Problem- Need suggestions for abrasive water jet nozzle shield...

[Gawker]

Hey guys I'm trying to come up with some ideas on solutions for shielding the cutting heads of our waterjets from the backspray during piercing. Unfortunately with the nature of the beast it cuts through everything eventually. What are you guys using? I'm hoping for something we can fabricate ourselves quickly and inexpensively with as long a life span as possible so let's see how you guys do it.

[jetski]

The least expensive toilet plunger you can buy (so it is flexable). Cut it to fit arround the nozzle. If it is flexable enough you can turn it inside out and it will stay there for set up and touch offs. Send me a personal mail if this wont work for you and I will look at it more in depth and call him also.
Jetski

[CDTINC]

I just use a 1/4" thick rubber that you can get from mcmaster. I cut about 30 of them 2 years ago and still have some left. I got tired of trying to find plunger heads and the plungers don't let you see a tip up.

Scott

[DougH]

new member here

We have an Omax 55 100

Omax offers a nozzle shield for the carbide nozzles

however, we sometimes use tennis balls when we are waiting on shields to arrive

cut the tennis ball in half (makes two shields)

drill .030 UNDERSIZE of the diameter of the tip on top of the hemisphere of the ball to ensure it squeezes on tight and stays put

the tennis balls should have notches ("V" notches like saw teeth) cut around the perimeter of the cut so the pressurized water can escape the shield or "hood".....make them 45 degrees and a 1/4 inch deep all the way around the half a ball....or else the water will build up under the "shield" and disturb the jet stream a little bit

has worked like a charm and is cheap, especially if you know somebody with some old free ones laying around

hope that helps

[waterjetman08]

I have been watercutting for 9 years and by far the best material I have found to make a blast shield disc out of is urathane. It resists the blast of the jet for a long time and is flexible enough to give when it hits fixturing. Just cut an id od that fits over your nozzle or nozzle nut whichever you prefer. You can go farther and cut the disc more like a gear on the outside and cut strips that lock into the edge of the disc and hang down closer to the material if desired.

watercutter