What Is A CNC Waterjet Cutter And How Does It Work?

admin July 7, 2020May 9, 2023 0 Comments jet cutter, water jetting

CNC waterjet cutter:

A CNC waterjet cutter is an industrial tool capable of slicing many materials by using a jet of water at high pressure. While to cut soft materials, it can use water alone like (rubber and wood) or water often mixed with abrasive materials like (aluminum oxide and garnet) to cut harder materials.

CNC Waterjet cutting method is used during manufacturing or fabrication of machinery parts. It is used to cut almost any material and is used in a multiple number of industries, including aerospace and mining for cutting, reaming, shaping and carving.

CNC Waterjet is an advanced cutting technology that provides a smooth cutting surface of materials with less need for further processing and without releasing heat affected zones. The versatility of this machine is much better than other machines processed in the market with a minimum waste material.So CNC water jet cutting is the best method for cutting, reaming and shaping the materials.

Components of CNC waterjet:

CNC Waterjet cutting system components are:

>Ultra high pressure system

>Cutting machine

>The control system

Water Pressure:

The water jet cutting concept is quite simple by using a high pressure water pump, where water is focused into a beam by pump nozzle. It cuts the materials at very high speed with jet of water being manipulated by spraying it. The speed and pressure of water plays the most important role at which it sprayed in the cutting process against materials.

The pressure that is required for the cutting process is usually between (20,000 to 60,000 pounds per square inch) depending on the material which is being to cut. The diameter of the nozzle is narrow which is just 0.015 where sprays come out.

How does pure water jet cutter work?

The intensifier pump is used to produce high pressure of water that is required for water jet cutting. The pressure created by using hydraulic oil in the intensifier pump forces the water into tiny holes to the piston. Water travels through a tube to a nozzle of waterjet along with high pressure and by a jewel, orifice becomes a thin beam. The beam of water has a focusing to eject from a nozzle with accurate traveling speeds of to (900m/sec), capable of cutting through the wide range of soft materials.

How does an abrasive water jet cutter work?

The basic principle of an abrasive water jet is similar to pure cnc waterjet cutting. This method is implemented to cut the hard materials like metal or glass. When a stream has passed through jewel orifice, it enters a carbide nozzle. Carbide nuzzle is a mixing chamber in which vacuum is created by a high velocity stream of water.

The position of the mixing chamber is normally on the cutting head body. Garnet is introduced into the nozzle under gravity and within the mixing chamber vacuum has a dragging effect on abrasive to the water stream and creates a powerful jet stream. Abrasive cutting jet can cut through almost hard materials like aluminum, stone, stainless steel, composite materials and ceramics.

CNC controller:

CNC controller is a program that is manufactured by using proprietary software and converting this into G code format which is called CNC language. In both processes, the CNC controller controls the head which provides great accuracy.

Cutting speed:

Cutting speed of water jet depends on the technology and the PSI produced. Cutting shapes with half inch thickness out of steel normally proceed at 12 second/inch and quarter inch aluminum cutting may take about 1 inch/second. This process is still fast in both cases compared to other cutting machines.

Why water jet?

The nice benefits of a water jet are to reduce potential issues involving heat utilization which harm the material piece intrinsic properties.

So, it is a fantastic alternative to cutting material that can cut smoothly and precisely without heat releasing effect. Water jet cutters are available in markets that work more nicely under high pressure than other devices as advanced technology over time.