CNC Waterjet Cutting

A waterjet cuts with a thin stream of water at very high pressure. For metals, stone, glass and composites, an abrasive, usually garnet, is mixed into the stream and does the cutting. Pure water alone cuts soft materials such as rubber, foam and gasket stock. There is no heat, so the edge has no heat-affected zone and no hardening, and the material's properties stay as they were.

That makes the waterjet the process for materials and thicknesses that a laser or a plasma torch cannot cut or would damage: thick aluminium and titanium, laminates, reflective metals, stone and glass. On thin sheet it is slower than either. The jet lags and widens on its way through the material, which leaves a slight taper. Five-axis cutting heads tilt to compensate and also cut bevels.

Compare the cutting area with your sheet and plate formats, and the Z travel with the thickest material. Pump pressure and power set the cutting speed. Check the positioning accuracy and repeatability figures, whether the head has taper compensation or full five-axis motion, and how abrasive is fed in and removed from the tank.