A water jet cutter, also known as a waterjet, is a tool capable of slicing into metal or other materials (such as granite) using a jet of water (pure waterjet) at high velocity and pressure, or a mixture of water and an abrasive substance (abrasivejet). The process is essentially the same as water erosion found in nature but greatly accelerated and concentrated. It is often used during fabrication or manufacture of parts for machinery and other devices. It is the preferred method when the materials being cut are sensitive to the high temperatures generated by other methods. It has found applications in a diverse number of industries from mining to aerospace where it is used for operations such as cutting, shaping, carving, and reaming. When unspecified, we refer waterjet as either pure waterjet or abrasivejet.
Water is mechanically pressurized up to 90,000 psi (6,200 bar), focused and forced through a very small nuzzle (approximately 0.1 to 0.2 mm) for the purpose of material cutting. In the absence of any abrasive this is named as “pure waterjets.” To further improve cutting power and efficiency, garnet abrasives can be be further mixed into the jet stream – hence the name abrasivejet. These waterjets easily cut softer materials such as food, rubber, and foam.
Waterjet can cut through just about any materials that can be placed under its cutting head. Here is a list of material that can be process with waterjet: Aluminum sheets, stone, foam, glass, plastic, leather, tile, paper, food, rubber and many others.
In addition to simply cutting, waterjet offer great flexibility and maneuverability. Thus, waterjet offer un-matching capability in cutting angel, pattern, and shapes. Waterjet technology also enables artists to be even more creative in a three-dimensional way.