What is Waterjet Cutting Technology?
To achieve the energy required for cutting materials, water is pressurized and forced through a diamond, ruby, or sapphire orifice ranging from 0.004 of an inch to 0.022 of an inch in diameter. Hydraulically-driven intensifier pumps pressurize water up to 87,000 psi. Water is then carried to either an abrasive or straight waterjet cutting nozzle, which can be stationary or integrated into mobile equipment for cutting shapes or other intricate designs. PC-based software translates drawings to the system for the cutting head to follow a specific path. Benefits of waterjet cutting include reduced burring, elimination of the heat-affected zone, and the ability to cut highly reflective materials such as aluminum and platinum, and harder-to-machine materials such as titanium and Inconel®. Cut time can be decreased from minutes to seconds, and overall process time can be reduced because secondary processes are either less intensive or not necessary at all. Since implementing the waterjet mach
