Why Waterjet?

Waterjet Cutting is precise, economical, and versatile. Our machines cut with an accuracy of +/- 0.005″.  Unlike Laser or Plasma cutting, no heat is utilized which eliminates HAZ (heat affected zone) and wasted material.  In most instances there is no need for additional tooling on parts as Waterjet cut edges are clean and smooth.  Our machines can cut through a wide variety of materials including wood, plastics, foam, and aluminum.  For harder materials, we utilize our Abrasive Waterjet capabilities.

How It’s Done

Waterjet Cutting is accomplished by the creation of a high velocity stream of water passing through a plate orifice of diamond or sapphire material. The stream is turned on and off by an extreme pressure valve that is part of a precision positioning system.  Typical water jet cutting pressure of 50,000 PSI launches a water jet at 2,900 ft. /sec. This is approximately the same velocity and pressure as a bullet fired from a 30.06 rifle.  At 50,000 PSI with a .009 inch diameter orifice, the force that is applied to the work piece is a little over 3 pounds, that is, total pressure divided by total area.