Can you cut stainless steel with a water jet?

With abrasive waterjet, cutting stainless steel is quick, easy and removes the need for many secondary processes. One of the most heralded benefits of abrasive waterjets is that it is a cold cutting process, meaning there are no heat-affected zones.

How thick of steel can you cut with a water jet?

Practically speaking 2″ (5 cm) to 3″ (7.5 cm) thick steel is about the upper thickness limit for an abrasive waterjet. If you want to cut steel that is thicker than 3″ (7.5 cm), the time to cut goes up significantly and it becomes less and less cost-effective to use a waterjet.

At what pressure can water cut steel?

Typical waterjet cutting pressure is between 50,000 and 60,000 PSI. Many newer systems are pressurized up to 90,000 PSI.

What can a water jet not cut?

Among the very few materials that waterjets cannot cut are diamonds and tempered glass. Some composite materials (layers of different materials sandwiched together) can’t be cut because the water can seep between the layers and “delaminate” the material. Many composite materials cut just fine.

What is a CNC water jet cutter?

A CNC water jet is an industrial tool that uses a high-pressure water jet to cut various materials. It can use water alone to cut soft materials like wood and rubber, or the water can be mixed with an abrasive substance (like garnet or aluminum oxide) to cut harder materials.

What is the maximum thickness A water jet can cut?

The high-level answer is that abrasive waterjets can cut through 12 inches of most materials. Many of our customers report cutting material even thicker than that. Most abrasive waterjet cutting, however, is done in material that is 3 inches thick or less.

How does water jet cut through steel?

Waterjets are able to cut because the spray is channeled through a very narrow jeweled nozzle at a very high pressure to keep the spray coherent. Unlike metal cutters, a waterjet never gets dull and it cannot overheat.

How can water jet cut through metal?

The key to cutting metal with water is to keep the spray coherent. Waterjets are able to cut because the spray is channelled through a very narrow jewelled nozzle at very high pressure so the spray remains coherent. A waterjet never gets dull and it cannot overheat, unlike metal cutters.

How thick of metal can water cut?

Truly, a waterjet can cut up to any thickness, but tolerances will change the thicker the material being cut. Tight accuracies can be kept when cutting materials under 4 inches thick, a near net shape is achieved when cutting thicker materials.