The high-level answer is that abrasive waterjets can cut through 12 inches of most materials. Many users report cutting material even thicker than that. Most abrasive waterjet cutting, however, is done in material that is 3 inches thick or less.
Abrasive waterjets can cut almost any hard materials, such as: Metals—all types and hardnesses. Natural materials—stone, glass, ceramic, wood.
WHAT SIZE TABLE WILL I NEED? Waterjet cutting table are now available in a wide range of standard sizes, ranging from small 2' 5" x 2' 2" (737mm x 660mm) tables to very large 26' 8" - 46' 8" x 13' 4" (8.1m - 14.2m x 4m) tables.
Waterjets are also good at cutting small hole sizes. In metal sheet thicknesses (3/16” thick or less), the minimum hole diameter is about 0.060”. In thicker plates, a good rule of thumb is a minimum hole diameter of 20% of the thickness of the material.
Flow waterjets can make parts to very tight tolerances, some systems can create parts with a tolerance as close as 0.001" (0.025 mm). For waterjet cutting, typical part tolerances range from between 0.003" and 0.005" of an inch.
The high-level answer is that abrasive waterjets can cut through 12 inches of most materials. Many users report cutting material even thicker than that. Most abrasive waterjet cutting, however, is done in material that is 3 inches thick or less.
More time cutting means less output. Orifice Failure – Low quality waterjet orifices have a tendency to break down and disrupt cutting, resulting in lost time and productivity. Greater Thickness, Less Accuracy – The thicker a material the further the stream is away from the nozzle at its point of impact.
If only looking at operating costs, both laser and waterjet cutting have similar low operating costs. Apart from controlling costs in operation, we must also consider the initial investment cost. A typical waterjet machine will cost about half what a CNC Laser will cost for a similar size and quality.
Typically, the waterjet Kerf is between 0.030″ to 0.040″ (0.76 mm to 1.02 mm), depending on pump pressure, application, the level of precision and cutting edge requirements.
Process. There are six main process characteristics of water jet cutting: Uses a high-velocity stream of ultra high-pressure water 30,000–90,000 psi (210–620 MPa) which is produced by a high-pressure pump with possible abrasive particles suspended in the stream.
While there are several factors that can affect the hourly cost of running a waterjet, on average, it can cost anywhere between $20/hr - $40/hr to run a waterjet with a single abrasive cutting head at 60,000 psi (does not include labor or capital repayment).
Average waterjet tolerances
While it is highly dependent on the equipment being used, typical waterjet tolerance values for abrasive waterjet cutting machines are ±0.002 in. (0.05 mm) or greater. A Finecut FAW 500II 5 axis micro abrasive waterjet has tolerances as tight as ± 0.0004 in. (0.01 mm).
Waterjet technology works in the same manner for any type of glass. Therefore, with the same abrasive waterjet setup, you can cut ordinary glass, laminated glass, laminated ballistic glass, and other glass materials. Changing the tooling is not required even for different thicknesses of glass.
Material Thickness
For instance, consider a waterjet cutter cutting stainless steel sheet of 6mm thickness at 6 inches per minute. The same cutter with the same orifice diameter will cut a stainless steel sheet of 20 mm thickness at around 2 inches per minute.
A diamond cannot be cut simply because it has so hard a surface – as is well known, diamond is the hardest material that exists naturally. The new material does not repel a water jet through being too hard, instead it turns a force back on itself.
Waterjet cutters can make cuts of between 25-30 cm (10-12 inches) in hard materials. It is possible to cut thicker material, but it reduces cutting speed. If you have a lot of time on your hands, there is no limit to the material you can cut with a water jet cutter.
Full kerf blades are usually around ⅛” thick, while thin kerf blades are around 3/32”. On lower power table saws (1.5 hp and below), you should stick to thin kerf blades. They'll allow you to get through cuts more easily. With less power, full kerf blades can start to bog down.
Typically, waterjet machines offer a cutting tolerance of ± 0.002” (0.05 mm). Some waterjet cutters even trim this down to ± 0.001” (0.025 mm). This shift is so little that you can't see it with a naked eye.
There are some things that a waterjet cannot cut, including things like diamonds and tempered glass. Most commonly, waterjets are used to cut things like tiles, ceramic, and non-tempered glass.
Major Factors That Affect Waterjet Cutting Costs
Abrasive Cost: Abrasive makes up 70% of the total cost, with garnet costing around 25 cents per pound. Water Cost: Water is also a significant cost factor in waterjet cutting, with a 1000-gallon supply costing $3.
We often get asked what water jets can cut and our response can be to just mention what can't be cut – diamonds and not much else. However, even diamonds can be cut if the water jet is powerful enough, as this video demonstrates.
Some of the most common problems are overstroking, water leaks, and short seal life (see Figure 1). Three other common problems with intensifier-based waterjet systems are hydraulic pressure failure, low water pressure, and hydraulic temperature overheating.
Laser cutters are pretty quick, with most of them generally capable of cutting at speeds of 20–70 inches per minute. That's a lot faster than other methods, like waterjet cutting—which we'll consider later—which can only usually handle 1–20 inches per minute.
Normal Pressure. In waterjet cutting, normal pressure refers to a water pressure of up to 60,000 psi. Of course, this value is not 'normal' compared to the water pressure in non-cutting applications. However, compared with a hyperpressure pump which goes from 60,000 psi to 90,000 psi, or higher – it is 'normal'.