Jet Edge Mid Rail Gantry

$120,000 - $300,000+ Updated 2026-03-16

Key Specifications

Accuracy

±0.076 mm (±0.003 in)

Repeatability

±0.025 mm (±0.001 in)

table sizes

5x5 ft to 8x16 ft (custom available)

cutting area 5x10

1,524 x 3,048 mm (5 x 10 ft)

z axis travel

305 mm (12 in)

max traverse speed

15,240 mm/min (600 ipm)

Overview

The Jet Edge Mid Rail Gantry is a heavy-duty waterjet cutting system from Jet Edge, a St. Michael, Minnesota company that has been building waterjet equipment since 1984. The Mid Rail Gantry is designed for shops that need a rigid, industrial-grade waterjet platform for cutting thick metals, composites, and stone. Jet Edge builds their own ultra-high-pressure pumps in-house, giving them full vertical integration from pump to cutting head.

The Mid Rail Gantry is available in table sizes from 5 x 5 ft to 8 x 16 ft, with the 5 x 10 ft and 6 x 12 ft being the most popular configurations. The gantry rides on hardened, precision-ground rails with rack-and-pinion drives on the X-axis and ball screw on the Y-axis. This hybrid drive approach provides the long-travel capability of rack-and-pinion with the precision of ball screw on the shorter axis. Positioning accuracy is ±0.076 mm (±0.003 in) with repeatability of ±0.025 mm (±0.001 in). Maximum traverse speed is 15,240 mm/min (600 ipm).

Jet Edge offers their iP55-280DS intensifier pump at 55,000 PSI (3,792 bar) with 75 HP, or their 90,000 PSI (6,205 bar) X-Stream pump with up to 100 HP for maximum cutting speed on thick materials. The 90,000 PSI option uses a dual-intensifier design that Jet Edge has been refining for over 30 years. Jet Edge's Edge controller provides touchscreen operation with DXF import, nesting, and cutting parameter databases.

What sets Jet Edge apart is their focus on pure waterjet (water-only, no abrasive) applications in addition to standard abrasive cutting. They're one of the few OEMs that builds dedicated pure waterjet systems for food cutting, automotive trim, disposable products, and other soft-material applications. The Mid Rail Gantry supports both pure and abrasive waterjet heads. New systems price from $120,000 to $300,000+ depending on table size, pump selection, and head configuration.

Full Specifications

Parameter	Value
Table Sizes	5x5 ft to 8x16 ft (custom available)
Cutting Area 5x10	1,524 x 3,048 mm (5 x 10 ft)
Z Axis Travel	305 mm (12 in)
Positioning Accuracy	±0.076 mm (±0.003 in)
Repeatability	±0.025 mm (±0.001 in)
Max Traverse Speed	15,240 mm/min (600 ipm)
X Axis Drive	Rack-and-pinion with servo
Y Axis Drive	Ball screw with servo
Pump Options	iP55-280DS (55,000 PSI) / X-Stream (90,000 PSI)
Pump Horsepower	75 HP to 100+ HP
Cutting Head Options	Abrasive / Pure waterjet / Multi-head
Controller	Jet Edge Edge controller (touchscreen)
Abrasive	Garnet (80 mesh standard)
Frame Construction	Heavy-duty welded steel with hardened ground rails

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

In-house pump manufacturing gives Jet Edge full control over pump design, quality, and service — no reliance on third-party pump OEMs
90,000 PSI X-Stream pump option provides cutting speed advantages on thick steel, titanium, and armor plate
Hybrid rack-and-pinion/ball screw drive system combines long-travel capability with precision on the shorter axis
Supports both abrasive and pure waterjet cutting heads, making it versatile for shops cutting both hard and soft materials
Minnesota-built with a reputation for rugged, over-engineered construction that holds up in heavy production environments
Multiple table size options from 5x5 to 8x16 ft with custom sizes available for specific applications

Limitations

Jet Edge has a smaller dealer network than Flow or OMAX, particularly outside the US midwest
Edge controller and software are functional but less polished than OMAX Intelli-MAX or Flow FlowMaster
55,000 PSI standard pump option is lower pressure than the 60,000 PSI offered by most competitors
Rack-and-pinion X-axis drive requires periodic backlash adjustment and lubrication compared to sealed ball screw systems
Heavier machine weight (compared to similar cutting area machines) may require reinforced floor in some facilities

Best For

Heavy fabrication shops cutting thick steel, armor plate, and titanium where 90,000 PSI pump power provides meaningful speed advantages Companies needing both abrasive and pure waterjet capability on one machine for cutting hard and soft materials Food processing and packaging companies cutting meat, produce, bakery products, and other food items with pure waterjet Shops that value American-built equipment with in-house pump manufacturing and direct factory support Large-format cutting applications requiring table sizes up to 8 x 16 ft or custom dimensions

Frequently Asked Questions

01 What's the difference between 55,000 PSI and 90,000 PSI on the Mid Rail Gantry?

The 55,000 PSI iP55 pump is Jet Edge's standard industrial pump — reliable, lower consumable costs, and sufficient for most cutting applications up to 2-3 inches thick. The 90,000 PSI X-Stream pump cuts 30-50% faster on thick materials but has higher consumable costs (seals, orifices, mixing tubes wear faster at higher pressure). For shops cutting primarily thin to medium materials, 55,000 PSI is more economical. For thick steel, titanium, or armor plate, the speed advantage of 90,000 PSI justifies the higher operating cost.

02 What is pure waterjet cutting?

Pure waterjet uses only water (no abrasive garnet) to cut soft materials: food products, rubber, foam, gaskets, diapers, automotive interiors, insulation, and thin plastics. The water stream exits a tiny orifice at 40,000-60,000 PSI, creating a cutting stream thinner than a human hair. Pure waterjet is FDA-approved for food cutting and produces no heat, dust, or contamination. Jet Edge is one of the few waterjet OEMs that specializes in both pure and abrasive waterjet applications.

03 How does Jet Edge compare to Flow and OMAX?

Jet Edge is a smaller, more specialized company focused on heavy-duty industrial applications. Flow and OMAX have larger dealer networks, broader product lines, and more name recognition. Jet Edge's advantages are their in-house pump manufacturing, 90,000 PSI capability, dual pure/abrasive versatility, and rugged construction. For standard job shop waterjet cutting, Flow or OMAX may offer a smoother buying experience. For heavy industrial, food processing, or applications requiring custom solutions, Jet Edge is worth evaluating.

04 What does a Jet Edge Mid Rail Gantry cost?

New Mid Rail Gantry systems start around $120,000 for a 5x5 ft table with 55,000 PSI pump and go up to $300,000+ for large-format tables with 90,000 PSI X-Stream pump and multi-head configuration. A typical 5x10 ft system with 75 HP pump and single abrasive head runs $150,000-$200,000. Used Jet Edge machines appear occasionally in the $40,000-$120,000 range.