Example of how jets in open air could be documented and later measured 
Example of a test cut, one of many performed to compare different parameters. 
Example of one of many Keyence devices used to measure and quantify wear or fracture of different components 
Example of prototype lab hardware used to run non standard tests.
Unfortunately for descriptions sake, most of my research at Flow International was proprietary and can not be discussed in detail. Generally speaking, I focused on enabling high profile applications through the use of Design of Experiments to generate new water jet cutting models and develop new hardware and sensors. These applications were often on the fringe of what was possible or not previously possible with water jets before. By the end of my tenure, I was focusing on quantifying many of the parameters of the water jet process that are now more qualitative. This included developing sensors and models that could be used in Flow’s proprietary cutting software.
Ultimately, I was able to generate 8 invention disclosures, 2 trade secrets, and 1 patent that is currently in the drafting stage. In one instance, one of my designs demonstrated an increase the lifetime of high wear components by 10x, pushing the technology to a reliability level that could be reasonably digested by customers. In another instance, I pioneered a novel way to measure the instantaneous flow rate of abrasive, a feat no other water jet company can boast. In another instance, I developed a cutting model for a customer’s proprietary material, eliminated non significant variables, and prototyped hardware manipulate the physics of the water jet to meet the customer requirement.
I was also flown to Korea as a research expert to show Flow’s Korean applications division how to perform Design of Experiments testing, showcase and loan out new prototype hardware that I had been developing, and how to apply these things to their current application issues.
