2024.03.05
Final update date: 2024.10.02
  • Technical Articles

What is Water Jet cutting?

Cutting with a water jet is a method of engineering for cutting objects using energy from high-speed, high-density, ultra-high-pressure water.
The water is pressurized to a maximum of 600 MPa (approximately 6,000 atmospheres) and projected from a small-bore nozzle (Φ0.1 mm).
Water pressurized by an ultrahigh-pressure pump reaches speeds nearly three times the speed of sound, creating a water jet with immense destructive force.

Its applications are widespread, with some of its more familiar uses including cutting roof materials, dashboards, and bumpers for automobiles. It is also widely used for the cutting and demolition of concrete structures and cutting aircraft fuselages made from 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. Widespread applications

    …Because cutting is done with minimal ultrahigh-pressure water, the cutting surface remains mostly dry. Similar to laser cutting, there are no limitations on the types of materials that can be targeted.

  3. Facilitates cutting with shapes

    …Able to cut any shape and from any starting point. Both two and three-dimensional shapes can be cut.

  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.

Types of Water Jet Cutting

Sugino classifies cutting with a water jet cutting into two categories, based on the material to be processed.

Water Jet Cutting

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

  • Main applications: Building materials, rubber, foam, paper, cloth, and food

Abrasive Jet Cutting

This type of cutting provides jet propulsion and cuts. Abrasive materials are mixed into the water jet to increase cutting power.
Hard and laminated materials such as titanium, stainless steel, and aluminum can be cut by mixing water with an abrasive material.

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

Information of products

WATER JET CUTTER

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