AIR FLOW MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS AND METHODS TO FACILITATE THE DELIVERY OF ABRASIVES TO AN ABRASIVE FLUID JET CUTTING HEAD

Abrasive waterjet cutting system (600) to facilitate the delivery of abrasives to an abrasive waterjet cutting head (601) are provided which enable the makeup of the discharged abrasive fluid jet to be controlled or manipulated in a particularly advantageous manner. The abrasive waterjet cutting system includes a high-pressure water source, an abrasive material source (608), an abrasive waterjet cutting head, an abrasive feed passageway (602), an air flow sensor (622, 632), an air flow control device and a control system configured to continuously or periodically measure a volumetric flow rate of air (or other abrasive material carrier fluid) moving through an abrasive feed passageway at a measurement location via an air flow sensor and adjusting the volumetric flow rate of air (or other abrasive material carrier fluid) moving through the abrasive feed passageway based at least in part on said measuring, one or more sensors to obtain air temperature and/or air moisture content data or an air flow booster (630) or an air flow suction device (620) or both the air flow booster device and the air flow suction device. Systems for diagnosing changes in operational conditions and/or changes in the condition of one or more components of an abrasive fluid jet cutting system are also provided.