A waterjet uses a high-pressure stream of water to cut or clean materials, but we’re going to be talking about the extremely powerful and versatile cutting application in this blog post. The cutter can join onto a high-pressure pump with the liquid designed to eject out of the nozzle, which then slices through metal with high-speed water. There can sometimes be additives in the form of abrasives that help with the process too.
Here are just some of the reasons why it can make sense to use water jet cutting machines to slice through stainless steel or aluminium sheets:
The Power
While at first, you may not expect water to be such a powerful cutting tool, waterjets can cut through as much as an eight-inch stainless steel plate and 10 inches of an aluminium plate.
No Heat
Waterjet cutting is the preferred method for materials that are sensitive to the high temperatures that are often generated when using other methods like laser cutting or plasma cutting.
High Precision
Waterjets are specific cutting tools that are capable of attaining the accuracy of 0.005″ (0.13 mm), and repeatability of 0.001″ (0.03 mm). Not only is using a waterjet on steel or aluminium precise, it also provides a very clean finish. It eliminates more of the rough surface in most cases, which in turn saves money when finalizing the product.
Speed
Cutting projects completed using a waterjet are often fast and efficient. There are several reasons for this:
- Set-up times are short.
- The cutting process is faster than other methods.
- Re-cutting is rare due to precision of waterjets.
Environmentally Sound
Waterjets are considered a green technology. For one, there is no production of hazardous waste in the process of cutting. Secondly, since massive pieces of recyclable scrap material can be cut off, a waterjet prevents unnecessary waste that happens when using ancient cutting methods.
Safer Work Environment
Waterjets eliminate dust particles, fumes, and contaminants from cutting materials. It dramatically makes the working environment neat and minimizing problems arising from the machine operator’s exposure.
What is important to know is that there is a great deal of waterjet cutting equipment for sale, both online and in physical stores. This means that you really do have to do your research to find one that’s right for your needs. Think carefully about how fast you need to be able to cut though metals and how often you’ll be using the machine or a daily basis. It’s also good to know how much space you have to work with, as there are compact models available and those that are very large and built to last. Speaking to an expert rather than a salesperson is a good way to start, and you may first want to learn more about the differences between some waterjet cutting machines, because you can then start thinking about your own needs and decide on a model that’s right for you. Most good suppliers will often free training as part of their service, so always enquire about this, especially if you have many employees on your books who will be using the equipment. It’s in your interests and theirs to ensure they are always safe when using this kind of equipment.