By Mashum Mollah
If you are thinking about cutting some ‘hard’ materials you might be looking for a tool that can help you get the job done. For many people in this position, a waterjet cutter is an ideal solution.
But if you’ve never heard of waterjet cutting before, you might not be convinced that this is the right option for you. That’s completely normal.
Keep reading and you’ll learn everything you need to know about this method of cutting. By the time you’re finished, you’ll understand the benefits of waterjet cutting and how this solution can help you.
Let’s begin!
What Is Waterjet Cutting?
As the name suggests, waterjet cutting is a method that uses water to cut a material. Some waterjets use only water to do the cutting required whilst some combine the water with some kind of abrasive agent.
Waterjet cutters can be extremely powerful and they can be used to cut through hard materials such as granite, wood or even glass. The thought of water cutting metal might seem absurd. But with a waterjet cutter, it’s absolutely possible.
If you are going to cut through some of the ‘hard’ materials you will want to invest in a waterjet cutter that makes use of an abrasive agent.
What Are the Benefits of Using a Waterjet Cutter?
One of the main benefits of this form of cutting is that it can be very precise. It is very easy to control the water that is being used and this means that there the odds of something going wrong are kept to a minimum.
Additionally, a waterjet cutter produces very little, if any heat. This also helps to ensure high precision cutting.
That is because other forms of cutting, such as laser cutting, produce heat when they’re being used. This heat can sometimes ‘warp’ the materials in question. This warping, therefore, ruins the materials as the measurements are no longer accurate.
What to Materials do You Need to Cut?
If you are interested in cutting materials using a waterjet, you might want to invest in a waterjet cutter. Before you do this, you need to ask yourself what kind of materials you want to cut.
Different waterjet cutters are designed to cut different things. As mentioned, if you are cutting hard materials like metal, you will need to invest in a waterjet cutter that can make use of an abrasive agent.
Consider Associated Costs:
You also need to think about the other investments you will need to make, should you invest in a machine that allows you to cut using a waterjet.
Though not always the case, most waterjet cutters typically need to be connected to a computer of some sort. That is because they require a CAD drawing. You need to make sure you have the correct computer and software to use a waterjet cutter.
Obtain a Sample Cutting:
If you find a waterjet model that looks like it is going to be a good fit for your needs, see if you can get a sample cutting.
A sample cutting will allow you to see how precise the machine in question is when it cuts a material. Some companies will be open to you sending them samples that can be cut for you. You can then review these samples to see whether a machine meets your needs.
Does Speed Matter?
You also need to think about how you fast you want a waterjet cutter to be. Different models are going to cut at different rates.
You want to pick a model that is going to cut at a speed you are happy with. A lot of the time, the speed is measured in terms of inches per minute.
Consider the Operating Costs:
Aside from the topics mentioned above, you also need to think about the operating costs associated with a waterjet cutter.
Before you invest in a machine make sure you speak to the manufacturer and ask them how much it will cost to operate such a machine.
When you are obtaining this information, also be sure to ask how much it will cost to replace broken parts on a machine. You will find that specialist parts can be quite expensive to replace. Especially if your machine was very expensive, to begin with.
If you are going to invest in a machine that can cut items using a waterjet, it might be worth purchasing insurance for it too. This will help you cover some of the costs associated with fixing it if something happens to go wrong.
Use a Waterjet Cutting Service:
If you only need occasionally cut items you might want to consider using a waterjet cutting service. This is opposed to investing in a machine yourself.
By taking this approach you will be able to save money. This is especially helpful when you consider that some cutters are so expensive you might need to use a loan to purchase one.
You will also be able to leave the cutting to experts. This can help you remain safe. After all, if you have little experience, using a waterjet cutter can be extremely dangerous.
You’ll also be able to avoid a situation wherein you waste materials because you made a mistake during the cutting process. An experienced company will know how to avoid the rookie mistakes you will probably run into.
Are Waterjets the Way Forward?
Waterjet cutting can provide you with many benefits, in relation to cutting materials. But if you’ve never heard of this kind of cutting method before, you might not have known this to be the case.
In this post, we’ve taken a look at how waterjet cutting works and the benefits of adopting such a solution. We also examined some of the things you need to consider if you’re thinking about investing in a waterjet cutting machine.
Of course, you don’t have to invest in a machine. If you only need to cut items from time to time, you can just use the services of a company that specializes in this kind of thing. That way, you’ll be able to experience the benefits of using a waterjet, without having to spend a lot of money.
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