Is there anything a waterjet can't cut?

There are only a select few materials that can't be cut with a water jet, such as diamond and tempered glass. With the exceptions of these materials, water cuts can cut through just about anything.

What can water jets not cut?

"Most ceramics can also be cut on an abrasive water jet as long as the material is softer than the abrasive being used (between 7.5 and 8.5 on the Mohs scale)". Examples of materials that cannot be cut with a water jet are tempered glass and diamonds.

Can water cut through anything?

A water jet can cut a "sandwich" of different materials up to four inches thick. This odorless, dust-free and relatively heat-free process can also cut something as thin as five thousandths of an inch. The tiny jet stream permits the first cut to also be the final finished surface.

Can a water jet cut diamond?

Since diamond is the hardest material in the world, only the waterjet machine can cut it.”

Can a waterjet cut skin?

Water blasting injuries are similar to gunshot wounds but have the added danger of introducing contaminated water into the wound. If the water jet cuts through a shoe or sleeve and punctures the skin, it may only appear as a small bruise.

How Does a Waterjet Work? Waterjet 101



How much PSI is a water jet?

Waterjets usually have water pressure from 50,000 to 90,000 PSI. The nozzle horsepower creates various water pressures for cutting.

Can a waterjet cut tempered glass?

Note: As a safety feature, tempered glass is designed to shatter into many small pieces when punctured, and therefore is not suitable to be cut on a waterjet.

Can you cut quartz with a water jet?

Waterjet technology such as that which is used on BACA's Robo SawJet and Robolution pro is highly effective in cutting stone such granite, marble and quartz. A high-pressure waterjet that is faster than the speed of sound cuts materials in a variety of thicknesses with extremely high precision.

Can water cut through steel?

The key to cutting metal with water is to keep the spray coherent. Waterjets are able to cut because the spray is channelled through a very narrow jewelled nozzle at very high pressure so the spray remains coherent. A waterjet never gets dull and it cannot overheat, unlike metal cutters.

Is laser cutting cheaper than water jet?

Costs: In terms of laser vs. waterjet cost, laser cutting is a more economical option as it can cut parts faster. Waterjet cutting is comparatively expensive, requiring many components to run properly, including a high-pressure pump, abrasive materials and cutting heads.

Can water cut through rock?

Water dripping on a rock over an extended period of time can eat through the rock. Think of water dripping on snow, how the snow melts away… A river pounding against rock can cut through the rock!

Can you waterjet cut cast iron?

What can a water jet cut? Virtually any material can be cut with a water jet. We frequently cut mild steel, stainless steel, aluminum, cast iron, wood, stone, concrete, ceramic tile, plastics, copper, flexible gasket materials, carbon fiber, and leather.

How many PSI does it take to cut steel with water?

The water pressure required can vary, based on the type of abrasive material used, the thickness of abrasives, and the type of steel. Typically, the range of water pressure will be between 20,000 psi and 55,000 psi. Smaller, harder, and uniform abrasives require a lower water pressure.

Can a water jet cut hardened steel?

Waterjet machines cut all types of metals: hardened tool steel, aluminum, titanium, and a host of exotic metals that prove difficult to cut with other tools or processes. Cutting with a waterjet produces a smooth edge with no burn marks, cracking or excess burrs.

Can a waterjet cut plastic?

Plastic and Acrylic Cutting with Waterjet

Unlike abrasive waterjet cutting, however, only pure waterjet is used to cut plastics and acrylics. The clean, very thin waterjet stream (thinner than a strand of human hair) does not cause the material being cut to absorb water, maintaining the integrity of the materials.

Can a waterjet cut PVC pipe?

For general plastics—such as ABS, UHMW, PVC, acetal, polycarbonate, and nylon—the waterjet cutting process is preferred because of its ability to cut quickly without producing fumes or dust.

How thick of metal can a water jet cut?

Waterjet cutters can cut through 9 inches of stainless steel. Anything thicker increases the cutting time significantly. Some applications reconfigure waterjet systems to cut through even 18-inch steel blocks. However, in many applications waterjet cutters are utilized to cut 4-inch steel.

Can water cut through granite?

Water jet cutting machines can cut 12 inches of the hardest stones like granite, marble, and quartz at high speed. Even more water jet cutting thickness is possible if you decrease the speed or increase the water pressure.

How much does a waterjet machine cost?

For starters, you can find small waterjet machines at a price point of $60,000. However, those might not give you the best value for money in the long run. If you want to make the most out of your investment, we recommend going with the Techniwaterjet G2 CNC waterjet cutters which starts at $100,000.

How thick of granite can a waterjet cut?

Yes, it is possible and easy to cut stone using a waterjet. This applies to not only granite but also other stones like marble. In stone cutting applications, a waterjet can cut a thickness of up to 12 inches. This is more than enough since the thickness of the granite is just a few inches in most applications.

How fast is water jet cutting?

Waterjet cutters can cut at high speeds, about 6 inches per minute. Waterjet cutters are around ten times faster than EDM cutters.

Can you cut quartz with a laser?

Laser processing of quartz glass is achieved using either a 10.6 or 9.3 micron CO2 laser. The 1.06 micron fiber wavelength is not absorbed by this material and will pass through it uninhibited. Laser marking of quartz glass produces a smooth uniform mark with little contrast.

Can you waterjet a mirror?

Thanks to its cold and continuous cutting process, no amount of reflection can protect mirrors from being cut by waterjets. It will pierce right through and steadily cut across mirrors without causing cracks or flinging glass particles across.

Can you cut shatterproof glass?

Once you temper a piece of glass, it is very difficult to cut it again without shattering it. Typically, only professionals with special laser cutters can cut tempered glass. Various how-to guides will tell you that you can cut tempered glass by first annealing the piece.

Can tempered glass be untempered?

If you must cut through a pane of tempered glass, you'll need to heat it to nearly 1,000 °F (538 °C), then slowly cool it. This process is called annealing, and it will effectively undo the tempering process, weakening the glass to the point that you can cut it.

Previous question
Can you color Remy human hair?