Water Jet Cutting Machine

Water Jet Cutting Machine Introduction

In the industrial process known as "water jet cutting," several kinds of materials are cut and shaped using high-pressure water jets delivered by pressurizing pumps that produce a supersonic stream of water. In water jet cutting, a tiny, precise nozzle is used to project water that has been pressured to 392 MPa. Three times the speed of sound is reached by the water as it exits the nozzle. Water serves as the cutting medium in pure water jet cutting, which is intended for soft materials like rubber, wood, and plastic. Cutting becomes more aggressive and is capable of cutting hard metals when an abrasive is added to the water stream, such as concrete, glass, aluminum, stainless steel, ceramic material, and titanium.

Types of Water Jet Cutting Machine

The water jet cutting process is coupled to a sizable controlling mechanism that includes an X-Y movement system, catch tank, controller, and a high-pressure pump, a pure water or abrasive nozzle in water jet cutting machines. Motion control, which serves the dual purposes of regulating the cutter's motion and offering a means of keeping the workpiece in place, is an essential part of a water jet cutting machine. The procedures utilized to create water jet cutting machines come in a variety of sorts, sizes, shapes, and designs. Many of the various types feature CNC controls, which improve the cutting process' accuracy.

Computer Numerical Control (CNC): The CNC machine, which can be programmed to carry out several operations on a workpiece in one pass, is a highly ubiquitous component of contemporary production. Since many years ago, water jet cutting has been routinely performed using CNC programming, which combines the best cutting technology with exact control. All of the attributes and features of water jet cutting are included in a CNC water jet cutting machine. Flatbed machines with CNC programming attached to the machine's parts are often used for CNC water jet cutting. With its adaptability and versatility, CNC water jet cutting machines may be tailored to any manufacturing demand.

Flatbed Water Jet Cutting Machines: These include a working table that enables for the cutting of huge items. The flatbed design makes it simple to load and unload things from the table. The capacity of these machines to collect waste materials and water from the cutting process is one of its key features. Flatbed water jet cutting machines are popular due to their inexpensive cost, versatility in cutting materials, and lack of heat. Parts for water jet cutting retain their heat treatment while being cut, eliminating the need for further heat treatment after the fact.

Portable Water Jet Cutting: For eliminating burrs, cutting off rust, and cleaning polluted surfaces, this type of machine provides a low-cost, ecologically friendly, and adaptable cutting technique. They are appropriate for usages in risky and hazardous environments, such as the pipeline and oil industries. These types of devices are able to go through any kind of material and have all the advantages of velocity and high-pressure water. How the abrasive is introduced into the water stream distinguishes the two main kinds of portable water jet cutting machines. One approach is to provide the abrasive while it is being discharged via the nozzle. The second, less successful method involves mixing the abrasive with the water before applying pressure.

What is Water Jet Cutting?

The basic principles of water jet cutting are velocity, abrasive, and pressure. Although the procedure is not difficult, there are many different ways it may be used. Several versions have been created to precisely match the requirements for various applications. Pure water and pure water with an abrasive are the two categories of water jet cutting. The procedure is further segmented based on a number of criteria after these two divisions into: 

• High-Pressure Water Cutting
• CNC Water Jet Cutting
• Abrasive Jet Machining
• Abrasive Flow Machining (AFM)

Waterjet Cutting Machine Features

The features of a water jet cutting machine are: 

• Extreme accuracy
• It is hygienic
• Product Management
• Secondary Finishing
• Efficiency of Water Jet Cutting
• Cutting using a water jet may save money.
• Effortless Use
• Chemicals are absent
• Versatility Advantage
• Ecologically sound
• Shape programming.

Waterjet Cutting Machine Uses

The uses of water jet cutting machines in different industries are:

Aerospace Industry Water Jet Cutting: Complex and precise accuracy is required for all aircraft components. The rules of aerospace prohibit any kind of mistake. Water jet cutting is a crucial component in the manufacture of aerospace parts, from the construction of jet engines to the creation of bespoke control panels, for just this one reason.

Medical Water Jet Cutting: Surgical cutting instruments are being replaced in medicine by water jet cutting technology. When treating malignancies, high-pressure spiral water smashes and pulls liver parenchymal cells. It is chosen to carry out these tasks because it reduces the possibility of bleeding and does not emit heat that might harm other organs. Human tissue may be dissected with less stress, bleeding, and postoperative issues by varying the flow rate and pressure.

Vehicle Industry: The ability of water jet cutting to be incorporated into robotic systems is a crucial aspect of its utilization in the car sector. Pure water jet cutting is used to form head linings, indoor carpets, and insulation. Both water jet cutting techniques are used. Pure water jet cutting causes the elimination of clean-up and low material waste.

Industrial Cleaning using Water Jet Cutting: During the course of many industrial operations, undesirable materials are produced. Additionally, owing to the build-up of rust, scales, and flakes, industrial conduits, and storage tanks need to be cleaned. Although extremely corrosive cleansers may remove built-up debris, they might not be appropriate in all situations. Industrial machinery, storage containers, and pipes may be safely removed and cleaned using a high-pressure water jet cutting device's high-speed, pulsing blast.

Food Industry cutting: A technique of cutting food that has been recognized by the USDA offers productivity and hygienic advantages is water jet cutting. The food sector relies on water jet cutting for its accuracy and helps with portion control, much like other industrial applications for it. Frozen goods, pastries, poultry, fish, and Meat may all be expertly and precisely shaped with a water jet cutter.

Cutting of Glass: Water jet cutting of glass is employed because the cutting stream may be modified, adjusted, and changed, much as in the medical industry. Glass cutting is an extremely delicate technique that calls for precise instruments to prevent shattering or puncturing the glass. Smooth and effective cutting is made possible by water jet cutting's capacity to cut glass without harming the material's internal structure. Any shape, form, arrangement, or workpiece may be precisely sliced using the omnidirectional stream. The stream's precise precision and tremendous pressure enable it to carve structures without distortion, holes, and notches.

Water Jet Fiberglass Cutting: The main concern while handling fiberglass is safety, which calls for accuracy, efficiency, and precision. Fiberglass may be shaped and formed by water jet cutting without producing dust or waste. Quick cuts are created to the application's exact measurements.

Water Jet Cutting Electronics: Cost is a significant problem in the manufacture of electronics. Manufacturers are always looking for methods to cut costs while boosting productivity. Water jet cutting has become an important component in the fabrication of electronics due to its efficiency and cost-effectiveness. Circuit boards may be sliced using this method whether they are filled with components or not. Additionally, it works well for stripping wires without having to worry about doing any harm to the wire.

FAQs: Water Jet Cutting Machine

Question: How does the water jet cutting machine work?

Answer: Simply said, a material's internal degradation is increased during the waterjet cutting process. A mixing chamber is filled with highly pressurized water that is shot via a ruby or diamond nozzle. The vacuum produced by the pressure pulls garnet sand into the stream, where it is discharged towards the target to be cut.

Question: How type of metal can a water jet machine cut?

Answer: Prominent metal fabricators use waterjet machines because they can readily cut any metals, including hardened tool steel, aluminum, titanium, copper, brass, and other exotic metals.

Question: What is the difference between laser cutting & water jet cutting machines?

Answer: More inches per minute are cut by laser cutting than by waterjet cutting on average.