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Frequently
Asked Questions of Water Jet cutting
Q: What is the thickness
material that the Water Jet can cut?
A: There is a practical
limit and a physical limit. The practical limit for most materials
and conditions is about five inches thick. Thicker than that, and
tolerances drop while machining times increase.
Some special projects, however, it
is practical to machine material five or more inches thick.
Cutting titanium is one such application where the Tri-Made Water
Jet is a more advantageous cutting method for these high
thicknesses.
The physical limit is the maximum
Z-axis travel, which is typically around 8 inches (20 cm). The
actual Z-axis travel will vary depending on options installed.
Note that is possible to cut parts that are thicker or taller than
the maximum Z-axis travel by removing the slats and submerging the
part in the catcher tank.
Q: What is the smallest kerf
width that can be cut?
A: The kerf width is
0.020" (0.5mm) wide. We can make very small parts - but
exceptional small parts may require special fixturing.
Q: What are the most common
materials and thicknesses cut with the Water Jet?
A: The most profitable
precision applications involve widely used metals such as
aluminum, tool steel, stainless steel, mild steel and titanium in
thicknesses up to about 1" (2.5 cm) - as a good surface
finish is easily attained.
Q: What shapes can be achieved
with the Water Jet?
A: The Water Jet can make
almost any two-dimensional shape imaginable, quickly and
accurately - in materials less than 1" (25 mm) thick.
Intricate parts with lots of shape
inside corners that can be made quickly and accurately in ½"
(12 mm) thick material.
Q: What is the Jet kerf versus
feed rate?
A: In general, the slower a
jet nozzle moves across the material being cut, the wide the cut
it makes. This effect is negligible in harder, thinner material
(for example ½" (12 mm) stainless steel, but it can be up to
0.005" (0.1 mm) or more in thick material or soft material.
Q: Applications where Water
Jet is not recommended
A: Cutting of wood for
special intricate shapes is recommended for the Water Jet.
However, other wood cutting is best left to saws. Round tube
cutting and low cost applications where accuracy really has no
value.
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