01242 621 090 or Request Callback

Waterjet Cutting FAQ's

Further insight into this remarkable precision cutting Method thats taking manufacturing by storm!

Water Jet Cutting Portfolio

What is waterjet cutting?

Waterjet cutting is a revolutionary method of cutting materials. It can be used for both engineering and artistic purposes thanks to the immense power and ultra-fine precision of the water jet which blasts water at pressures of up to 60,000 psi. The speed of the jet allows the water to cut through a wide range of materials. For a detailed description of the waterjet cutting process: what is waterjet cutting

What are the advantages of waterjet cutting services over other cutting methods?

Thanks to its combination of high power and precision, waterjet cutting is unrivalled in its flexibility and versatility in the types of materials it can cut and the shapes it can cut them into. Some of its main advantages over other cutting methods are as follows:

• It can cut the toughest of materials such as stainless steel
• It can also handle very fragile materials like stone and marble
• The absence of heat reduces the risk of hazardous fumes
• Less material wastage occurs due to the cutter’s ultra-fine kerf width
• Environmentally friendly as no gases are produced during cutting
• No edge deformation through tool contact

What material thicknesses can the waterjet cutter cut?

It depends on the material. If it’s a thin material then the waterjet cutter will be able to cope with thicknesses over 10”. Tough materials such as steel can be cut up to thicknesses of around 8” if abrasive is used.

What types of materials can it cut?

Waterjet cutting can be used to cut almost any material, from delicate materials such as glass through to exceptionally tough ones like titanium. The only materials we know of that the waterjet cannot cope with are tempered glass and carbide steel.

What level of accuracy can waterjet cutting achieve?

Waterjet cutters boast ultra-fine precision. Depending on the material, you can expect cutting part accuracies better than 0.002″.

Before using with a waterjet cutter, do you need to pre-drill holes?

In most cases, no you don’t. One advantage of the waterjet cutter is its ability to pierce the starting hole itself. There may be occasions where you need to lower the pump pressure or use a piercing attachment, if you’re cutting certain composites or brittle materials.

Do waterjet cutting services impact the material’s physical structure?

Waterjet cutting is unlike other cutting methods such as laser cutting because it doesn’t use heat. Therefore no heat affected zones will result around the cut.

Is waterjet cutting more expensive than traditional methods of cutting?

Quite the opposite. Waterjet cutting can actually reduce costs because it removes the need for additional tools and dies that you would need with methods such as laser or die cutting. Because of the fine kerf and the computerised ‘nesting’ of parts, waterjet cutting also reduces the amount of material wastage, which in turn saves money.