Water Jets / F.A.Q.s

Information on Waterjet Cutting
Waterjet cutting systems are the world's most versatile machine tools. Our system cuts virtually any shape in a single step with edge quality that usually requires no secondary finishing. They're the most productive solution for cutting a wide range of materials from less than a 1/16 inch to over 8 inches thick. Whether you require high volume, short run, or prototype parts, our system is the choice that will keep you competitive. Here's why:

No Other Tool Cuts or Machines a Greater Variety of Materials
From glass to stones to composites and metals, nothing cuts and machines a greater variety of materials than an abrasive waterjet. Their versatility is unmatched.

Setup and Fixturing Is Complete In Just Minutes
Because side forces are virtually non-existent when cutting with an abrasive waterjet, the time required for setup and fixturing is minimal. So, we can move quickly from job to job — cut 1/2 inch aluminum in the morning, 2 inch glass in the afternoon, and 6 inch stainless steel in the evening.

Different Jobs Don't Require Different Tooling
Abrasive waterjet cutting is accomplished by software-controlled, robotic motion systems — not hard tooling — so there are no costly, time-consuming tool changes required to accommodate your order.

We Cut with Multiple Heads and Increase Productivity
The cool-cutting process of our abrasive waterjet systems enables us to increase throughput by stacking raw material and cutting multiple parts in a single pass. Running multiple cutting heads simultaneously further increases productivity.

Edge Quality Eliminates Costly Secondary Finishing
From steel to composites, we cut net and near-net parts. Abrasive waterjets cut with erosion, rather than shearing or heat, so they produce exceptional edge quality without inducing heat-affected zones or mechanical stresses. Raw materials maintain their structural integrity; deburring and other secondary finishing are usually not required.

You'll Enjoy Raw Material Savings
Because abrasive waterjets cut with a narrow kerf and produce no heat, we can tightly nest parts to get the most from raw material.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Why should I use waterjet cutting over lasers?
Laser cutting is a very productive process and certainly has its place. However, waterjets do have several advantages over lasers:
• No thickness limitations.
• No problems with reflective materials such as brass and aluminum.
• No heat input, so there is no burning or heat-affected zone (HAZ).
• Waterjets can cut materials which are heat sensitive such as plastics, rubber or composites, and even such materials as glass, stone and very hard ceramics.

...over wire EDM?
EDM is extremely accurate, but very slow. It also requires an electronically conducive material and produces a heat-affected zone. For many applications, Dynamic Waterjet technology can produce parts approximating the accuracy of EDM for a fraction of the cost and time.

...over milling?
If you are through-cutting the periphery and holes, rather than blind holes, pockets, and threads, the abrasive waterjet is typically much faster, easier to program and cheaper than milling. This is largely due to the fact that we cut a part with one pass, and we do not have to reduce all the metal to chip form. In addition, the scrap is usually more valuable in solid form than chip form.

...over plasma or oxy fuel?
Obviously, plasma is a hot process. It adds a great deal of heat to the product, leaving a heat-affected zone. The surface finish of the abrasive waterjet is generally better. It leaves no dross on the backside of the part, reducing secondary operation. Abrasive waterjets have no thickness limitation , and can be much more closely nested.

What tolerances can we expect from waterjet cutting?
Over 80% of the world's abasivejet users cut parts to ±0.003-in. or looser accuracy. However, there is a percentage of users who cut parts to tolerances as tight as ±0.001 and even ±0.0005in.

How thick can it cut?
Up to 8-in. thick steel and titanium are cut on a production basis. The vast majority of users, however, cut between 1/4" to 2" thick materials.

At what pressure do you cut?
60,000 psi is the maximum intensifier pump pressure. It has been proven that the fastest and most efficient cutting is done at the highest cutting pressure.

Contact us!
For a quote or more information on the services we provide, please call
Ron Opatril or Milton Pugh at 602 353-9366. We look forward to working with you!