Although I’m sure that no employee in a water jet cutting facility would drink the water being used in pure water jet cutting machines, they could if they wanted to. With no abrasives added, pure water jet cutting was the original water jet cutting system. Although it is ordinary wddater, as ordinary as the water sold for three dollars a bottle in a restaurant or movie theatre, it is able to pierce through soft materials with intricate detail when enough pressure is applied. Isn’t it amazing what water can do?
The power house that makes water such a superhero is a machine that pressurizes the water in a tank then when released shoots it out at high speeds through a control head nozzle that is adjusted for a particular size of flow. The size of the water jet flow depends on what material it is cutting or shaping, as does the speed with which it is sent. Certain materials, like glass, food, paper and foam require a gentler cycle so that they do not shatter on impact, which is also why pure water is usually used for them because abrasives mixed in aren’t necessary to get the job done properly. Harder materials such as metals, wood and stone require much higher speeds of water for the proper impact, and some may not be able to be cut by pure water alone. That is when a variety of abrasives, such as glass beads or metallic dust, are mixed in with the water to give it the extra edge to cut through those tough surfaces.
When dealing with softer materials, pure water jet cutting is definitely the best choice. Without the abrasive, the water from these water jet cutters is able to be recycled, which saves the company using them money as well as being eco-friendly. This also means it is easier to clean up, which is helpful for employees and time management.