Aerodynamic focusing of an abrasive air jet and its effect on machining resolution

To decrease the size of the eroded footprint resulting from abrasive air jet machining, the aerodynamic focusing of an abrasive particle jet was investigated. Using a slot nozzle abrasive jet, the best focusing employed a pair of bounding air jets tilted 60° to the abrasive jet, at an impingement height of approximately 10% of the standoff distance from the workpiece. An optimum bounding jet pressure existed to achieve the maximum focusing,...