What Are Water Jet Cutters and How Are They Used?
A waterjet cutter, or simply “water jet,” is an industrial tool that is capable of cutting a wide variety of materials using a high-pressure jet of water. There are also abrasive jets which use a mix of water with an abrasive substance such as garnet or aluminum oxide to cut into hard substances like metal, stone, and glass. Water jets are often chosen for their ability to cut materials that are sensitive to high temperatures which can result from carrying out other cutting methods. They are also capable of making highly precise cuts and are commonly used in the fabrication of machine parts. In this blog, we will discuss the various uses and benefits of water jet cutters and how they work.
How Do Water Jet Cutters Work?
All forms of water jet cutters work by using high-pressure water focused into a beam by a nozzle. They usually do this by running water through a high-pressure pump and forcing it through a small nozzle which further concentrates it into a very strong beam. The high pressure pump can be one of two types: an intensifier pump or crankshaft pump. In an intensifier pump, oil-based hydraulics are used to move a piston, forcing water through a small hole. In a crankshaft pump, water is instead forced through high-pressure tubing using plungers attached to a crankshaft. In an abrasive water jet, the water moves through a similar process but is combined with an abrasive substance in a mixing tube right before it is expelled out the nozzle. When the water in either jet cutter is forced through the small hole at the end of the nozzle, it can reach a speed of up to Mach 3, around 2,500 ft/s (760 m/s), allowing it to cut through almost any material.
Benefits of Water Jet Cutters
Water jet cutters come with a variety of benefits. Firstly, they do not involve high temperatures, allowing them to cut a material without interfering with its inherent structure. Moreover, the width of the jet can be adjusted for different applications. As such, they can be used to cut sharp corners, bevels, pierce holes, and establish other shapes that require very high precision. Water jet cutters also produce much less contaminants like smoke and dust particles into the air than other methods.
How Are They Used?
Due to their various benefits, water jet cutters are found in a wide range of applications. They are commonly used to cut textiles, rubber, foam, plastics, leather, composites, stone, tile, glass, metals, food, paper, and much more. For their sensitivity and precision, water jets are also used in coal mining operations, electronics manufacturing, as well as the automotive and aviation industries. They can even be used for meat cutting, as the contact medium is discarded and therefore lessens the risk of cross contamination.
Conclusion
Water jet cutters are a valuable tool in many industries, particularly for making precise cuts into materials, both hard and soft, without the use of heat. On AOG Purchasing, we offer an extensive range of aviation/aerospace parts and industrial automation units, including high quality generator parts which use technology similar to that of a water jet. Begin the procurement process today by browsing our online catalog of available parts. If you find a particular item of interest, you may send us a completed RFQ form and receive a competitive quote for your comparisons in 15 minutes or less. For more information on the various parts or services we offer, you may call or email us at any time. Our dedicated team is available to assist customers around-the-clock to answer customer inquiries!
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