±1 g/min precision abrasive metering — from 10 to 1000 g/min.
Sandman is a smart abrasive feeder for waterjet cutting: calibrated open-loop dosing, validated in lab and field testing. Abrasive is the largest consumable cost in waterjet cutting — Sandman delivers up to 20% less garnet consumption versus conventional abrasive feeders. Unplug your existing unit, attach the adapter kit, and be running in most cases in under five minutes.
The Hammer Test
Field Test
At identical parameters — same pressure, same mixing tube wear, same abrasive type — a leading conventional feeder over-delivered by 11% on Q5 cut quality. At Q1 separation speed, the part under the conventional feeder could not be removed. Not even with a hammer. The part under Sandman fell out cleanly.
−11%
Conventional feeder
Fell out cleanly
Sandman
Field-tested proof that precise, even dosing changes cut quality — not just consumption.
Precision metering
±1 g/min — the same absolute precision across the full range
Sandman meters abrasive at ±1 g/min absolute accuracy from 0 to 1000 g/min. Control is calibrated open-loop and validated in lab and field testing. Conventional feeders can't guarantee accuracy at low feed rates; Sandman holds the same absolute precision at every setpoint.
The 10 g/min test
At a 10 g/min setpoint, the scale showed 10 grams after 60 seconds. Conventional feeders can't even measure this accurately, let alone deliver it.
Validated in lab and field testing.
Flow geometry
Continuous flow, not pulse-by-pulse
Sandman uses helical flow geometry for a continuous, even abrasive stream. Conventional feeders deliver abrasive in pulses — a visible difference at low feed rates. Even dosing means more predictable cutting and cleaner part release at Q1 separation speed.
Conventional feeder
Flow over time
Pulse-by-pulse delivery
Abrasive arrives in grouped bursts with gaps between — uneven at low feed rates.
Continuous-Stream Metering
Flow over time
Helical flow geometry
Continuous, even abrasive flow across the full feed range.
Abrasive savings
Stop paying for garnet that never cuts
Abrasive is the single largest consumable cost in waterjet cutting. Sandman delivers up to 20% less garnet consumption versus conventional feeders. Results vary depending on abrasive type, machine setup, and operating parameters. In field testing, a leading conventional feeder over-delivered by 11% at an identical analog signal — waste you pay for twice: purchase and disposal.
The hidden cost of overdosing
A few grams per minute too much sounds harmless. Adjust the sliders to your operation and see the full annual cost — including disposal.
Pre-filled from internal field test data
Slider range extends to 60 g/min — field observations of overdose on conventional feeders have exceeded 50 g/min.
11 g/min
excess per head
2 heads
cutting heads
8 h
cutting hours
220 days
operating days
Annual waste
2323.2kg
≈ 2 tonnes of abrasive — bought, fed, and disposed of without cutting a single part.
Wasted purchase
€813
Disposal on top
€232
Total →€1045
/ year saved with precise dosing
Over 5 years: €5225 — per machine, on dosing alone.
Not included: unplanned downtime from an empty hopper mid-shift.
GMA Garnet — pre-loaded in Sandman's abrasive library — publishes the same finding: reducing abrasive to the precise minimum improves cut quality and reduces cost.
Read GMA's articleReliability
Auto recovery — keeps running when others stop
Sandman's drive system detects blockage from contamination in the abrasive stream. It automatically reverses direction briefly, clears the blockage, and resumes operation — with zero operator intervention. Critical for 24/7 and unmanned shifts: conventional feeders stop and wait for an operator.
Detect
Motor senses blockage from contamination in the abrasive stream.
Reverse
Briefly reverses direction to clear the obstruction.
Resume
Returns to forward feed — zero operator intervention.
Installation
Replace your feeder in most cases in under five minutes
Sandman shares the same bolt pattern as leading conventional feed units. Disconnect the Harting connector, attach the Harting-to-M20 adapter, and you are done — in most installations: no rewiring, no controller changes, no technician required. Dedicated adapter kits are available for direct replacement.
Unplug. Adapter. Done.
01
Unplug
Disconnect the Harting connector from your existing feeder.
02
Adapter
Attach the Harting-to-M20 adapter — no rewiring required.
03
Done
Bolt Sandman in place using the same pattern. No controller changes.
Works with
Retrofit adapter kits available for each system listed above.
Sandman is an independent product. Third-party names are used to identify compatible equipment only.
Calibration
Your abrasive, calibrated in minutes — no IT ticket
Configure Sandman through a web-based calibration interface at sandman.local — no fixed IP address and no IT ticket required. A pre-loaded abrasive library covers the most common garnets in European shops — including GMA Classic Cut, Barton HPX, and Barton Jettek, and was extensively field-tested on the all-new Barton HPA, the first European abrasive — for zero-config setup on day one. Unknown abrasive? Run the calibration wizard and finish in minutes.
- Web-based calibration at sandman.local — no fixed IP address, no IT ticket
- Unknown abrasive? Run the calibration wizard — done in minutes
- Supports all standard abrasive mesh sizes used in waterjet cutting
sandman.local
Library updated daily
Operations
Built for 24/7 — with nothing scheduled
Sandman has no scheduled maintenance intervals and is rated for continuous 24/7 operation. Maximum power consumption is 3.6 W — less than an LED bulb — so it runs all shift without adding heat or service burden to your line.
Max power
3.6 W
Operation
24/7 rated
Maintenance
Zero scheduled intervals
Making the invisible visible
Sandman works standalone on the machine. Add JetLink Pro to precisely log consumption per head per session, and view live feedrate, session history, and Days Until Empty forecasts. JetLink Pro enables vendor-managed inventory: predictive restocking, avoid emergency orders, and fewer partial truck deliveries.
More Sandman units in the field contribute to a broader, better abrasive library over time.
Learn about JetLink ProSandman 02
S/N 24011501
380g/min
GMA Garnet 8012,000 kg
Impact
Less garnet. Less impact.
Less abrasive consumption means less mining, less shipping, and less disposal. The garnet supply chain carries roughly 300–500 kg CO₂e per ton from mining through sea freight to the end user. A 20% reduction in consumption delivers meaningful CO₂ savings at scale — and vendor-managed inventory through JetLink Pro cuts partial truck deliveries further.
Mining
Less garnet extracted at the source when dosing stays precise.
Sea freight
Fewer tonnes moved from mine to port to your shop floor.
Disposal
Less spent abrasive hauled away after every shift.
The numbers behind the claim
| Supply chain step | CO₂e range |
|---|---|
| Mining & extraction | 80–120 kg CO₂e/t |
| Processing & bagging | 30–50 kg CO₂e/t |
| Sea freight | 100–160 kg CO₂e/t |
| Road distribution | 40–70 kg CO₂e/t |
| Spent abrasive disposal | 50–80 kg CO₂e/t |
Annual CO₂e savings = annual consumption (t) × savings rate × 260 kg CO₂e/t
A shop using 50 t/year saves approx. 2600 kg CO₂e annually with Sandman — 2600 kg CO₂e ≈ 10 transatlantic flights.
Estimates based on published shipping and logistics emission factors. For certified carbon accounting, request EPD data from your abrasive supplier.
Even your abrasive supplier agrees: less is more.
GMA Classic Cut, Barton HPX, and Barton Jettek — pre-loaded in Sandman — are processed and distributed in Moerdijk, Netherlands. Barton HPA — the first European abrasive — was extensively field-tested with Sandman on new European installations.
Machine integration
Mounts where your machine needs it
Sandman mounts on the Z-axis carriage of a gantry system or on a robot arm end effector. M8 threaded mounting holes on both sides give machine builders flexible integration without custom brackets.
Gantry
Z-axis carriage
Robot
Arm end effector
M8 threaded holes on both sides
Specifications
Technical overview
Validated in lab and field testing.
Flow rate
0–1000 g/min
Accuracy
±1 g/min
Control input
Analog 0–10 V / Modbus TCP / REST API
Supply voltage
24 V DC ±5%
Max power
3.6 W
Container volume
700 cm³ (~1500 g garnet, 80 mesh)
Operating temperature
0–50 °C
Weight
1903 g
Dimensions
492 × 100 × 97 mm
Connectivity
Ethernet, Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11 b/g/n), Bluetooth
Smart features
Industry 4.0, VMI, REST API
Compliance
Declaration of Incorporation (Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC), FCC
FAQ
Common questions
Get in touch
See Sandman on your operation
Book a walkthrough with your machine configuration — we'll map feedrate, retrofit fit, and ROI for your shop.
Why reach out?
- Free scoping call — no commitment
- Live walkthrough with your machine configuration
- Retrofit compatibility check
- ROI discussion before you sign anything