What is Water Jet cutting?

Cutting with a water jet is a method of engineering for cutting objects using the energy from high speed, high density, ultra-high pressure water. The water is pressurized to a maximum 392 MPa (approximately 4,000 atmospheres) and projected from a small-bore nozzle (Φ0.1 mm).
Water that has been pressurized by an ultrahigh-pressure pump reaches a speed approximately three times the speed of sound, producing a water jet with destructive force.

Its applications are widespread, with some of its more familiar uses including cutting roof materials, dashboards and bumpers for automobiles. Cutting and demolition of concrete structures. It is also used in cutting aircraft fuselages that use new materials.

Features

1. No effects from heat
   Cutting with a water jet is a non-contact form of processing. No drills or other tools touch the object, so no heat is produced, and there is absolutely no alteration to the object or changes in color.
2. No limit to the objects that can be targeted
   ...Because cutting is performed with an extremely small volume of ultrahigh-pressure water, there is very little water on the cutting surface. As with laser cutting, there are no limits to target objects.
3. Facilitates cutting with shapes
   ... Cutting and cutting out of any shape, from any point.Cutting is possible for three-dimensional bodies, as well as two-dimensional shapes.
4. Environmentally friendly
   ... No dust is produced, so there is no impact on workers or the environment.
   In addition, processing can be performed with water and sand (abrasive materials) only, so it is environmentally friendly.

Water Jet Cutting type

Sugino classifies cutting with a water jet into the following two types, according to the difference in cutting capacity.

Water Jet Cutting

Type of cutting using a water jet only
Not suitable for cutting hard materials, but applicable to cutting soft materials, including wood, plastic and rubber.

• Main cutting materials: building materials, rubber, foam, paper, cloth and foods

Abrasive Jet Cutting

Type of cutting that provides jet propulsion and cuts. Abrasive materials are mixed into the water jet to increase cutting power.
By mixing with an abrasive material, it is possible to cut hard and laminated materials, including titanium, stainless steel and aluminum.

• Main cutting materials
  CFRP (carbon fiber reinforced resin), titanium, stainless steel, aluminum, glass, ceramics and concrete