In the manufacturing process known as “water jet cutting,” several materials are cut and shaped using high-pressure water jets delivered by pressurizing pumps that deliver a supersonic stream of water. In water jet cutting, a tiny, precise nozzle is used to project water pressurized to 392 MPa. Read More…
For over 100 years, Mercer Gasket & Shim has been a leader in the waterjet cutting industry. Our highly equipped professionals work alongside our customers to ensure that we are meeting their needs. Mercers Gasket & Shim has perfected our techniques over the years in order to serve the needs of diverse markets.
Hennig Gasket & Seals is a leader in the Chicago-area sealing community. We use a CNC waterjet machine and water jet machining process to cut nonmetallic materials up to 2" thick. Our water jet cutter offers a precision and accuracy level of +/- .005", as well as time and cost efficiency. Call today!
KLH Industries is a tool and manufacturing facility that uses waterjet machining, CNC machining, abrasive waterjet cutting and more. We can cut a variety of materials: ceramic, composites, ferrous, glass, nonferrous, plastic, rubber, stone, wood and more.
JIT Waterjet offers quality precision waterjet cutting services to a wide variety of industries. Try our Dynamic® waterjet - it eliminates edge taper. Using the best in waterjet cutting technology, JIT lowers cost and production time for all our customers.
Westbrook Engineering Co. is a distributor of new & used Techni waterjet cutting systems. All systems are designed for the harsh waterjet environment. We use corrosion resistant materials & minimal moving parts to ensure reliable & accurate machines for many years with minimum maintenance. Since 1964, Westbrook has offered fabricating machinery lines that include water jet cutting machines.
Whatever your need, from decorative items to tooling components with tight tolerances, abrasive jet machining is an effective 2D shape cutting tool. With precision abrasive waterjet machining, manufacturing highly detailed and accurate components is possible in a variety of materials and thicknesses.
More Waterjet Cutting Companies
The water reaches three times the speed of sound as it exits the nozzle. Soft materials, including wood, plastics, foam, paper, and rubber, are intended for soft water jet cutting, which uses water as the cutting medium. An abrasive is added to a water stream to create more aggressive cutting when needed for hard materials, such as titanium, stainless steel, aluminum, glass, ceramic material, and concrete.
Types of Water Jet Cutters
Pure Water Jet Cutters
Pure water jet cutters can cut soft materials without using abrasives. A mixing chamber or a nozzle is absent from a water jet cutter made specifically for this use. Instead, a high-pressure pump pushes pressurized water out of an aperture to make accurate cuts on the workpiece. However, both techniques can be used with most industrial cutting instruments that utilize water jet technology.
Comparatively speaking, the pure water jet cutting procedure is less invasive than abrasive water jet cutting. Additionally, the jet stream is incredibly fine and exerts no additional strain on the workpiece. Softer materials, including foam, felt, wood, rubber, food, and thin plastics, are perfect for pure water jet cutting.
Abrasive Water Jet Cutters
The abrasive water jet cutting core uses a high-pressure stream of water mixed with an abrasive. It blasts and erodes the workpiece to eliminate debris, burrs, and particulates. The cutting particles used in abrasive water jet cutting are extremely tiny and applied at high velocity. This procedure cuts and shapes thin, brittle, and hard materials. Abrasive jet machining cuts intricate shapes and creates precise, even edges.
CNC Water Jet Cutters
High-pressure water is also used in CNC water jet cutting, but these machines are programmed to perform several tasks in a single pass. The primary application for a CNC water jet cutter is to shape and cut material too delicate for high-temperature operations. Cutting, shaping, deburring, reaming, and honing are some of the functions a CNC water jet cutting machine performs. Most CNC water jet cutting devices have three axes and work along the X, Y, and Z axes, with the X axis moving left to the right, the Y moving front to back, and the Z moving up and down. There are also four- and five-axes models available.
High-Pressure Water Jet Cutters
High-pressure water jet cutters dramatically increase the pressure of pure water by using intensifiers, allowing them to shape and mold soft materials without leaving water behind. Hydraulic pumps use the power of the water to convert it into mechanical energy, thereby intensifying the water flow. The cutting head significantly improves high-pressure water jet cutting using corundum components, which are different types of rubies and sapphires. Corundum is incredibly strong, durable, and stable. It is the world's second-hardest mineral and is unaffected by acids.
Advantages of Water Jet Cutting
- Water jet cutting has infinite applications because it can cut any substance, regardless of its hardness. Water jet cutting slices materials without affecting their integrity or mechanical qualities. Thin materials can be chopped and stacked for improved efficiency to boost productivity and further minimize expenses. Water jet cutting machines can come with various table sizes to accommodate various workpiece sizes.
- Every manufacturer and sector is considering going green. The consequences of environmental protection measures have impacted other cutting techniques besides water jet cutting. Unlike most cutting techniques, water jet cutting does not produce waste, particulate matter, or contaminants. A water jet cutter produces no poisonous substances, hazardous waste, or toxic gasses. It makes use of pure water that has been supplemented with organic abrasives. The discharge of leftover material won't harm the environment from the process.
- A water pump and cutting tool create a high-velocity water stream that travels three times the speed of sound during the water jet cutting process. Any cut in any material can be made using the same parts. Due to its lack of complexity, water jet cutting is a cost-effective and economical production process for both 2D and 3D products.
Choosing the Proper Waterjet Cutting Company
To make sure you have the most beneficial outcome when selecting a waterjet cutting company, it is important to compare at least 4 companies using our directory of waterjet cutting companies. Each waterjet cutting company has a business profile page that highlights their areas of experience and capabilities and a contact form to directly communicate with the company for more information or request a quote. Review each waterjet cutting business website using our patented website previewer to get an idea of what each business specializes in, and then use our simple RFQ form to contact multiple waterjet cutting companies with the same form.
