Waterjet Fabrication Benefits

Waterjet offers a number of cost saving benefits and advantages over other technologies. Rapid Setup- Waterjets can be setup rapidly. There is no tooling or extensive fixturing. This means that low quantities can be produced as efficiently as high quantities. This is perfect for Lean/ Just-In-Time strategies. A part can go from design to finished production in just a matter of minutes. High accuracy- Waterjets are capable of cutting materials to within +/- .004”. Using the Tilt-A-Jet, taper is minimized and accuracies can be held even on thick materials.

Extreme versatility- Waterjets can machine an almost endless variety of materials. A waterjet can cut 1-½” steel, switch to 1/16” plastic and then 1” granite all in the course of a day or even an hour!

Cuts difficult materials- Hardened materials, gummy materials are easily cut. Cuts thin materials- Very thin materials such as thin plastics or shim stock can be cut with no problem. Cuts thick materials- Materials up to 5 or 6 inches thick can be cut. No Heat- Waterjets are a cold process. They do not put any heat into the material. Therefore you do not get a Heat Affected Zone (HAZ). You also will not get any distortion or warping . Parts can be handled immediately after cutting. No Secondary Operations- Waterjets cut extraordinarily clean. Parts can be taken directly from the machine with no or minimal secondary operations. Minimal Kerf- Waterjets provide maximum material utilzation. Parts can be nested extremely close and sometime use common lines. The cutting path is .030 inches wide. Stacking- Can often stack materials to save money.

Advantage vs Laser Waterjet cuts reflective materials. Aluminum and copper are perfect waterjet materials. No heat. No distortion or hardening. Similar or higher tolerances as laser. Waterjets can cut thicker materials. Advantages vs EDM Waterjets are much faster. Waterjets cut a much wider variety of materials. Waterjets can cut larger parts. No surface heating. Advantages vs Plasma/ Fine Plasma/ Flame Cutting Waterjets provide much nicer edge finish. No heat, no distortion or hardening. Waterjets are much more precise. Waterjets can cut more materials. Advantages vs Milling Faster setup. One tool. Simple fixturing.Easier programming. Can cut brittle, hardened, difficult materials easily.