Water jet technology may be something you are considering for your manufacturing operation. A water jet cutting machine can slice into just about anything using a jet of water at extremely high speed. A waterjet cuts softer materials, while an abrasive waterjet is used for harder products. Due to its versatility when it comes to cutting many different products, a waterjet has many uses.
If your company needs to cut metals, foam, rubber, composites or plastics, hydro cutting allows you to cut material up to six inches thick. Water jet cutting doesn’t produce heat like a saw or laser, so you can cut without any effect on the material itself. Abrasive water jet cutting is also commonly used to make precise cuts on tile or stone to reduce wasted material. A waterjet can accurately cut holes, curves and intricate designs in tile inlays. A few of the unique benefits of water jet cutting are:
1. More versatility in cutting a range of hard and soft materials;
2. The ability to stack materials up to a thickness of six inches for faster cutting on large projects;
3. And a cleaner finish means less work on the edge after the water jet cuts it.
Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done
Outsource waterjet services to cut a plethora of materials for your business
If you need to accurately cut any type of material, you can either use a traditional waterjet, or an abrasive waterjet for harder materials. As a rule of thumb, you can use either tool on anything that typically would get smashed or otherwise ruined by most other cutting tools. If you only need a few items cut, or simply do not feel comfortable operating a machine, you can outsource waterjet services to companies that do it professionally.
I recommend: MotionNet.com offers a directory of waterjet companies, allowing you to leave the cutting to the professionals.
Buy a water jet cutter for frequent projects
If you are in the construction or manufacturing industry and often need to cut tile, metal, aluminum, marble, or just a simple sign, purchasing a water jet cutter would be more cost effective than outsourcing frequently.
I recommend: Calypso WaterJet Systems, Inc. offers the Calypso Shark LWA, which allows both traditional and abrasive water jet cutting.
WaterjetPRO also sells hydro cutting systems, giving you several choices in table size, pump design, and software.
Purchase a used water jet cutter to save your company money
The cost of water jet cutting can be high, so defray costs by purchasing a used waterjet. Many companies offer a large selection of used systems that work just as well as brand new machines.
I recommend: Flow International Corporation sells used waterjets when available, and
Richel, Inc. offers a training course to help you operate your used waterjet.
Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide
- Water jet technology can be used for more than cutting, so if your industry does not have a need for cutting materials, consider using this technology to clean. A dental water jet is just one example of the cleaning applications water jet technology offers, which further exemplifies its versatility.
The official source of Water Jet Cutting is the Water Jet Cutting page at Business.com
Featured Vendors
Water Jet CuttingFind Water Jet Cutting Resources. Search listings and reviews of retailers, specialists and services in your local area now.
JustClickLocal.com
GlobalSpec.com: Waterjet CuttingProvides database of suppliers for Waterjet Cutting. Browse catalogs and view technical information.
www.globalspec.com
GlobalSpec.com: Waterjet Cutting MachineDatabase of suppliers for waterjet cutting machines. Browse catalogs, view technical information, and contact suppliers.
process-equipment.globalspec.com
Find Great Brands, Deals & more at Smarter.comCompare prices, coupons and rebates from thousands of online stores to get the lowest price. Start Shopping now!
www.smarter.com