Waterjet Cutting Guide: Abrasive Jet Cutting of Metal Without Heat

Waterjet Cutting Guide: Abrasive Jet Cutting of Metal Without Heat

Short answer: Waterjet cutting fires a thin stream of water mixed with abrasive garnet at pressures above 4,000 bar to erode metal with no heat; because there is no heat-affected zone it can cut hardened steel, titanium and heat-sensitive alloys that would warp or crack under thermal processes.

At a Glance

Waterjet Cutting Guide: Abrasive Jet Cutting of Metal Without Heat chart
Figure 1 – Waterjet Cutting Guide: Abrasive Jet Cutting of Metal Without Heat overview.

How the Cold Jet Works

A high-pressure pump drives water through a sapphire or diamond orifice; garnet abrasive added at the nozzle does the cutting. Unlike Laser Vs Plasma Cutting, there is zero HAZ, so hardened edges stay hard and Metal Burr Deburring Guide is light. See also How To Cut Stainless Steel.

Choosing Waterjet

Use it for thick plate, stacked parts, and heat-sensitive or reflective metals where laser/plasma struggle; watch edge taper and standoff. Machinability context in Metal Machinability Guide, tolerance in Metal Tolerances Fits Guide.

QA & Supply

Measure edge and flatness by Metal Ndt Guide and document per Mill Test Certificate Guide. HXSCO supplies plate and sheet sized for clean waterjet nesting.

Get a Quote

Tell HXSCO your requirements and we will respond with a competitive quote and lead time.

Pertanyaan yang Sering Diajukan

What is waterjet cutting?

Abrasive mixed with ultra-high-pressure water erodes metal with no heat input.

Why does waterjet have no heat-affected zone?

The cutting is purely mechanical erosion, so the material never reaches transformation temperature.

What metals can a waterjet cut?

Almost all — steel, stainless, titanium, aluminium, hardened tool steel and exotic alloys.

How thick can waterjet cut?

Routinely over 200 mm in steel, limited mainly by pump pressure and cycle time.

Do you supply waterjet-ready stock?

HXSCO supplies plate and sheet sized for efficient waterjet nesting and tight tolerances.

Source Waterjet-Ready Metal from HXSCO

HXSCO supplies plate and sheet sized for clean waterjet cutting and tight tolerances. Send your alloy, thickness and quantity for a quote.

Request a Quote