or flow promoting material. The abrasive supply device 8 supplies the coated abrasive to the nozzle.

1 . An abrasive water jet machining apparatus that performs machining by directing an abrasive water jet at a workpiece, the abrasive water jet being composed of a mixture of a high-pressure processing fluid with an abrasive, comprising:
 a nozzle that directs the abrasive water jet;   a processing fluid supply portion that supplies the processing fluid to the nozzle; and   an abrasive supply portion that supplies the abrasive to the processing fluid,   wherein the abrasive is composed of a coated abrasive, the coated abrasive being produced by coating a surface of an abrasive material composed of abrasive grains with a water-repellent material or flow promoting material, and   the abrasive supply portion supplies the coated abrasive to the nozzle.   
     
     
         2 . The abrasive water jet machining apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the coated abrasive has a property of floating in the processing fluid. 
     
     
         3 . The abrasive water jet machining apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the abrasive supply portion includes:
 an abrasive material supply portion that supplies the abrasive material to the processing fluid; 
 a coated abrasive supply portion that supplies the coated abrasive to the processing fluid; and 
 a switching unit for selectively supplying the abrasive material supplied from the abrasive material supply portion or/and the coated abrasive supplied from the coated abrasive supply portion. 
   
     
     
         4 . An abrasive water jet machining apparatus that performs machining by directing an abrasive water jet at a workpiece, the abrasive water jet being composed of a mixture of a high-pressure processing fluid with an abrasive, comprising:
 a nozzle that directs the abrasive water jet;   a processing fluid supply portion that supplies the processing fluid to the nozzle;   an abrasive supply portion that supplies the abrasive to the processing fluid; and   a liquid supply portion that supplies a water-repellent material or flow promoting material to the processing fluid or the abrasive.   
     
     
         5 . The abrasive water jet machining apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the water-repellent material or flow promoting material is composed of any one of a fluorine-based material, silicon-based material, a coating material composed of a mixture of a fluorine-based material or a silicon-based material and an oily raw material, paraffin, and fats. 
     
     
         6 . The abrasive water jet machining apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a catcher tank that stores liquid for machining the workpiece under liquid; and   a discharge port that discharges the liquid stored in the catcher tank,   wherein the coated abrasive floating on the liquid is discharged and recovered from the discharge port.   
     
     
         7 . The abrasive water jet machining apparatus according to  claim 6 , further comprising a liquid level adjusting device that adjusts a liquid level of the liquid by adjusting a height of the discharge port. 
     
     
         8 . An abrasive water jet machining method in which machining is performed by directing an abrasive water jet at a workpiece, the abrasive water jet being composed of a mixture of a high-pressure processing fluid with an abrasive, the method comprising:
 producing a coated abrasive as the abrasive by coating a surface of an abrasive material composed of abrasive grains with a water-repellent material or flow promoting material.   
     
     
         9 . An abrasive water jet machining method in which machining is performed by directing an abrasive water jet at a workpiece, the abrasive water jet being composed of a mixture of a high-pressure processing fluid with an abrasive, the method comprising:
 supplying a water-repellent material or flow promoting material to the processing fluid or the abrasive.   
     
     
         10 . The abrasive water jet machining apparatus according to  claim 2 ,
 wherein the abrasive supply portion includes:
 an abrasive material supply portion that supplies the abrasive material to the processing fluid; 
 a coated abrasive supply portion that supplies the coated abrasive to the processing fluid; and 
 a switching unit for selectively supplying the abrasive material supplied from the abrasive material supply portion or/and the coated abrasive supplied from the coated abrasive supply portion.