Waterjet Services
How Waterjets Work:
Abrasive waterjet cutting is a method of cutting shapes from any type of material by using high-pressure water and abrasives.
The water pressure is typically between 20,000 and 55,000 pounds per square inch (PSI). The water is forced through a 0.010″ to 0.015″ in diameter orifice (hole) in the cutting head. At the head, an abrasive is mixed with water, creating a cutting stream which exits the nozzle orifice at approximately 1,152 MPH.
Through this combination of micro-erosion grinding and cutting action of the high-pressure, a narrow cross-section of material is removed completely through the thickness.
A computer using AutoCAD controls the process. Any two-dimensional shape from nearly any material is possible.
Special obsolete parts, tools, and patterns can be cut by our Waterjet machine.
Waterjet Cutting Advantages:
The resulting surface finish on the cut surfaces is far superior when compared to plasma, torch, or saw cutting the surfaces. The process is non-invasive and does not harden the cut edges.
- Provides the ability to cut shapes that cannot be cut by any other means
- Cuts virtually any material, up to 6″ thick.
- Most cost effective when metal materials are under 1/2 inch thick.
- Minimum waste of material.
- No chipping or micro-cracks formed in the finished material.
- Customer AutoCAD drawings can be retrieved by e-mail and cut to your specifications.
- Scanned images or free-hand drawings can be scaled and cut.
- Fast, economical machining of virtually all metallic and non-metallic material assures accuracy and quality while reducing costs.
- Cuts without heat – unlike cutting with plasma, flame, or laser which produces heat that can affect the integrity of the metal – there is no thermal distortion or degradation of materials.
- Physical and chemical characteristics of materials cut are unaffected.
- Superb edges, even on laminates and composites, without separating.
- Usually no additional machining or secondary finishing required.