When shot at high velocity, water is a powerful tool and is effectively applied as a means of cutting highly durable materials such as stone and steel. Water jet cutting is a widely used method of material cutting and is relied upon by various industries such as the contracting, building, renovating, mining and aerospace industries.
In water jet cutting, a jet of water is applied at three times the speed of sound to a heavy-duty material in order to render fine, precise cuts. Depending on the material and the cuts to be made, the water is mixed with an abrasive substance such as sand or garnet, in order to make the jet stream more accurate and strong.
There are a variety of reasons why water jet cutting at the top of the list when it comes to heavy-duty material cutting. While there are plenty of techniques that can be applied, such as plasma cutting and laser cutting, water jet cutting offers several advantages that the others cannot:
-
There is no heat-affected zone – this greatly reduces the chances of materials warping or distorting from intense heat. In other words, materials are not put under thermal stress
-
Water jet cutting can be applied to materials ranging in thickness from 0.002” to 0.12”
-
Water jet streams are fine, producing an accuracy point of up to +/-0.001. h.
-
Can be applied to a wide range of materials
-
The kerf width enables tight nesting meaning that there is little material wasted
-
Actual contact of the water force is relatively low
-
The water jet stream is flexible. This means that more intricate designs and patterns can be achieved.
Intricacy and flexibility hold a strong importance in a variety of industries. It enables contractors the ability to offer unique patterns and designs on a wide range of materials. In short, water jet cutting is able to enhance the services offered by other industries.
On top of the above, water jet cutting is considered to be an ecologically sound method of large machine cutting. The water used in one project can be used again for another. The abrasive substance that is mixed in the water jet stream is non-toxic and the high precision of the process ensures that little material is wasted. Furthermore, water jet cutting does not require the disposal of hazardous wastes.
Water jet cutting is effective on the following materials:
As such, it is easy to see how water jet cutting is applicable to a wide range of industries. Contractors and renovators require high precision cuts on stone, marble and granite. Aerospace industries rely on intricate cuts of alloys.
Specific applications of water jet cutting are:
-
Tube Cutting
-
Screen Cutting
-
High Precision Cuts
-
Net Size Cutting
-
Shape Cutting
While there are many large machine cutting services available, water jet cutting can ensure efficient, precise and accurate cuts, complete with smooth edges.