Objectives of presentation

• What is water jet cutting?• Where it is used?• Why it is used?• How it is used?• What are the advantages of waterjet cutting?• What are the limitations of waterjet cutting

process?

Water jet cutting

• Also called Hydrodynamics Machining.

• Waterjet cutting technology is one of the fastest growing major machine tool processes in the world due to its versatility and ease of operation.

• The Waterjet process provides many unique capabilities and advantages that can prove very effective in the cost battle.

• Waterjets are used in high production applications across the globe.

Water jet cutting

• Also called Hydrodynamics Machining.

• Waterjet cutting technology is one of the fastest growing major machine tool processes in the world due to its versatility and ease of operation.

• The Waterjet process provides many unique capabilities and advantages that can prove very effective in the cost battle.

• Waterjets are used in high production applications across the globe.

Types of waterjet cutting

• Generally it is categorized in two types

1.Pure waterjet cutting• High pressurized water is used as cutting

media

2.Abrassive waterjet cutting• Fine particles of granite or alumina are used

along with high speed water stream

Basic waterjet principles

• They use the technology of high-pressure water being forced through a small hole (typically called the "orifice" or "jewel") to concentrate an extreme amount of energy in a small area.

• The inlet water for a pure waterjet is pressurized between 20,000 and 60,000 Pounds Per Square Inch (PSI) (1300 to 6200 bar).

• This is forced through a tiny hole in the jewel, which is typically 0.007" to 0.020" in diameter (0.18 to 0.4 mm).

• Traveling as close to the speed of sound (about 600 mph or 960 km/hr)

Basic waterjet principlescont...

• In abrasive waterjet cutting abrasive particles are added along with the high speed water stream.

• The beam of water accelerates abrasive particles to speeds fast enough to cut through much harder materials.

design of a pure waterjet nozzle Design of an abrasivejet nozzle

working

• The force of the water and abrasive erodes the material.

• The cutting action is greatly enhanced if the abrasivejet stream is moved across the material.

• the ideal speed of movement depends on 1. The material2. The shape of the part 3.The water pressure and the type of abrasive. • Controlling the speed of the abrasivejet nozzle is

crucial to efficient and economical machining.

A typical waterjet nozzl

 Waterjet  Plasma   Laser   EDM   Process Erosion 

process:high speed liquid 

sandpaper

Burning / meltingprocess using high

temperature ionized gas arc

Melting processusing 

concentratedlaser light beam 

Erosion process using electrical

discharge 

 Materials  Any material. Primarily steel,stainless steel and

aluminum.

Primarily steel,stainless andaluminum.

Can also cut avariety

of other materials.  

Conductivematerials only.  

 Thickness Up to 24 inches,virtually anymaterial. 

Z constraintis only

limit to thickness. 

Up to 2-3 inches,depending on material.  

Generally 1 inchor less, 

dependingon 

materials.

Generally 12 inch or less.

 Part Accuracy 

 Up to .001"    Up to .010"    Up to .001"    Up to .0001" 

 Capital Investment 

$60k to over$300k

$60k to over $300k    

$200K to over $1M

$100k to over $400k

 Machine Setup

Same setupfor all 

materials

Differentsetup for

different jobs 

Different gasesand parametersfor different jobs

Differentwire types fordifferent jobs

Cutting Comparison With Other Methods

Advantages Can cut virtually any material

• Copper, brass, aluminum: • Pre-hardened steel• Mild steel• Exotic materials such as 

titanium, Inconel and Hastalloy

• Brittle materials such as glass, ceramic, quartz, stone.

• Laminated materials • Flammable materials

Advantages

• Fast setup and programming• Little fixturing for most parts• Almost no heat generated on your part• Narrow kerf removes only a small amount of material• No mechanical stresses• Machine thick material• Are very safe• Environmentally friendly

Disadvantages 

• Cutting hard metals such as tool steel seriously affects the cutting speed

• Cutting thick materials results in a taper down the cut resulting from the water jet widening as it get further away from the nozzle

Parts made by waterjets

Where waterjets are used

• General purpose machine shops• Artists• Architectural• Aerospace• Manufacturing• Automotive & transportation

References

• http://www.flowwaterjet.com/en/waterjet-cutting/uhp-pumps/hyperjet.aspx

• http://www.engineerstudent.co.uk/water_jet_cutting.html• http://www.inoxservice.hu/index.php/en/vizsugaras

Thank you!