Therefore, it is essential to understand ‘what is a water jet nozzle?’ and its many different types. This article will explore all there is to know about waterjet nozzles, their types, specifications, materials, and a guide to selecting the best one.

What is a Waterjet Nozzle?

A waterjet nozzle is the part that focuses the water stream on the desired workpiece location. It is the final part of the water delivery system of the machine.

It is also known as the focusing tube or the mixing tube. The waterjet nozzle is made of extremely sturdy construction to handle the ultra-high hydraulic power involved with waterjet cutting.

Due to the highly pressurized water, nozzle wear is common in waterjet cutting. Therefore, the water jet nozzle is a machine part that requires periodic replacement.

What is the Purpose of the Water Jet Nozzle?

The purpose of the water jet nozzle is to focus the water stream on the workpiece. The optimal width of the water stream for cutting varies for every material and thickness.

Therefore, a nozzle ensures you can use the appropriate water jet nozzle for the best cutting result. The nozzle contains a jewel orifice for the exit of the water stream. This helps in the longer lifespan of the entire assembly.

What are the Different Types of Nozzles?

There are two different types of water jet nozzles. These are:

Pure Water Jet Nozzle

A pure water jet nozzle is used in waterjet cutting that does not use any abrasive. It applies in waterjet cutting of soft materials like paper, foam, rubber, textiles, cardboard, and plastics that do not need abrasive waterjet cutting.

Due to the absence of abrasive particles, the size of the orifice can be extremely narrow.

Abrasive Water Jet Nozzle

An abrasive water jet nozzle is used in the abrasive waterjet cutting of hard materials that the force of the water alone cannot cut feasibly. An abrasive jet nozzle design differs greatly from a pure water jet nozzle.

An abrasive jet nozzle has an additional mixing chamber where the abrasive particles are introduced in the water. There is an inlet into the nozzle for the entry of abrasive particles.

The purpose of the high-pressure water is for the acceleration of the abrasive particles. The material is cut with high-velocity abrasive particles Commonly cut materials with abrasive jet nozzles are metals, alloys, ceramics, composites, stone, glass, etc.

Specifications of a Water Jet Nozzle

There are many technical specifications to learn about water jet nozzles to understand how to differentiate between the different options. These specifications are:

Orifice Diameter

The orifice diameter is the width of the gap in the jewel orifice. A lower orifice diameter means a more narrow water jet stream. Using a small orifice diameter will create a higher-pressure water jet. However, it will also increase the nozzle wear tremendously. This creates a more frequent need for nozzle replacement.

What is the diameter of a water jet cutting nozzle?

The diameter of a water jet cutting nozzle is generally three times the nozzle orifice diameter.

The nozzle orifice diameter is kept small enough to keep the kerf width minimum and accuracy at the maximum.

However, the value should not be too small because it will reduce the cutting speed and increase nozzle wear.

Flow Rate

The flow rate is defined as the water volume that goes through the orifice per unit time. Flow rate is a numerical value measured in Litre per minute (LPM) or Gallons per minute (GPM). A higher flow rate increases the speed of the waterjet cutting. However, it also increases the nozzle wear.

Nozzle Size

The nozzle size refers to the width of the nozzle bore hole. This value is three times the orifice diameter. The size of the water jet cutting nozzles can be divided into three segments:

• Small Nozzles: A small nozzle is used when high accuracy or intricate details are required in the water jet cutting process. The diameter of these nozzles can range from 0.254 mm to 1.016 mm (0.01 in to 0.04 in). Small nozzles provide a higher control of the cutting process.
• Medium Nozzles: Medium nozzles are used when working on surfaces or during general cutting operation. The precision is not the primary requirement for the medium nozzle cutting operation. The nozzle bore diameter can vary between 1.016 mm to 2.032 mm (0.04 in to 0.08 in).
• Large Nozzle: Large nozzle is used when high speed cutting is the primary requirement. They can process bulk material cutting at a rapid rate. The nozzle bore diameter ranges from 2.032 mm to 6.35 mm (0.08 in to 0.25 in).

Pressure Rating

Pressure rating is the maximum amount of water pressure that the nozzle can handle optimally. Exceeding the water pressure beyond this limit can degrade the nozzle severely and even cause nozzle breakdown. The pressure rating can vary from nozzle to nozzle. The manufacturers provide this value with the replacement nozzle.

How much pressure is in a waterjet nozzle?

Modern waterjet cutting nozzle can reach pressures as high as 90,000 psi. However, such extreme values cause wear of all the internal components, including the nozzle. Water pressures between 40,000 psi to 60,000 psi are considered the best for optimal performance and long life of the nozzle.

What Material Is Used For Making Waterjet Nozzles?

There are many different options for waterjet nozzle materials. The exact choice of material can vary depending on the intended lifespan, pressure rating, applications, and cost limits. Common materials for waterjet nozzle are:

Tungsten Carbide: Tungsten Carbide is the most popular material for waterjet nozzles. Tungsten Carbide nozzles fare exceptionally well in terms of performance and strength. The hardness of Tungsten Carbide is similar to diamond. Tungsten Carbide nozzles are rated for extreme waterjet pressures up to 90,000 psi. With ideal usage, Tungsten Carbide nozzles can last for over 200 hours. With rough use, these nozzles can require replacement after 100 hours.

Sapphire: Sapphire nozzles provide high durability and an affordable cost. Additionally, these nozzles are completely chemically inert. The lifespan of these nozzles is at the shorter end of the scale, lasting for around 50 to 100 hours. These nozzles are good up to 60,000 psi to 70,000 psi water pressure. Ruby nozzles in the market also have identical properties to the sapphire nozzles.

Diamond: Diamond nozzles are the best in terms of durability and hardness. These nozzles can withstand the most extreme water pressures and the hardest abrasives. The lifespan of these nozzles is also the longest. It is common for many diamond nozzles to come with a 1000 hour life expectancy. These nozzles are also the most expensive choice, costing around twenty times more than sapphire nozzles. They can be cost-effective in bulk abrasive jet cutting of very hard materials.

Ceramics: Ceramic nozzles are emerging as an innovative material choice for waterjet cutting. These nozzles can be even more durable than hardened steel. These nozzles are completely corrosion-resistant. The lifespan of a ceramic nozzle depends on the material used in the particular nozzle.

Nozzle Connection Type

There are multiple connection types available for waterjet cutting nozzles Two of the most common connection types are:

• Threaded Nozzles: Threaded connection has screw-like threads on the nozzle connector ends. This requires a proper tooling to fit and remove the nozzles. However, threaded nozzles can handle extreme pressures and are completely leak-free with proper fitting. Threaded nozzles ensure that there are no accidental disconnects during operation.
• Quick-Connect Snap Nozzles: Quick-connect snap nozzles are also marketed as quick-disconnect nozzles. These nozzle couplings don’t require dedicated tools for fitting or dismantling the nozzle. These are completely unthreaded nozzles. There are generally snap mechanisms in place that can lock the nozzle on the machine. Generally, quick-connect nozzles cannot handle ultra high pressure like the threaded nozzle. However, quick-connect nozzles are very convenient to use and replace. The mechanical locks can sometimes accidentally disconnect during operation.
• Quick-Connect Screw Nozzles: Quick connect screw nozzles are threaded variations of the snap nozzles. There are locking mechanisms in place but the nozzle requires additional screwing, which is fairly easy. These nozzles are more secure than snap nozzles and don’t disconnect during operation.

What Materials Can a Waterjet Nozzle Cut?

Waterjet nozzles can cut through virtually any material. Some of the common materials are:

• Metals: Waterjet is able to cut through the hardest metals and metal alloys such as hardened steel. Metal cutting requires an abrasive jet nozzle for a smooth and fast operation.
• Ceramic: Waterjet cutting is commonly used for cutting ceramic tiles and stone. It may use an abrasive jet nozzle or a pure waterjet nozzle, depending on the type of ceramic.
• Glass: Waterjet cutting glass is common in art, construction, decor, and many other sectors. Abrasive jet nozzles can cut through any glass, including bullet proof glass.
• Rubber: Waterjet is a great way to cut rubber. Rubber can be cut with a pure waterjet nozzle at low pressures. This makes it a very cost-effective option.
• Plastics: Waterjet can cut through any plastic without heating it. Plastic cutting usually requires an abrasive jet nozzle.
• Foam: Waterjet cutting foam creates very clean cuts without any burn marks. It is a cheap cutting method using a pure waterjet nozzle.
• Thin Films: Waterjet is a great way to cut very thin foils and films (such as aluminum foil). A pure waterjet nozzle is enough for cutting thin foils even made of metals.
• Wood: Soft or thin wood can be cut with a pure waterjet nozzle. Hardwoods or very thick woods require an abrasive jet nozzle.

How to Choose the Right Waterjet Nozzle?

Choosing the right waterjet nozzle should be done considering several factors. These factors are:

• Application: The primary decision for choosing the right nozzle is based on the particular application. Certain applications can straightaway eliminate many of the available nozzle options. For instance, applications involving high pressures cannot use snap connection type nozzles.
• Material: There are many different options for the nozzle material. Choose a suitable material based on whether or not you would be using an abrasive. Factor in how often you want to make nozzle replacements. Different materials have different lifespans. If you don’t mind investing in quality, diamond can be a good choice. Tungsten Carbides are tried and tested nozzles that are the most commonly used.
• Orifice Size: The size of the orifice is also very application specific. The size depends on the type of material and its thickness. There is no standard orifice size suited for all applications. Find out the orifice size based on manufacturers instructions or by trying different options for your use cases.
• Pressure Rating: Once you have decided on a nozzle, ensure its maximum pressure rating is safely above the water pressure you use.
• Manufacturer: Opting for a trusted and reliable manufacturer is always recommended instead of a third-party option. Manufacturers such as Techni Waterjet provide long-term reliability with spare part availability and technical support when needed.

How Long Does a Waterjet Nozzle Last?

A waterjet nozzle can last anywhere from 40 hours to 1000 hours. The lifespan mainly depends on the nozzle material and the usage conditions.

Misusing the nozzle can significantly degrade its performance and provide a lower lifespan.

What is the Cost of a Water Jet Nozzle?

The cost of a waterjet nozzle can start at $20 and go over $400. The price of the nozzle is not a direct relation to its cost-effectiveness.

A $400 diamond nozzle might be more cost-effective than a $20 sapphire nozzle due to its longer lifespan and less downtime due to replacements.

Therefore, the running cost of the nozzle varies depending on the particular use case. Tungsten Carbide nozzles are a good middle ground, costing around $50 to $100.

Endnotes

The nozzle is an integral part of a water jet system. The tiny hole in the nozzle focusing tube is responsible for the high-speed water that can pierce through the hardest materials.

However, choosing the wrong nozzle can lead to disastrous results such as poor accuracy, sharp corners, water spread, and slow cutting speeds. Follow the information above to get the best nozzle fit for your project.

Feel free to contact us if you need an expert advice. Our team is always ready to help!

The post What is a Water Jet Nozzle: Definition, Types, Materials & Specifications appeared first on TechniWaterjet.

Waterjet cutting is effortless to adapt in any industrial setting. However, some waterjet cutting tips and trick can help improve the results for beginners and professionals alike. This article will go through these tips for improving the pure and abrasive waterjet cutting performance.

Top Tips to Maximize Waterjet Cutting Productivity

Each of the following tips can be very useful when cutting any material with the waterjet cutting process:

1. Parameter Selection: Parameters like the cutting speed and the abrasive flow rate are based on the use cases. There is no universal ideal value. Try various settings on your application-based test cases to determine which value will give the best result for you. You can note down that value and use it for future cutting.

2. Stacking: You can place multiple sheets of material on each other to cut them simultaneously. This process is called stacking. Stacking can increase the productivity of the whole operation exponentially. However, it is only applied when multiple pieces of the same shape are required consistently.

3. Material Orientation: The orientation of the material can significantly influence the cutting quality. Cutting across the grain will produce different results than cutting against it. Try different orientations for the material being cut to determine which will create the best outcome.

4. Operator Skill: A skilled operator can get the most out of a waterjet machine’s capability. At the same time, an unskilled operator can create disastrous results even from high-end waterjet machines. It’s essential to ensure your operator is highly skilled and has the necessary training to work on the machine.

However, the importance of ongoing learning and adaptation can’t be overstated. The field of waterjet cutting is continually advancing, with new techniques and technologies emerging regularly.

Regular training programs, workshops, and industry events can be valuable resources for staying updated with the latest trends and improvements in the waterjet cutting process.

5. Piercing Point: For a high quality cut, use a pierce point inside the area that will be cut out. This helps in providing precision cutting as well. If you directly cut the material at the cut location, the initial starting point will have a higher kerf width.

6. Taper: Thick materials show the phenomenon of taper during cutting with a waterjet. This happens due to the spread of the waterjet stream as it travels vertically. Account for taper when adjusting the cutting parameters. Modern software have automated adjustments for taper deviation.

7. Material Usage: When cutting out multiple pieces from a single sheet, use the software to arrange cutouts to get most out of the material and generate minimal waste.

8. Supports: The workpiece requires proper support during the cutting process. Insufficient or loose support fixtures can cause warping and bending of the material. Lack of support or improper support can also cause vibrations, reducing precision. Supports can include jigs, fixturing, clamps, or an alignment guide.

9. Safety Process: Ensure that the operator is trained in the safety procedure for the machine. Additionally, ensure the machine has safeguards like light curtains or guard railings. Waterjet machines also require safety goggles to protect the eyes from the water splatter.

10. Selecting Material: If there is an option for choosing between different materials, choose a material that is easier to machine. Waterjet cutting can cut hard and thick materials. However, materials with good machinability can provide faster cutting speed.

11. Lead-in and Lead-out: Understand using lead-in and lead-out to optimize material usage while keeping the cut quality high. The lead-in and lead-out points should be outside the production part so as to not create any scarring on the part itself. However, the distance of these points from the part should not be excessive as it would create added material waste.

12. Choosing Lead-in and Lead-out Points: Lead-in and lead-out points should not be arbitrary. The best location for these points is on the material area that will go to waste. If these points have to come inside the production part, choose an area where the quality is unimportant, such as features that will not be visible to the eye.

13. Brittle Material: Brittle materials can have excessive chipping when the waterjet cutting starts and the machine adjusts the flow rate and water pressure. Therefore, brittle material requires additional lead-in distance. If there is insufficient lead-in, chipping will occur inside the production part area.

14. Single vs. Dual Cutting Head: Dual cutting head can create faster cuts. However, equating the water pressure between the two cutting heads can be difficult. Therefore, the cutting quality can deteriorate. It is better to choose a single cutting head, making it easier for the operator to oversee the process.

15. Maintaining Logs: When making changes to any cutting parameter like water pressure or abrasive flow rate, note down the value that you are using. This helps in later iterations to create the same result or to avoid any problems. It can also provide a reference point to understand which direction to choose for getting the desired result.

16. Air Gaps: When stacking thin materials, ensure that the parts are layered together without any gap in between. Air gaps higher than 0.020 inches can cause poor cutting on the bottom layer. This is because the water stream tends to spread out in the air gap.

17. Underwater Cutting: Cutting underwater is a great way to eliminate the noise generated in a waterjet cutting. It will also eliminate any water splatter, which is a common problem with waterjet technology. Another benefit is that underwater waterjet cutting will avoid any unwanted surface frost effects.

18. Nozzle Cleaning: The nozzle is prone to getting clogged due to debris and impurities present in the water. It is important to clean the nozzle regularly to ensure the cutting results are up to the standards.

19. Nozzle Inspection: The nozzle will wear out with the use due to the extreme pressure of the water. Inspect the nozzle regularly and change it when the wear is excessive. The manufacturer’s manual will provide detailed guidelines to change the nozzle for your particular waterjet machine.

20. Tool Path Optimisation: Use the waterjet software to optimize the tool path for the cutting process. Remove any unnecessary movement of the cutting heads. Additionally, it is better to use single-pass waterjet cutting than to use multiple passes. Extra tool movement increases abrasive usage, which builds up the operation costs of abrasive waterjet cutting. It also increases tool wear and decreases precision.

21. Test Cut: Waterjet cutting provides different results for different materials, water pressure, and various settings. Therefore, before cutting the actual part, always do a test run to find out how the machine is performing and if any variation is required.

22. HP vs. Psi: A common confusion occurs when choosing between a higher horsepower or a high pressure. A common rule of thumb is to go with a high horsepower when seeking a rapid increase in cutting speed. A high waterjet pressure will not increase cutting speed substantially, but it will increase the cutting efficiency.

23. Water Quality: Water quality can be essential in waterjet cutting. Treating the input water before feeding it into the machine is recommended. The ideal Total Dissolved Solids (TDM) of the water should be less than 100 ppm. The ideal value of silica in the water is 1 ppm. Water with poor quality will still cut the workpiece. However, it can degrade the parts of the machine at a faster rate.

24. Water Temperature: The extreme pressure used in waterjet cutting can lead to the water reaching high temperatures. This degrades the seals and other parts inside the intensifier pump. Using cool water for the cutting process can reduce this problem. The ideal temperature of water fed to the direct drive pump is 21.1° C.

If the water temperature exceeds the ideal value in a waterjet cutting system, it can have several negative impacts:

1. System Damage: Higher temperatures can cause premature wear and damage to the waterjet system’s components. This is especially true for seals and other parts inside the intensifier pump, which can degrade faster under high-temperature conditions. This can lead to frequent equipment breakdowns and increased maintenance costs.
2. Reduced Efficiency: The effectiveness and efficiency of the waterjet cutting process can decrease as the temperature of the water increases. High temperatures can alter the water’s properties, affecting the precision and speed of the cutting process.
3. Safety Concerns: Overheating can also lead to safety issues. For instance, very high temperatures could potentially cause a fire hazard in certain situations.

25. Abrasive Flowrate: The cost of abrasive is the major operating cost in abrasive waterjet cutting. However, this does not mean you can reduce costs by lowering the abrasive flow rate. Lowering the abrasive flow rate will significantly increase other costs due to a longer cutting time. Therefore, use the best abrasive flow rate for faster and high-efficiency cutting.

26. Protection Covers: Install a protection cutter on the cutting head. A protection cutter will protect the cutting head from damaging particles in abrasive waterjet cutting. It also protects against water backsplash and debris from damaging the machine parts.

27. Cutting Laminates: Cutting of laminates always brings the risk of delamination. You can avoid this with waterjet cutting by beginning the cut from the sides instead of the middle of the workpiece.

28. Spare Parts: It is a good idea to have spare parts for various components of the waterjet cutting machine. Having spare parts will avoid any downtimes during part failure. In addition, the operator should learn the basic fixes and repairs for the machine.

29. Soundproofing: Waterjet machines can cause a lot of noise pollution. It is a good idea to use soundproofing panels on the workshop walls to avoid noise pollution in the vicinity.

30. Software Update: It is common for waterjet cutting software to get new features. You can update the software to get these features. New updates can also improve the cutting tool path movement and efficiency.

31. Correct Abrasive: Multiple abrasive size options are available in the market. A good quality abrasive will have a uniform size of the particles, resulting in a uniform cut. The smaller abrasive size will create smooth and high-quality cuts. 120 mesh abrasive can be the best fit for most requirements. However, a smaller abrasive will have a slower cutting speed.

Endnotes

Follow the tips above to improve the quality of your cutting operation significantly. These tips will also eliminate most problems of the waterjet machine, reducing downtime and repairs. Most of these tips are easy to incorporate into your daily waterjet cutting process.

If you have more questions or are interested in learning more about optimizing your waterjet cutting process, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team at Techni Waterjet.

We’re always here to assist you in improving your industrial cutting operations.”

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This article will explore the application of waterjet cutting for the marine sector.

Waterjet Cutting

Waterjet cutting uses the extreme force of high-pressure water for cutting materials. Cutting is accomplished by eroding the particles of the workpiece. Waterjet cutting applies to a wide variety of materials like metals, non-metals, composites, paper, alloys, and more.

Cutting hard materials with a pure water jet is not fast enough. Therefore, abrasive materials are added to the water stream to speed up the process. The resulting method is called abrasive waterjet machining. Waterjet cutting is used in a variety of industries like the aerospace industry, defense industry, beverage industries, automotive industry, medical industry, etc.

What Marine Industry Materials Can Be Cut By a Waterjet?

Waterjet machines can virtually cut any type of material except diamonds. Therefore, it can achieve great results for all materials in the marine sector. The commonly encountered materials in the marine sector are:

Aluminum

Aluminum is the most used material not only in the marine industry but also in every other sector. Aluminum is used to craft large parts in the marine sector. Waterjet-cut aluminum makes deckhouses, hulls, ladders, railings, doors, window frames, and many other components.

Steel

Steel has exceptionally high strength and durability. This is why it is extensively used in marine applications. There are many grades of steel used for these purposes. All these grades can be easily cut with a waterjet cutter. In fact, water jet machining services can cut steel blocks 12 inches thick.

Stainless Steel

Stainless steel is preferred for many marine applications due to its corrosion resistance. Stainless steel also has good machinability so that the parts can be created cheaply. Waterjet cuts steel with a smooth edge for making fittings in ships and boating applications.

Titanium

Titanium is one of the strongest metals out there. It can resist corrosion even in extreme conditions of seawater. Deep sea equipment is encased in titanium shells for protection. These shells are made with waterjet cutting. Waterjet cutting can also make other titanium parts for seawater applications.

Alloys

The marine industry constantly uses alloys of copper-nickel, bronze, gunmetals, aluminum bronze, brass, silicon bronze, etc. The alloys combine properties like high physical strength, corrosion resistance, flexibility, and durability. These alloys often have poor machinability. Waterjet turns out to be a great way to cut these alloys.

Wood

Marine wood makes outdoor parts, stairs, furniture, support pillars, and many other components. Waterjet cuts multiple sheets of thick wood panels simultaneously. Unlike other cutting methods, using waterjet on wood doesn’t generate sawdust in the workplace.

Plastic

Plastics are used to make pipes, shafts, bearings, interior components, and many other things. Plastics are sensitive to heat. Therefore, conventional cutting processes can often cause thermal deformations in the material. However, waterjet cutting of plastic has no adverse effects.

Rubber

Rubber is used in marine applications for making fenders, bumpers, seals, and airtight containers. Rubber faces thermal deformations with hot-cutting processes similar to plastics. Therefore, water jet machining solutions are preferrable for marine rubber cutting.

Foam

Marine-grade foam is a versatile material. It replaces wood in many shipbuilding applications. It makes hulls, bulkheads, furniture, and interior parts. Foam cutting can be done with a  pure waterjet cutter without adding abrasives.

Fabrics

Fabrics are mainly used for ship interiors and sails in the case of sailboats. Fabric cutting can also be done with pure waterjet without using an abrasive. This makes it a very cheap and fast process. Additionally, fabric cut with waterjet has no burn marks, unlike the laser cutting service. This increases its appeal in interior applications.

Polyethylene

Polyethylene is a helpful material in the marine sector due to its waterproof and transparent nature. As such, it is used for making a protective box for electrical fittings. It also makes cable monitoring boxes, underwater visit boxes, and counter boxes.

Marine Applications of Water Jet Cutting

Waterjet has a wide range of applications in the marine sector. Some common applications of this technology are:

Marine Exteriors

Waterjet technology makes several parts for the outer body of ships, boats, yachts, and other marine vehicles. These parts include:

• Frames: Entire frame structures can be cut with a waterjet. Common materials include metals and wood.
• Door Panels: Waterjet cutters can cut door panels in a single pass. In fact, waterjet cut door panels are used in a variety of industries in addition to marine.
• Windscreen: Windows and windscreen are made using waterjet cutting technology. A common example is the windscreen seen on a yacht frame.

Marine Interiors

Waterjet cutting is preferred for interiors due to its high precision and no visible marks after cutting. Some of the interior parts that it creates are:

• Carpets: Carpets in ships and yachts are cut with a waterjet cutter.
• Seats: Seats are made with waterjet cut foams, leathers, and other textiles
• Dashboard: Dashboards are made with waterjet-cut plastics and composites

Construction

Waterjet cuts thick, hard materials for marine construction elements like:

• Support pillars
• Columns
• Hulls
• Deck
• Deckhouse

Miscellaneous Marine Parts

Many other components in marine applications are made using a water jet. These components are:

• O-rings
• Gasket cutting kits
• Flanges
• Brackets
• Clutch Plates
• Moldings
• Propeller
• Rudder
• Bow
• Keel

Advantages of Waterjet Cutting in the Marine Industry

Due to its unmatchable benefits, waterjet cutting is the preferred choice in various industries. Some of these benefits for the marine industry are:

• No Heat-affected Zones: Waterjet is a cold-cutting method. Therefore, there is no thermal deformation or burn marks on the material.
• Preserving Material Integrity: Thermal deformations alter the physical properties of materials. Waterjet cutting preserves these properties. This is essential in marine applications where accidents must be avoided at all costs.
• Speed: Waterjet cutting is a fast process. Additionally, it cuts multiple layers of material simultaneously. This leads to fast cutting.
• Accuracy: There is extreme precision involved in waterjet cutting. It can have tolerances as low as +/- 0.001″.
• Convenience: Waterjet can cut thick metal sheets with ease. This provides the convenience of moving large parts. Large parts can be cut into smaller parts and then assembled.
• Versatile: Waterjet cutters can work on a wide variety of materials. Therefore, a single machine can do multiple jobs.

Where to Find a CNC Waterjet Cutting Machine?

Techni Waterjet is the leading brand in the waterjet industry globally. Many prominent brands of all sectors use these machines in their assembly line. Techni Waterjet has a range of CNC waterjet cutting machines at different price points and with different features. All machines come with embedded software that can control the cutting process with the click of a button. Techni Waterjet is a top global supplier, so all spare machine replacement products are available promptly.

Conclusion

Marine industry professionals are switching to waterjet cutting due to its remarkable results. Quality waterjet solutions not only ease manufacturing, they also lead to complete customer satisfaction. Get in touch with Techni Waterjet to learn which waterjet machine will fit your requirements perfectly!

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Overview of Waterjet Cutting

Waterjet cutting technology utilized a highly pressurized water stream for piercing through a material and achieving the cutting action. The beam of water for this purpose is highly narrow, with a thickness less than a human hair. To ease the cutting process for hard materials like metals and alloys, abrasives are added to the water stream. The process is then called abrasive waterjet cutting.

How Does the Mining Industry Use Waterjet Cutting?

While mining is possible even without waterjet cutting, the use of this technology has helped in reducing stope height and increasing the safety standards of the mine.

Since the mining industry is notorious for its fatal accidents and life-threatening risks, the safety factor alone is a huge bonus for using waterjet technology.

The applications of waterjet in mining is not only limited to earth cutting, but also useful for other use cases such as slurry extraction.

What are the Mining Materials That Waterjet Technology Cuts?

In the mining industry, waterjet technology comes across a range of materials. Some of these materials are:

Gold

Gold is the material that led to the beginning of waterjet technology’s application in mining. Gold ores are soft materials, so waterjet technology can easily cut through the ore to extract the material. Gold is a weak formation in the gold ore, so it dissolves in the water stream and can be extracted from it easily.

Sandstone

In quarrying, sandstone is the most popular application of waterjet cutting. Sandstone mining commonly employs the technique of selective mining or borehole hydraulic mining. It is done with a pure water jet instead of adding abrasives. The material is disintegrated with a pure water jet and then pumped to the surface.

Coal

The mining of coal is done in a similar way to sandstone. However, in recent years, waterjet-assisted mechanical mining is being used instead of borehole hydraulic mining. Instead of using water to flush out the coal, the purpose of water jets is for pre-fracturing while mechanical tools cut out the coal.

Marble

Waterjet cutting can also be used for quarrying marble. However, the application of this technology for marble is quite less than for sandstone. However, waterjet cutting finds extensive application in marble cutting and etching.

Granite

Waterjet-assisted mechanical drilling is common in granite quarrying. Similar to the case of coal mining, waterjet in granite quarrying is used for pre-fracturing. The drilling itself is carried out with carbide-tipped tools. The use of water jets ends up reducing the energy density required for mining, saving costs and resources. For granite cutting, a mixture of water and abrasive is used.

Applications of Waterjet Technology in Mining Industry

Here are the specific use cases of water jet technology in the mining sector:

Rock Cutting

Waterjet cutters with abrasive materials are used for the destruction of hard rock which is crucial for the mining operation. Alternative cutting processes such as explosions create a lot of dust and unsafe work elements. However, waterjet cutting provides a safe and dust-free operation for cutting rock.

Dismantling Equipment

The mining industry is not a fixed-place industry. The equipment used needs to be dismantled and moved to new locations quite often. The dismantling work is quite difficult due to the heavy nature of the equipment. Waterjet helps in easing the dismantling operation by offering the cutting of metal frames, steel structures, conveyor belts, armored cables, and more.

Setting-up Equipment

Waterjet technology also assists during setup operations. For instance, when installing fasteners, a water jet helps in contouring the face preparatory workings for a secure assembly.

Waterjet-Assisted Mechanical Mining

Waterjet-assisted mechanical mining is one of the most widely used mining operations nowadays. Waterjet technology helps in pre-fracturing processes such as the weakening of the hard rock with discharge slots. The mechanical tools accomplish the job of final destruction and excavation.

Drainage Holes

Mining can often lead to fatal accidents due to outbursts of underground gases. Waterjet cutting provides the ability to create drainage holes for gases for avoiding such accidents, especially in the case of coal mines.

What are the Benefits of Waterjet Cutting in the Mining Industry?

There are many factors that make waterjet cutting one of the best technology for the mining industry. Some of these factors are:

• Dust-Free Cutting: One of the most important benefits of waterjet cutting in the mining sector is its dust-free cutting facility. When using a water jet to cut through rock or earth, the dust generated dissolves in the water itself. Therefore, the working environment is cleaner and better for physical labor.
• Versatility: Abrasive waterjet cutters can pierce through soft materials and hard materials alike. Their versatility provides the option to use them on any kind of terrain and for a wide variety of applications without any restrictions or changes in machinery.
• Cold Cutting Process: Mining is a temperature-sensitive affair for many resources such as coal. A water jet edge does not have any kind of thermal distortion or heating effects like heat-affected zone since it is a cold-cutting process.
• Productivity: Waterjet cutting expands the cutting efficiency and productivity of the whole mining operation. This is because the conventional operation requires multiple technologies for different materials along with the setup time for each method. However, the abrasive waterjet machine can handle many kinds of operations in a single setup.
• Labor Saving: Robotic waterjet machines operate through software programs instead of manual labor moving the cutting tool. This helps in saving up labor for higher-priority operations. It also increases the safety of the workforce.

Where to Find CNC Water Jet Cutting Machines?

Techni Waterjet is the leading provider of waterjet machines for the mining industry in North America. These machines are rugged enough to handle the tough requirements of the job and help you take over the competitive landscape.

There are many models to choose from based on the particular requirement and budgets. Besides the mining sector, Techni Waterjet machines are used in many other end-use industries like medical, aerospace, architecture, fabrication, automotive, etc.

Conclusion

Mining is one of the most demanding and testing industries, utilizing the most high-end equipment and technologies out there. Abrasive waterjet technology has proven itself to be one of the best-suited options for this sector. Outperforming alternative industrial tools in terms of performance, safety, and convenience, abrasive waterjet cutting can definitely be a great fit for anyone in this industry.

The post Techni Waterjet Cutting Applications for Mining Industry appeared first on TechniWaterjet.

Overview of Waterjet Cutting Technology

A waterjet cutter pierces through the material with the sheer force of extremely high water pressure generated by a waterjet intensifier pump. To cut hard materials like those in the oil and gas industry, abrasive particles are added to the waterjet system. The process then becomes abrasive waterjet cutting. The waterjet cutting process, both pure and abrasive, is used in a lot of other industries such as medicine, agriculture, defense, aerospace, architecture, fabrication, etc.

How Does the Oil and Gas Industry Use Waterjet Cutting?

The oil and gas industry uses equipment that needs to operate in the most hostile conditions out there, such as out in the ocean or a hundred feet underground. These materials are of the highest standards and conventional fabrication methods are usually unfeasible. However, a waterjet cutter can cut and process any type of material with ease.

What Types of Materials Can Be Cut With a Waterjet?

Abrasive waterjet cutting can cut through a variety of materials for the oil and gas industry. Some of these materials are:

• Inconel: Inconel is an alloy of nickel, chromium, and aluminum. It has very high corrosion resistance and works well in any type of condition. For instance, the separation of various fluids in the production system of natural gas is done by using Inconel equipment. Due to its high strength, other cutting methods do not work well on it. However, waterjet cutting can cut Inconel up to 12-18 inches in thickness.
• Hastelloy: Hastelloy is another nickel-based alloy that has a high resistance to chemicals. It is used to make components of the gas path, such as turbine combustors, pressure vessels, liners, chemical reactors, and pipes. Waterjet can cut Hastelloy in any shape for these versatile applications.
• Stainless Steel: Stainless Steel is an alloy with good machinability, weldability, corrosion resistance, and high strength. These qualities make it useful for making pipes, vessels, separators, heat exchangers, storage tanks, and many other parts for equipment like pumps. Waterjet stream cutting has great workability with steels like SS, providing a smooth edge and cutting thicknesses of 12 inches and even more.
• Copper: Copper is an excellent conductor of heat and electricity. Due to these properties, it finds extensive use in the oil and gas industry. Copper is usually employed for intricate parts like seals, stems, valves, and wellheads. These intricate parts are made using 5-axis waterjets.
• Titanium: Titanium has a high physical strength and good corrosion resistance, due to which it can withstand the pressure and adverse elements of underwater or deep drilling. Titanium parts in the oil and gas industry include fixtures, fittings, pump components, valves, heat exchangers, and data logging equipment. All of these components are made using abrasive cutting.

What are the Applications of Water Jet Cutting Services in the Oil and Gas Industry?

Waterjet technology finds application in the oil and gas sector in every stage of the process. Some of these applications are:

Research and Development

The oil and gas industry is always focussing on optimizing current parts and tools to support deeper drilling processes. The new parts are often of innovative materials with extremely tough physical characteristics. Waterjet stream cutting helps in the prototyping stage by precisely cutting these parts to the required dimensions and shape.

Mass Production of Parts

Waterjet cutters are used in the manufacturing of many parts used in oil and gas setups. Some of these parts include valves, flanges, gates, and fixtures.

Flash Cutting

Oil and gas components often accumulate unwanted additional material during casting and forging processes. This material is known as flash, and it is difficult to cut with conventional processes especially when it is in the interior of the parts. With waterjet cutting, flash can be removed from the interior as well as the exterior of parts with ease.

Underwater Cutting

Waterjet cutting can be used to cut subsea tubular structures such as piles, jacket legs, well casings, and well heads. Conventional cutting equipment doesn’t work well in such use cases.

Benefits of Waterjet Cutting in Oil and Gas Industry

There are many advantages of using conventional waterjet techniques in the oil and gas industry. These advantages are:

• Internal Cutting: Waterjet cutting can cut the insides of pipes and other parts, removing flash and sludge. There are not many other cutting processes that can accomplish this.
• No Heat-Affected Zones: Alternative cutting processes heat the edges of the material while cutting, leading to the formation of heat-affected zones. Heat-affected zones alter the physical and chemical properties of the material. However, since waterjet is a cold-cutting process, there are no heat-affected zones to worry about.
• Versatility: Waterjets are not limited to metals and can work on a wide range of materials, including alloys, glass, wood, plastics, ceramics, and many others. This feature gives waterjet the ability to solve multiple uses across the oil and gas supply chain.
• Safety: Due to the nature of the oil and gas industry, alternative cutting processes come with the risk of fire hazards and explosions. Due to waterjet being a cold-cutting process, there are no such risks.
• Environment Friendly: Waterjet cutting has a minimal kerf width, leading to reduced wastage of material. Additionally, all the removed material can be collected and sold as scrap. The water itself is recycled back into the system.
• Precision: Oil and gas parts need to be highly reliable since a breakdown can lead to a disruption of the entire supply. Waterjet fulfills this criterion quite well by offering tolerance as low +/- 0.001″. The parts require no secondary finishing to make them fit.
• Cost Effective: By offering high cutting speed and precision, waterjet turns out to be a more cost-effective option as compared to its alternative. Additionally, a single machine can support multiple cutting heads and can cut multiple sheets of material simultaneously, increasing production rate exponentially.

Where to Find a CNC Waterjet Cutting Machine?

Techni Waterjet is the leading supplier of waterjet cutters for the oil and gas industry. It provides high-quality waterjet cutting machines, rugged enough to handle the tough requirements of the job. Being a reputed brand, Techni Waterjet provides all the parts and spares that users require.

Conclusion

Waterjet cutting has improved the way in which the oil and gas industry functions, adding high-quality and precise parts at a lower manufacturing cost. High-quality machines, like those provided by Techni Waterjet, ensure smooth operation and the capability to eliminate any bottlenecks in the manufacturing lineup. If you are wondering about using waterjet technology for your industry, definitely give it a go.

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Overview of Waterjet Cutting

Waterjet cutting technology uses the force of extremely high-pressure water (over 40,000 psi) to generate the cutting action. For cutting harder or thicker materials, abrasive particles are mixed with the water stream and the process is called abrasive waterjet cutting.

Besides the medical industry, waterjet cutting finds a number of applications in the automotive industry, defense industry, agriculture industry, aerospace industry, and many other sectors.

How Does Waterjet Cutting Help the Medical Industry?

Waterjet technology is used in several areas of the healthcare industry, from medical devices to surgical equipment and prosthetics. Waterjet is a highly hygienic technology with several benefits that turn out to be very useful for sensitive areas of medical applications.

What are the Medical Materials That a Waterjet Can Cut?

Waterjet machines are well-known for their versatility when it comes to the range of materials they can cut. They carry this quality in the medical sector as well, working on a wide range of materials to make life-saving equipment. Some of the materials that they handle in this regard are:

Titanium

Titanium alloys are common biomaterials used for their high strength and elongation. Waterjet-cut titanium is used for making equipment that finds application in bone bonding, dental implants, cardiovascular devices, and more.

Steel

Steel has tremendous and varied use in the healthcare sector. From making frames of hospital beds and wheelchairs to surgical equipment such as knives, steel is used in every segment of medical science. There are many different types of steel used for this purpose, including stainless steel, carbon steel, and more. Waterjet can cut each of these different types of steel with ease.

PVC

Polyvinyl Chloride, or PVC, is used for making medical device bodies, tubes, blood bags, and many other things. With waterjet cutting, it is possible to cut highly thick sheets of PVC with ease. It also makes the unbreakable bottles used widely in the healthcare field.

Glass

Glass is a common material for making test tubes, specimen bottles, and even intricate objects like lenses and other optical equipment. Waterjet helps in making all of these products by providing superior glass-cutting abilities.

Plastics

The healthcare industry relies on a lot of different kinds of plastics for making medical equipment and prosthetics. Multi-axis waterjet cutting machines can create complex cuts on the plastics, shaping them into the final part without many secondary processes.

What are the Applications of Waterjet Technology in the Medical Industry?

Waterjet technology finds many uses in the medical field. Some of these applications are:

Medical Devices

• Prosthetics out of metal, wood, plastics, and composite materials.
• Artificial heart valves
• Wheelchairs
• Walkers
• IV stands
• Sinks
• Bowls
• Trays
• Containers
• Medical lab testing equipment

Surgical Tools

• Surgical knives
• Medical implants
• Dental cutting and grinding tools
• Orthopedic tools for bone cutting
• Plastic surgery tools for removing skin grafts, removing tattoos, liposuction, etc.
• Dermatological tools for removing dead skin cells
• Resection of soft tissues, liver, gallbladder, kidney, brain, prostate, etc.
• Cleaning wounds

Benefits of Waterjet Cutting for the Medical Industry

There are many reasons that make waterjet technology the best at what it does for the medical sector. Here are some of the reasons waterjet cutting has become the preferable technology in medicine:

• Precision: Medical industry deals with cases that are often life-and-death situations. It is important for the tools to have the highest levels of precision to ensure nothing goes wrong during their operation. Waterjet comes to be of help in this regard, providing tight tolerances of around +/- 0.003″ positional accuracy.
• Hygiene Standards: In a sensitive sector like healthcare, it is important to have high hygiene standards. Waterjet cutting is a great way to ensure it since there is no human contamination factor. The tool is operated by a computer and the cutting head never comes in contact with the workpiece.
• Versatility: Waterjet machines can cut a large number of materials, including metals, glass, plastics, ceramics, and others. Additionally, it is possible to cut complex and irregular shapes with these machines. This gives them the ability to work in every area of the medical industry without restraints.
• Surface Quality: Waterjet cutting provides a smooth surface quality to the workpieces being cut. This eliminates the requirement of any secondary processing or grinding of the tools.
• Cold Cutting Process: Alternative cutting processes like plasma or laser cutting heat the edges that are being cut. However, waterjet cutting is a cold-cutting process with no heat-affected zone or thermal distortion. This preserves the integrity of the material and removes the possibility of discoloration.
• Optimal Material Usage: The kerf width is minimal in waterjet cutting. This leads to minimal wastage of material. Additionally, all the removed material is dissolved in the water and can be strained and recycled later.
• Wide Size Range: Waterjet cutting has a wide range when it comes to the acceptable size of the workpiece. It can craft very small components as well as very large ones. There is even the feature to stack multiple sheets of material on top of each other and cut them simultaneously.
• Cost Effective: Due to the high productivity, high speed, and low wastage of the waterjet cutting process, it is a very cost-effective option.

How to Source CNC Waterjet Cutting Machines?

The medical industry has high standards and requires machines that can be compliant with these standards. Techni Waterjet CNC machines are considered the best in this regard, used by the leading manufacturers in the healthcare industry.

Techni Waterjet machines come in various options to choose from based on the requirement. Additionally, being a branded provider of waterjet cutters in the US, the spare parts are available whenever required.

Conclusion

Waterjet cutting has changed the way medical equipment is crafted, adding new levels of precision. The future of medical technology is going towards the nanoscale, and waterjet technology, due to its ultra-high precision and scalability, is able to handle these requirements quite well.

The post Waterjet Cutting for Medical Industry appeared first on TechniWaterjet.

Overview of Waterjet Cutting

Waterjet cutting is the process of using highly pressurized water to pierce through any material and create the cutting action. When working with harder materials like metals and alloys, small abrasive particles are mixed with the water stream and the process is called abrasive waterjet cutting.

Cutting for defense industry usually utilizes this abrasive waterjet technique. Besides crafting defense components, waterjet technology is also used in other industries such as agriculture, medical, aerospace, automotive, and more.

How Does the Military and Defence Industry Use Waterjet Cutting Technology?

Waterjet cutting has become the backbone of industries such as aerospace and defense that work on new ideas and the toughest materials. industries like these have a high standard to follow and no acceptable margin for error. Additionally, due to constant research and development, the parts required are usually custom. This makes waterjet technology the ideal fit for the job.

What are the Materials That Can Be Cut With a Waterjet?

The defense industry manufacturers work on a wide variety of products, from military weapons to defensive equipment. Therefore, waterjet technology deals with a lot of materials in the defense supply chains. These materials include:

Titanium

Titanium is a metal with an extremely high strength to weight ratio. Additionally, other physical properties like its corrosion resistance makes it an ideal material for many purposes in the defense sector. Waterjet cut titanium can make military equipment that requires a rugged, long lasting, and high strength material.

Aluminum

Aluminum is used in the defence sector when the primary concern is keeping the weight of the metal components to a minimum. Waterjet can cut every grade of aluminum for this purpose, including aluminum based alloys of the 5000 and 7000 series.

Alloys

Defense industries use a number of alloys such as Stainless Steel 15-5, Stainless Steel 17-4, Stainless Steel 17-5, superalloys, Rene 41, nickel based alloys 625, 718, HX, 230, and many others. Many of these alloys are difficult to cut since their hardness is greater than conventional cutting tools. However, waterjet cutting systems can handle them with ease.

Kevlar

Kevlar is a popular defense material known for its extremely high tensile strength. Kevlar is used for making bullet proof vests for defense industry clients. Kevlar cutting is done by using an abrasive waterjet system.

Armour Plates

Armour plates are made with thick sheets of steel or iron. Cutting these sheets can be a herculean task with physical cutters and methods like EDM don’t really work well for such thickness. However, a waterjet system can cut armour plates of more than 18″ of thickness.

Glass

Defense uses many different types of glass such as ballistic glass, bullet proof glass, bullet resistant glass, and transparent armor glass. These glasses have very high strength and impact resistance. However, waterjet cutting can cut all these different types of glass with a smooth edge.

PVC

Polyvinyl Chloride, going by its common name PVC, is flame resistant, flexible, and rugged. It is used for a number of different products in the defense sector, from making the soles of combat boots to use in electrical insulation in equipment. Waterjet cutting cuts PVC sheets to be useful for defense industry products.

What are the Applications of Waterjet Technology in the Defense Sector?

Waterjet technology helps in the manufacturing of a wide range of equipment for defense industry customers. Some of the areas and products that utilize waterjet cutting are:

• Armour
• Military Aircraft frames
• Aircraft fuselages
• Rotary blades
• Frames and components for support vehicles
• Jeeps
• Weapon systems
• Components for firearms such as the M16 and AR-15 rifles
• Military humvees
• Missile chassis and other components
• Unmanned Aircraft Vehicles (UAV)
• Unmanned AIrcraft Systems (UAS)
• Shell Ejection Components
• Bullet proof armour plates for vests and vehicles
• Flexible feed chute assemblies for automatic ammunition systems
• Structural components for many other defence equipment
• High-wear defense applications

What are the Benefits of Waterjet Systems in the Defense Industry?

There are many factors that make waterjet cutting solutions the best bet in the defense industry.  There are many reasons that put the capabilities of waterjet systems over other alternatives. Some of the benefits of these systems are:

• Versatility: Waterjet systems are highly versatile and can work on many different types of materials. This is a great benefit for the defense industry since it uses a lot of new innovative materials in low production runs. Additionally, waterjet even cuts materials that are hard to machine when using other methods.
• Fast Turnaround: Waterjet cutting is fast and it can cut multiple sheets of material simultaneously. This is a great fit for strengthening the capabilities of defense industries which already run on strict deadlines. Additionally, a single waterjet setup allows up to 4 heads and 4 bridges, significantly boosting productivity.
• No Thermal Distortion: Waterjet cutting does not create any heat-affected zones during cutting. This preserves the material integrity which is highly important for the defense sector since reliability is of supreme importance.
• Cutting Thickness: Waterjet stream can pierce thick layers of material, easily going up to a couple of feet for any metal and alloys.This makes it extremely useful when crafting thick armour plates.
• Accuracy: Defence contractors require precise products on a microscopic level. Waterjet fits the bit quite well, providing tolerances as low as +/- 0.001″. This further saves time and costs since no secondary processing is required to make the parts fit the required dimensions.
• Cost Effective: Due to its high production rate and the versatile nature of the waterjet technology, it turns out to be a very cost effective solution for defense contractors.
• Scalability: Waterjet systems are highly scalable solutions. They can cut everything from small, intricate internal components to large panels for aircraft frames and fuselages.

Where to Find CNC Waterjet Cutting Machines?

For defense applications, the waterjet systems need to be rugged to handle every type of material requirement that comes their way. Techni Waterjet is the industry leader in this regard, providing quality waterjet machines in a wide price bracket and with any custom features that you might require.

Conclusion

Due to its countless benefits, waterjet technology is definitely the preferable method for industrial cutting in the present and the foreseeable future. The defense industry is no exception and it is utilizing waterjet cutting systems across their assembly line.

Suitable for a wide range of materials, waterjet machines for defense are playing an important role in one way or another, either cutting raw materials or creating entire finished products. To know more about which waterjet system will suit your defense manufacturing requirements, give Techni Waterjet a call!

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Overview of Waterjet Cutting Technology

Waterjet technology is one of the best solutions for industrial cutting applications. It relies on the high force of pressurized water to create cuts on virtually any material. The pressure is generated by a pressure pump and usually lies between 40,000 psi to 90,000 psi.

Even higher pressure is possible and used for faster cutting of harder materials. Besides the automobile industry, waterjet technology is used in the electronics industries, medical industry, aerospace sector, defense, agriculture, and many other applications.

What are the Automotive Sector Materials That a Waterjet Can Cut?

Waterjet technology can cut any raw material regardless of its physical properties. In automotive applications, the range of materials includes:

Carbon Fibre

The automotive industry is replacing metal exterior panels with carbon fiber to reduce weight, improve aesthetics, lower the costs of the vehicles, and for several other reasons. However, carbon fiber components still have very high toughness. Waterjet cutting turns out to be a great way to cut carbon composite materials with ease, regardless of their thickness.

Aluminum

Aluminum is the go-to material for the frame and body of the automobile, along with some engine components. Waterjet cutters can create each of these components with extreme precision. Even intricate aluminum engine components can be crafted with a waterjet cutter. This technology can cut all types of automobile aluminum, including 5083, 5754, and 5052.

Steel

Steel is used in the automobile industry wherever high strength is required, such as the vehicle body structure, door closures, panels, drive train, and many other places. It includes many types of steel such as stainless steel, high carbon steel, low carbon steel, high strength steel, etc. Waterjet cutters can work on all these different types of steel to create the desired shape.

Textile

A wide variety of textiles are used for vehicle interiors in places such as carpets, roof, seat covers, and door liners. Textile cutting requires a process that does not create any blemishes on the surface since the primary purpose is aesthetics. Waterjet technology fulfills the criteria quite well. Common automotive textile materials are yarn, nylon fibers, filament, and leather.

Glass

The automotive industry uses many different types of glass and glass laminated materials in areas such as windshields, windows, and instrument clusters. Waterjet cutting can cut all different types of glass except for tempered glass. This is because tempered glass is designed to shatter whenever it is punctured due to an impact.

Rubber

The use of rubber is present in parts such as seals, gaskets, tires, and to hold components in place. The two main kinds of rubber used for these applications are butadiene rubber and styrene butadiene rubber. Waterjet cutters can cut every type of rubber with ease.

Plastics

There are many different types of plastics used in the interior components of the vehicle, such as the dashboard, filter casing, vents, pipes, and many other areas. This includes plastics such as ABS, PP, SMA, PPE, PC, and more. Waterjet technology can cut all these plastics even without using abrasive materials.

Automotive Applications of Water Jet Technology

As evident above, waterjet technology has a high versatility when it comes to the number of materials it can cut. Due to its high versatility, this technology has a very wide range of applications in both exterior and interior of the vehicle. Some of these applications are:

Vehicle Interiors

When cutting the interiors of the vehicle, the primary concern is to preserve the aesthetics and ensure the material surface does not get tainted. Cutting processes like laser cutting or using physical cutting tools generate a lot of heat which can damage the component. Being a cold-cutting process, waterjet preserves material integrity quite well in these applications and adds a smooth edge quality. Usually, pure waterjet cutting is enough for these applications. Some of the parts created are:

• Floor Carpets
• Roofs
• Floor mats
• Dashboard
• Vent grilles
• Upholstery
• Instrument cluster glass

Vehicle Exteriors

Vehicle exterior parts require not only good aesthetics but also high-strength materials for crashworthiness. Usually, the size of parts is quite large compared to other vehicle components. Abrasive waterjet, being a scalable solution, can cut out every exterior part of the vehicle. Some of the parts created are:

• Windshield
• Door panels
• Body panels
• Car hood
• Boot cover

Interior Components

Vehicle interior components require a cutting process that can create complex cuts with utmost precision. 3D waterjet technology is the most precise cutting method second only to laser cutting, without any of the adverse heat effects of the latter. This is why it is widely applied for interior parts like:

• Chain guard
• Brake rotors
• Throttle pedal mounts
• Structural inserts for wings
• Frame mounting tabs
• Cutting headliners
• Brake pedal mounting arms

Benefits of Using Waterjet Technology in the Automotive Sector

Waterjet technology has been one of the consistent key players in the automotive sector due to the benefits it has to offer, such as:

• Precision: The waterjet cutting process is accurate on the micro-scale with tolerances in the range of =/- 0.001 of an inch. High accuracy is indispensable in the automotive sector since even a minor inaccuracy in the part can cause vehicle malfunction during operation. For intricate engine components, breakdowns require the opening up of entire assemblies.
• Cutting Speed: Automotive sector requires repeated parts of consistent shapes. Waterjet technology offers the unique feature of cutting multiple parts together by stacking multiple sheets of material on top of each other. This leads to a very high-speed cutting operation.
• Cold Cutting Operation: Conventional cutting processes heat the workpiece material, creating a heat-affected zone and thermal distortion that alters the physical properties of the material along with burn stains. However, since waterjet cutting is a cold-cutting process, there are no such adverse effects while using it.
• Cost Effective: Robotic waterjet cutting automatically controls the cutting head with CNC programs without the need for manual movement. This, along with the high-speed operation of the machine, makes waterjet cutting a very cost-effective solution.
• Optimal Material Usage: Waterjet cutting has a very low kerf width. This results in minimal material waste. Additionally, all the material removed during the cutting process gets dissolved in the water and can be recycled later. This results in optimal material usage, saving resources and costs.
• Consistency: Consistency is another required criterion of the automobile industry. Waterjet cutting stations can make out multiple copies of a part without any inconsistencies. At the same time, they can handle custom requirements too by adjusting the control program.

Where to Find a CNC Waterjet Cutting Machine?

Techni Waterjet is the go-to place if you are in the market for a premium waterjet cutting machine. It is the leading waterjet provider in North America, with machines in different models and price points. The build quality is highly rugged to handle the heavy-duty requirement of the automobile industry.

In fact, many key players in the automotive sector are already using Techni Waterjet machines on their assembly lines. Techni Waterjet also fulfills the demand for waterjet cutting in many other sectors of the industry.

Conclusion

Waterjet technology has become the bedrock of modern industrial cutting processes. The automotive sector is no exception to it and uses these cutting machines in the manufacturing of every type of part. The benefits of the process are plenty and the disadvantages are next to none. Therefore, if you are wondering whether to incorporate waterjet cutting in your industry, it most definitely will help you in getting ahead of the competitive landscape.

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Waterjet Cutting Overview

Waterjet cutting utilizes the high force of pressurized water to create the cuts. This method is one of the best industrial cutting processes. It applies to all types of materials, such as metals, wood, plastics, glass, ceramics, paper, rubber, foam, etc. Besides agriculture, waterjet cutting finds vast applications in other sectors such as aerospace, military, architecture, manufacturing, medical, and many others.

How Waterjet Cutting Helps the Agriculture Sector?

Waterjet cutting helps in driving agricultural tasks at every stage, from harvesting to processing to cutting. The unique features of waterjet, such as the absence of a physical blade, no heat-affected zones, and high precision bring several benefits to the agricultural sector that traditional processes cannot provide. In fact, waterjet cutting technology has been applied in the agricultural sector for several decades now.

What Kind of Agricultural Materials Can be Cut By a Waterjet?

The range of materials that can be cut by a water jet in the agriculture sector is quite wide. These include:

Food Materials

Cutting food is one of the best applications of waterjet in the agriculture industry. Since waterjet is a no-contact method with the food item, it is quite a hygienic way for this application. Cutting of agricultural produce with a water jet is done at multiple stages, from raw material cutting to processing and packaging. Additionally, the lack of contact in the cutting process also eliminates the contamination in the food. This technology applies to cutting all kinds of fruits, vegetables, and meats.

Woods

The demand for wood and its production is always increasing. However, the raw material is constrained due to the long time it takes for timber to grow. Therefore, cutting wood requires an efficient and clean cutting process that does not waste any material. Additionally, there is a generation of a lesser amount of dust which results in a cleaner operation.

Stems

The purpose of stem cutting in agriculture using a waterjet is usually for weeding application. Additionally, stem cutting is also employed when the requirement is to cut off any flora growth blocking the sunlight on the crops. Stem cutting using a water jet cutter is also done for crop residue management applications.

Soil

Waterjet is extremely advantageous over other cutting alternatives when dealing with soil work. Waterjet can cut through any thickness of soil with extreme precision and minimal soil disturbance. These benefits make it a great fit for many stages of agriculture, from seed delivery to fertilization.

What are the Different Applications of Water Jet Technology in Agriculture?

Water jet cutting finds many applications in the agriculture sector. Some of these applications are:

Food Harvesting

The application of waterjet cutting in food harvesting began as early as 1972. Earlier applications had the problem of using excessive water per acre, which was eliminated by implementing a catcher in the field waterjet cutter that could recycle the used water in the process itself.

This process works exceptionally well when dealing with cutting green vegetables and leafy vegetables. Conventional harvesting methods often tend to ruin these soft vegetables during harvesting itself. Even extremely thin vegetable leaves do not get torn when cutting with a waterjet cutter, maintaining food integrity.

Additionally, harvesting tools such as choppers have the tendency to get blocked in the blade by the crop they are harvesting. This is especially true in the case of hard stems such as sugarcane. Waterjet cutting provides excellent results (Valco et al.) for such crops without the problem of choking or reduced performance as harvesting progresses.

Food Cutting

Waterjet is the go-to technology for the food cutting, food processing, and food packaging industry. In this application, waterjet technology can perform every type of cutting function including peeling and trimming of food products.

This application not only includes soft fruits and vegetables but also extends to harder food products like meats with bone. Additionally, waterjet has the ability to cut food products in any shape desired. This can be combined with smart food processing machines that can identify and segregate food items based on their shape. The end result is a significantly faster and completely automated food processing operation.

In the case of meat cutting, there is a great risk of microbial meat contamination when using other cutting methods. However, waterjet manages this problem quite well since it eliminates any physical contact with the meat itself.

Fertilization

Jet injection for fertilization application has completely changed the performance and growth of the agriculture sector. With jet injection, soil can be cut precisely to deliver and deposit the fertilizer right at the roots where the plants can make full use of it.

By adjusting the pressure of water, jet injection completely avoids any damage to the plants or their roots. Additionally, this fertilization method also eliminates the tool wear and tear that occurs due to the tool contact with the soil because the cutting nozzle never touches the soil. Therefore, jet injection ground-cutting fertilization is the better way as compared to alternatives like spokes or furrow openers.

Weeding

In recent decades, there has been a lot of aversion to using chemicals for weeding purpose. This is because of the harmful toxins that are added to the crops due to chemical weeding. High-pressure water jet cutting provides a safe and effective way of weeding without the use of any chemical substances. In fact, jet weeding can completely destroy the seedlings of the weeds, leading to long-term benefits and a lack of regular weeding requirements.

Tilling and Seeding

Waterjet technology works wonders for cutting soil for tilling purposes while preserving soil integrity. Additionally, seed delivery can be integrated into the system for a fast and efficient operation. This method preserves soil health and is a good fit for residue management.

What are the Benefits of Using Waterjet in Agriculture?

There are several unique benefits that waterjet technology brings to the table in the agriculture sector. Some of these benefits are:

• Waterjet cutting is a green technology. Unlike other methods, it does not depend on chemicals thereby eliminating toxins in the crop. All the water used in the process gets recycled or delivered to the soil, which is a great utilization of water in the farming sector.
• Mechanical tools often tend to overheat, which is quite an unwanted phenomenon when dealing with food products. However, in waterjet cutting, there is no tendency of heating since water is a coolant in itself.
• The physical contact of the cutting tool or human touch is eliminated in waterjet technology. This eliminates the risks of microbial contamination, making it a very hygienic cutting process method.
• Waterjet cutting has extremely low kerf width. This results in minimizing the wastage of food, which is extremely important when dealing with meats. The meat loss in waterjet cutting is the least among any cutting methods.
• When using waterjet for residue cutting, the process can be micromanaged leading to effective crop residue management. This preserves the nutrients in the soil, prevents erosion, and maintains water quality for cultivation.
• Using waterjet technology for working with soil preserves soil structure and prevents soil from being ripped out. It also eliminates the risk of soil compaction, leaving room for seeds to breathe.
• With the application of waterjet technology, every piece of equipment, including harvesters, seeders, weeders, etc. needs fewer passes across the field.
• This technology provides better delivery of fertilizer to the crop, leading to advancement in the fertilization field.

How to Source CNC Waterjet Cutting Machines?

Techni Waterjet is the industry leader in providing waterjet equipment in the agriculture sector. Our CNC waterjet machines provides of the highest quality cutting methods for food products. They come with rugged parts and complimentary software that has all the necessary shapes and programs required in the food industry. There are multiple models to choose from, depending on the scale of operation and the application.

Conclusion

Waterjet technology has been revolutionary for many industries, and the agriculture sector is no exception. After reading all the above-mentioned benefits and use cases of waterjet cutting in agriculture, there is no doubt that this technology can be a game changer for any agricultural application you throw at it.

The post Techni Waterjet Applications and Benefits in Agriculture appeared first on TechniWaterjet.