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 Waterjet cutting is a rapidly growing technology because it is very versatile and easy to learn. Plain water is pressurized up to 60,000 pounds per square inch to cut soft materials like gaskets up to 800 inches per minute. By adding a fine abrasive, usually garnet sand, hard materials like Titanium or Steel can be easily cut. From Aluminum to Zinc, waterjets can cut it! Many shops have eliminated secondary processes and produce net-shaped parts with no change in the properties of what they are cutting—no heat affected zone and no mechanical stresses. The narrow kerf means that you make better use of expensive raw materials.
Some of the many benefits of waterjet cutting include:
Versatility
Your choice of shape or material is virtually limitless. If you can draw it, you can cut it on a waterjet. Cut glass in the morning, rubber in the afternoon, marble or gaskets the next day. Composites, laminates, foam, virtually any material, can be cut using a waterjet system. Cut thin sheets, even stack them, or thick materials up to 8".
Lower Costs
Waterjets don’t need expensive tooling and cut accurately with a clean sand-blasted looking edge. Make the most of expensive raw materials with tight nesting; and instead of ending up with chips of material, you end up with chunks of material that are more valuable. You can also keep your production costs down by reducing or even eliminating secondary processes.
Complement or Replace Existing Technology
Whether replacing older technology like routers, or complementing other cutting technologies such as EDM, laser, or milling, waterjets are a great asset to any shop. Make the first cut on a waterjet and finish on an EDM. Cut shiny materials like aluminum or copper on the waterjet instead of on a laser. Save on expensive tool bits by waterjet cutting holes and shapes in tough material like Inconel® or Titanium.
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