Where does the mixing and atomization of air and fluid occur in a suction feed spray gun?

The mixing and atomization of air and fluid in a suction feed spray gun primarily occurs outside and in front of the air cap. As the fluid is drawn through the gun from the paint cup, high-velocity air is introduced through the air cap. This combination creates a low-pressure area at the fluid tip that helps draw the paint into the airstream. Once the air and fluid meet at the air cap, they mix and the air atomizes the fluid, breaking it into droplets that can be sprayed onto a surface.

The other choices do not accurately describe where this crucial process takes place. The gun body contains pathways for fluid and air to travel but does not facilitate the actual mixing. The fluid tip is where some initial fluid dynamics occur, but true atomization happens where air meets fluid outside the gun. The paint cup holds the fluid but does not play a role in mixing or atomization itself. Thus, the correct answer reflects the essential dynamics of how a suction feed spray gun operates in achieving spray patterns.