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Water Jet machining is a computerized cutting technology that cuts and machines virtually any material. Water Jet is a clean process that does not result in heating or residual stress in the cut materials

Water Jet allows for very fast cutting while minimizing material waste as is common with other machining technologies. Intricate cutting geometries are also possible with tight radii and sharp corners easily maintained.

Metals
All metals can be machined via water jet including aluminum, brass, bronze, copper, steels, nickel alloys, titanium, soft metals, & metal composites.

Non-Metals
Non metallic materials are particularly suited for cutting via water jet. Examples include carbon fiber composites, ceramics, granite, glass, refractories, laminates, marble, plastics, concrete, and natural stone.

Soft Materials
Rubber, plastics, elastomers, foams, synthetic fiber materials, paper, and wood are readily cut with Water jet. Many of these are cut with water only (no abrasive).

Major Benefits:

• NO heat generated structural changes – This is a cold cutting process
• Virtually burr-free cut edges - Reduces finishing operations
• NO material discoloration or oxidized edges
• NO toxic or fume discharge

Quality Numbers Edge quality of cut is determined by the quality numbering. In general, the best edge finish is achieved though a slower cutting time. A quality 5 generally is the best edge finish. Quality 3 is most common for the best cost with reasonable edge finish. Quality 1 is typical for blanking materials.

The Water Jet machine processes computer generated numerical code (NC) into appropriate X & Y cutting head movements. The cutting head is essentially the nozzle from which the water and abrasive are ejected through. The cutting action of the Water Jet head occurs at pressures up to 50,000 psi, with stream velocities greater than three times the speed of sound.

Hard materials such as metals and ceramics are cut with an abrasive garnet that is introduced into the stream for strong erosion cutting. Soft materials such as plastics are often cut without abrasive. The computer controlled process results in a controlled and narrow kerf. This allows for efficient machining of expensive materials such as composites and titanium while providing detailed precision. Tolerances for high-speed cutting are typically held to +/- 0.005 to .010 inch.

Water Jet alone or combined with other machining technologies such as CNC milling can result in vast savings of process time and fabrication cost. When applicable, Water Jet cutting has significant advantages over competing cutting methods, such as routers, plasma torch, laser cutting and electrical discharge machining. Water Jet can cut through materials such as rock and ceramics that may normally be considered "unachievable" by conventional cutting methods.