Waterjet shops are specialized facilities or businesses that use waterjet cutting technology to shape and cut materials. Waterjet cutting uses a high-pressure stream of water, often mixed with an abrasive substance, to cut through various materials like metal, stone, glass, ceramics, composites, and even soft materials like foam or rubber.
1. How Waterjet Cutting Works:
- High-Pressure Pump: Water is pressurized up to 60,000–90,000 psi (pounds per square inch) using a pump.
- Cutting Head: The pressurized water is then forced through a small nozzle, creating a thin, high-velocity stream.
- Abrasive Addition (Optional): For harder materials, an abrasive material is added to the water stream to enhance
cutting power.
- Material Cutting: The waterjet or abrasive jet cuts the material by eroding it along the cutting path.
2. Types of Waterjet Cutting:
- Pure Waterjet Cutting: Uses only water to cut soft materials such as foam, rubber, or food products.
- Abrasive Waterjet Cutting: Adds abrasive particles (usually garnet) to the water stream, enabling it to cut harder
materials such as metal, glass, stone, and composites.
3. Common Industries:
- Manufacturing and Fabrication: For cutting parts with high precision and smooth edges.
- Aerospace: Used for cutting composites, metals, and ceramics in the production of aircraft parts.
- Automotive: In the production of parts, especially those made from aluminum or steel.
- Construction: Cutting stone, tile, and glass for architectural and interior design.
- Art and Design: Creating intricate designs in various materials, including metal and stone.
4. Advantages of Waterjet Cutting:
- Precision: Can produce highly detailed and accurate cuts with tolerances as tight as ±0.003 inches.
- No Heat-Affected Zones: Unlike laser cutting, waterjet does not generate heat, preventing the material from being
altered by thermal stress.
- Material Versatility: Cuts a wide range of materials without changing their properties.
- Environmentally Friendly: Uses only water and abrasive materials, and produces minimal waste..
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