The superb edge-finish you get when you slice through materials using pressurised water is common knowledge. What is sometimes less discussed, is metal cutting with water jet technology.
Water jet cutting machinery is often associated with intricate designs and a way of engineering accurate prototypes, parts and structures from materials with tensile properties that don’t respond well to heat or abrasion.
Which can lead to the question, can you cut metal with a water jet?
The short answer is, absolutely! In fact, water jet cutting steel and other heavy-duty materials is a regular task at Custom Moulded Polyurethane’s HQ!
It’s worth digging down on this topic though, to look at the advantages of this precision engineering method, and the science behind water’s ability to slice through metal.
How can water cut metal?
First, it’s worth a quick refresher on what is water jet cutting?.
Then, you can watch this video that shows off what a water jet cutter is capable of:
This is an option for engineering parts based on any visual spec, such as DXF, DWG, IGS, CADKEY, CDL and HPL files.
After the programming is complete, this innovative equipment directs high velocity, pressurised water streams according to preset design perimeters.
Including adjustments to respond to the performance values of the material being used. It can be programmed to tackle materials whatever their type, thickness, density and tensile properties.
This precision engineering cutting method always produces a pristine finish, with no flaking, burning, shredding, melting or distortion.
That’s because the water subjected to ultra-high pressure – and forced through the jet nozzles fast – is cold.
It does usually contain carefully calibrated, small abrasive particles though. This adds to its ability to achieve flawless metal cutting with water jets.
Related Article: Water Jet Cutting: What Is It And What Materials Can It Cut?
Applications for water jet cutting technology
The possibilities of industrial water jet cutting – when you put your project in the hands of a highly skilled team – are mind-boggling.
The technology can be adapted to a vast range of specs.
From complex design work on a myriad of materials like polyurethane and rubber to shaping common metals like mild steel and aluminium. Or, you can opt for this cutting method to carve effortlessly through titanium and brass.
Water jet cutting equipment can be calibrated to a micrometre (that’s 1000 times smaller than a millimetre). So, intricate and complex detailing is not a problem, even when heavy-duty source materials are involved.
The same highly programmable cutting technology can be used to craft items from potentially fragile materials too, such as glass and porcelain, and it can achieve a delicate outline in foam or card.
This makes the water jet cutting process an excellent option for shaping metals, or any other material you can think of.
Whether you need large panels created with a flawless edge and perfect fit, or small metal parts engraved and cut out accurately to ensure optimal functionality.
No wonder metal cutting with water jet machinery is widespread in the automotive and aerospace industries, from bodywork panels to high-calibre engine components.
Related Article: Water Jet Cutting Facility: Advantages of Water Jet Cutting Answered
Accuracy is not the only reason to cut metal with water jets
The answer to can you cut metal with water jet equipment is clear. However, the reasons to outsource metal parts to water jet cutting experts still need some explanation.
Not only is this an incredibly versatile system to precision engineer parts from metal, but it is also fast and efficient!
The quick turnaround when you commission metal cutting using water jet technology is also one of the reasons this is such a low-cost way to engineer parts and structures. Machine set-up time is fast when you use experts in this metal shaping option, and even multi-runs can be achieved swiftly
It’s worth emphasising too that the resulting part or structure will have perfect integrity.
Water jet cutting metal (or any other material) doesn’t create any of the often ‘invisible’ issues alternative cutting methods do. For example, there is no thermal damage and no fine scratches or scuffs on the cut edge.
This can make water jet equipment the preferred way to craft components for medical devices for example when microscopic reliability can be a matter of life or death!
Related Article: Custom Water Jet Cutting: Everything You Need To Know
Outsourcing metal cutting with water jet technology
Not many companies have either the innovative equipment or programming skills to support metal cutting with water jet machinery – certainly not as quickly, cleanly and cost-effectively as the team at Custom Moulded Polyurethane.
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