Waterjet Machine Best Technology for Precision Industry Cutting
Industrial cutting is a precise science requiring accurate, detailed, computer-controlled machines. The waterjet machine is a necessary cutting and processing machine preferred for its customizable features. It is also preferred for cleaning industrial equipment such as boilers, re-heaters, pipes, tubes, and reactors.
Waterjet cutting is a unique way to cut various materials like metal, ceramics, composite, stone plastics, and rubber. It can cut soft materials like foam, textile, and rubber to rigid materials like titanium and stainless steel.
Here, we explore the high-precision industrial cutting that waterjet machines offer.
What is a Waterjet Machine?
A waterjet machine is a unique and versatile industrial tool for cutting various materials. These machines generate high-pressure water jets to erode or cut through materials, giving them the desired shape. Depending on the material's density and compound, abrasives are added to the water jet to increase the cutting power.
What is Waterjet Cutting?
A waterjet cutting tool is a CNC-controlled machine. For each of the tasks for which the machine shall be used, a CNC (Computer Numerical Control) program is written in advance. As a result, waterjet cutting is a fully automated, high-precision industrial cutting process.
Waterjet machines are used in many industries for several applications. Some of the essential types are:
Cutting and processing - metal, composites, plastics, rubber, and wood
Cutting aluminum, exotic alloys, automotive headliners, and door panels
Cutting airborne particles such as smoke, exhaust, and contaminants rising from cutting materials
How does a waterjet machine deliver high-precision industrial cutting?
Waterjet cutting is used in manufacturing to achieve super-high precision in industrial cutting. High-pressure water jets are programmed to cut and shape materials. These machines can produce pressures as high as 100,000 psi and can be continuously varied. Several different waterjet types can be made by changing/varying the kind of abrasive material, the thickness, and the type of steel.
The steps are as follows:
The water is pressurized to 392 MPa and projected through a small precision nozzle.
The pressure creates a vacuum and draws garnet sand into the stream.
The water and abrasive material mix and exit quickly to cut the material.
Waterjet cutting is a 'cold cutting' method and can easily cut through materials like foam or metals. Manufacturers can make the jets more effective by mixing them with abrasives for even greater cutting power. Industries such as airplane manufacturing prefer water cutting as it does not create heat, like laser cutting. The width of the cut can be adjusted easily by swapping parts in the nozzle and changing the type and size of the abrasive.
Waterjet Cutting Advantages
Waterjet cutting machines are used more commonly than other cutting tools for the following reasons:
Waterjet cutting is more accurate than laser or plasma cutting. Cutting streams are highly controllable, allowing precise cuts and minimal material wastage.
Waterjet cutting produces clean edges that can be welded without further processing.
Waterjet can cut several materials, from wood to glass and metals.
This method does not give out heat and can cut thermally sensitive surfaces.
The cost of waterjet cutting is low and produces no hazardous waste.
Waterjet cutting is a safe and environmentally friendly process.
Conclusion
Waterjet machines are ideal for high-precision industrial cutting as they are more accurate and controllable. They are considered alternatives to laser and plasma cutting. These machines are preferred for their non-heat-producing abilities, like in the aeronautical industry. More importantly, the pre-programming options of CNC waterjet cutting machines give manufacturers better control over the cutting process and the type of abrasives used.