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In this article, we explain everything about waterjet cutting. Cutting and shaping metals is one of the most essential tasks related to metals, and without cutting, it is practically impossible to use metals under any circumstances. Cutting is a fundamental step in producing parts across all industries, such as automotive, shipbuilding, aircraft manufacturing, construction, and even medical equipment production. It stands out as a very important and precise industrial method.
Various methods can be used for cutting, each having its own advantages and disadvantages. Today, in this article, we intend to introduce you to a method called waterjet cutting, which has not been around for long and is considered one of the newer techniques in this field. Stay with us as we provide you with a comprehensive explanation of this method and answer your questions.
Waterjet cutting is an innovative and modern method for cutting metals. As you can guess from the name, this technique uses water at extremely high pressure, directed through a very narrow channel at a very high speed. To put it in numbers, the water pressure typically reaches up to 4000 bar, which accelerates the water to supersonic speeds.
When water hits the metal at this high pressure and speed, it carries away tiny particles of the metal, thus performing the cutting action. Interestingly, sometimes even this pressure and speed are not enough to cut through tougher metals. In such cases, additives are mixed into the water to increase its cutting power. For example, abrasive particles like garnet sand are added to the water stream to enhance its cutting ability.
These particles strike the surface of the material at high speed and erode it. But what are the advantages of waterjet cutting? The answer is that waterjet cutting offers very high speed and precision. It does not generate heat during cutting, which means it is much safer. Most importantly, there are virtually no limitations with waterjet cutting—you can cut almost all types of metals with it. Now that we know the benefits of waterjet cutting, it’s worth moving on to how waterjets actually work. Stay with Khavar Sanat Homa for the next part!
Waterjets have powerful pumps that can direct water at very high pressure — about 6200 bar — through a very narrow tube. With this amount of pressure, water molecules gain significant kinetic energy, and as a result, the water speed reaches approximately 900 meters per second, which is about 3240 kilometers per hour. This speed is roughly three times the speed of sound. This high pressure and speed are funneled into a very narrow channel, usually between 0.075 to 0.3 millimeters in diameter. This creates a very thin and extremely powerful stream that can be used for precise cutting.
Sometimes, when cutting very heavy metals or thick stones, water alone is not enough, and abrasive particles like garnet sand must be added to the water. These particles, when they hit the target surface at high speed along with the water, cause erosion and achieve the cutting effect. The accuracy and quality of waterjet cutting depend on various factors such as water pressure, nozzle diameter, type and size of abrasive particles, and the speed of the jet movement.
Waterjet cutting can be used for a wide range of materials including metal, plastic, stone, glass, and composites. Some applications of waterjet cutting are:
Cutting metals:
Cutting metals is one of the most common uses of waterjet machines. Waterjets are capable of cutting metals such as stainless steel, aluminum, copper, and brass. Due to the high precision of waterjet cutting, they are often used in sensitive industries. They are commonly employed for cutting metal parts in aerospace, automotive, and construction industries.
Plastic Cutting:
Waterjets can even be used for cutting plastics, including various types such as acrylic, polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and polypropylene. These cuts are commonly used in industries like packaging, medical, and electronics.
Stone Cutting:
In most cases, waterjets are used for cutting stones because using rotating blades generates heat, which reduces their efficiency and causes the blades to become dull. Waterjets can cut various types of stone such as marble, granite, quartz, and slate. They are often used for cutting tiles, countertops, and stone sculptures.
Cutting glass:
Waterjets can also be used for cutting glass. This type of cutting is suitable for various kinds of glass, such as tempered (tempered) and laminated glass.
Cutting composites:
Waterjet cutting can be used to cut various composite materials, including fiberglass, carbon fiber, and Kevlar. It is often used for cutting composite parts in the aerospace, marine, and automotive industries.
Waterjet cutting is a safe method, but it is not completely risk-free. Observing safety precautions is very important, and one must be very careful when working with this equipment.
Some of the dangers of the waterjet machine include:
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