Water Jet Cutting

• Features
• Who Uses
  Water Jet
  Cutting?
• Comparisons
  to Milling,
  EDM and
  Lasers
• FAQ about
  Water Jet
  Cutting

• Metal
  Stamping
  and Dies

Comparison of Water Jet Cutting with other Technologies

Q: How do Water Jets compare with Wire EDM? 

Wire EDM strengths: 

• Extremely precise parts are possible (+0.0001" (+0.025 mm) 
• Very thick parts -- over 12" (30 cm) can be made 
• Intentional taper can be put into a part for a die clearance and other uses

Key Water Jet strengths versus Wire EDM: 

• Water Jets are much faster -- Five to ten times faster in parts less than 1" (2/5 cm) 
• No heat affected Zone (HAZ) therefore no need for secondary operation to remove HAZ or additional heat-treating to compensate for it.
• Water Jets machine a wider variety of materials - and work well with non-conductive materials such as glass, stone and plastics as well as conductive materials 
• Water Jets can pierce material directly without the need for a pre-drilled starter hole 
• Can produce large arts at reasonable costs 
• Simple and rapid programming and set-up with minimal fixturing.

Q: How do Water Jets compare with lasers? 

Laser strengths: 

• Very fast production in thin non-reflective materials such as sheet steel. 
• Accuracy to +0.001" (+0.025 mm) or better in thin material.

Key Water Jet strengths versus Lasers: 

• Water Jets can machine thicker materials -- produce parts up to 5" (5.1 cm) thick in virtually any material while holding tolerances on the order of +0.003" to +0.005" (+0.08 to +0.1 mm). 
• Water Jets are capable of similar tolerances on thin parts, and better on parts thicker than .5" 
• Can machine reflective, conductive and thicker materials such as stainless steel and aluminum, copper and brass. Lasers cannot machine reflective materials. 
• Cuts without melting, providing a smooth uniform surface with very little burr or dross. 
• No heat-affected zone (HAZ) which may eliminate the need for a secondary operation to remove HAZ. There is not thermal distortion or hardness of the material. Also makes a conventional secondary operation, such as reaming or tapping easier to perform. 
• Environmentally friendly -- No noxious gas or vapors produced during cutting 
• Quick set-up and rapid programming for short run parts. 
• Water Jet machines can obtain about the same or higher tolerances than lasers (especially as thickness increases). 
• Laser needs a good "chillier" for cooling and has a higher power consumption 

Q: How do Water Jets compare with conventional milling? 

Milling strengths 

• A well-understood and familiar technology. 
• Able to make three-dimensional parts. 
• Rapid production, if set-up and programmed for long-run parts.

Key Water Jet strengths versus Milling: 

• Very rapid programming and set-up 
• Very low cutting loads means fixturing is easier and that intricate and delicate parts can be machined. 
• No tool changes as one cutting tool performs all machining functions in all materials. 
• Minimal burr compared to conventional machining. 
• Environmentally friendly

Q: How do Water Jets compare with punch presses? 

Punch Press strengths: 

• A well-understood and familiar technology 
• Rapid production in thin material once the machine is properly programmed and set-up

Key Water Jet strengths: 

• Very rapid programming and set-up for short production runs 
• No distortion of closely spaced parts. 
• Minimal burr 
• Ability to work in a wide range of materials. 
• No special tooling required for unusual shapes or profiles.

Q: How do Water Jets compare with high-definition plasma? 

Strengths of high-definition plasma: 

• Very rapid production rates in thin sheet metal, once properly set-up and programmed

Water Jet strengths versus high-definition plasma: 

• No melting or heat affected zone, therefore no heat distortion or crusted area to impair secondary machining processes such as tapping holes. 
• Wider range of material capabilities 
• Wider range of thickness capabilities 
• Better precision in intricate parts

Compare Water Jet to other Cutting Methods