Waterjet cutting machines are powerful machines that use highly-pressurized streams of water to shape and cut materials such as metal, wood, untempered glass and stone. They give a wide range of advantages over traditional cutting techniques. They are highly valued for their capacity to operate for longer periods without generating waste heat. All the machines are operated and managed through a computer (with the aid of CAD software) which makes operation much simpler and safer than heat-based or blade alternatives.
They come in 2 basic forms…
- Pure waterjets-they operate at pressures from 20,000-60,000 psi (pounds per square inch), uses water and can only cut softer materials such as paper, rubber and foam.
- Abrasive waterjets-they operate from 60,000 to almost 90,000 psi, use abrasive material that is added (commonly crushed garnet-stones) to generate an increased cutting force.
Instructions on how to operate
- Fill the water-tank up to the recommended fill line. If you’re using an abrasive waterjet cutter, you may add your crushed abrasive into the water tank before filling the tank with water. Abrasive machines use fine, grit sand to help increase the efficiency and power of the waterjet.
- Connect the water-pump to the main pressurized water. Older waterjet models may need a wrench to help open the valve, whilst newer models have a click locking mechanism. After connecting the main, join the pump-hose to the cutters water line.
- Connect the abrasive nozzle to the main water line. Newer machines have the injector put up into the line.
- Start the software you’ll be using to manage the jet. Create a new cutting-model, or open an existing cutting-schematic for your present task. Save any changes prior to sending the instructions.
- Put on your goggles and insert you ear buds prior to initializing the cut. Many machine models start to run the moment the design instructions are automatically sent to the jet machine. Some models require you to hit a `stand by’ or `power’ button on the machine’s body before it operates.
Uses for waterjet cutting machines
- Prototype applications-waterjets machines are capable of cutting several parts from CAD-computer aided design. Prototype is products test that are built before manufacturing that engineers and designers analyze to establish potential improvements.
- Food preparation-Although they are commonly used for industrial-purposes, they can as well serve as a technique of food preparation such as cutting bread. According to MTU-(Michigan Technological University), the waterjet’s cutting width, or kerf, can be easily adjusted to cut delicate, smaller materials. The small-cuts are capable of maintaining accuracy, whilst wasting little food.
- Cut any material-Whilst some machining-centers are designed to specifically cut metal, waterjets machines are capable of cutting virtually any material. This makes the cutting machines a very viable equipment in the aerospace, medical fields and automotive. According to Jet-Edge, the materials that cannot be cut with waterjet technology are ceramics, glass and diamonds.
Last but not least water speeds that are generated by the heads of modern waterjet cutting machines typically approach 750-miles per hour (the speed of sound) and some more advanced machine cutters generate speeds nearing 1,750 miles per hour. These pressurized streams of force can even cut the hardest materials.