When your parts fabrication or manufacturing processes involve a wide range of material cutting, it may be the perfect time to consider investing in a suitable CNC waterjet cutting machine. In this buyers guide article, we share all you need to know before purchasing your first CNC waterjet cutting equipment.
Understanding CNC Waterjet Cutter & How It Works – Buyers Guide
What does CNC mean? CNC stands for computer numerical control. So, a CNC waterjet is an automated or computer-controlled cutting tool that relies on high water pressure to cut different material parts. This includes but is not limited to metals, ceramics, and composite materials among others.
The waterjet gets its cutting power from a high-pressure. The pump forces the water stream out of its nozzle. The smaller the nozzle, the more narrow or precise your cut will be.
For softer material, the cutting is achieved by waterjet alone. However, when you are working on hard materials that require more cutting pressure. So, to achieve this, you need a CNC waterjet machine that allows for the combination of water and abrasive material.
Because the machine is programmed, you can set it to automatically and precisely cut different material shapes depending on your production requirements.
Buyers Guide – Understanding the Parts & Systems of a CNC Waterjet Cutting Machine
During your purchasing process, it is important to have a better understanding of the CNC waterjet machine you intend to buy.
Here are some of the main parts of a standard CNC waterjet cutting machine that you ought to know about:
High-Pressure Waterjet Pumps
A high-pressure waterjet pump is the heart and soul of any CNC waterjet cutting machine! It is the source of the pressure your stream of water, or mixture of water and abrasive particles needs to cut through your materials. The waterjet pump should provide pressures ranging from 30,000 to 90,000 PSI.
Depending on your project needs, your CNC waterjet cutting machine may come with either a triplex or a quintuple pump.
The Waterjet System
For high-pressure pumps to finally facilitate the cutting process, a waterjet system is required. The system comprises a high-pressure pump and an abrasive material mixing tank.
To ensure you have the desired mixed ratio of high-pressure water and abrasive materials, the waterjet system also allows you to control the quantity of the abrasive materials.
From the waterjet system, the next part is the abrasive cutting head.
Abrasive Cutting Head
If your CNC waterjet machine uses water mixed with abrasive particles, then it should come with an abrasive cutting head.
Because the component is exposed to both high water pressure and abrasive materials, you will find them made of either titanium or stainless steel.
The Drive System
The drive system ensures that your waterjet machine cutting head moves along its programmed cutting path.
Some of the key elements of the drive system include actuators, spindles, motors, and other parts that keep the cutting head focused on the job!
CNC Waterjet Cutting Nozzle
The role of CNC waterjet nozzle is attached to a cutting head and is designed to transform high water pressure into cutting kinetic energy. It is attached to the Abrasive cutting head and is made of wear-resistant materials.
CNC Control/Programming Unit
All the operations of your CNC waterjet machine are programmed within the control unit. Therefore, the control unit determines how your machine’s cutting head moves, and controls the operations of both the pressure pump and the drive system.
The CNC control unit also controls the cutting speed and the desired cutting power. In short, it is the brain behind your waterjet cutting machine’s operations.
A special CAD/CAM software package is required to program your CNC control unit. So, the machine’s cutting process will be based on the cutting profile that has already been defined through the software.
Buyers Guide – The Main Types of Waterjet Cutting Machines
There are broadly two main categories of CNC waterjet cutting machines that you can choose from depending on the nature of the material you intend to cut. The two categories are:
Pure-Water CNC Waterjet Cutter – Buyers Guide
If the parts you intend to produce are softer and thinner, you need a pure-water or water-only CNC waterjet cutting machine. This means that your cutting water process does not require the addition of abrasive material because enhanced cutting force is not necessary.
For thinner materials, simply stack them together and let the waterjet’s cutting magic begin!
So, if you deal in soft rubber, leather, or paper materials, or certain food products such as beef or pastry, then pure waterjet cutting is highly recommended.
With pure waterjet, you can achieve a cut width of 0.25mm – 0.50mm(0.010 Inch -0.020 Inch)
Abrasive CNC Waterjet – Buyers Guide
Abrasive waterjet machines use a combination of high-pressure water with abrasive materials to enhance the cutting power. The most common abrasive particles are granite and aluminum oxide. Other abrasive materials you can use are thick sand and glass beads.
Therefore, an Abrasive waterjet is ideal if you intend to cut complex shapes on harder and thicker materials. These can include metals of different sizes and hardness.
You can also use an abrasive waterjet to cut other materials such as hardwood, hard stones, laminates, and a wide range of hard synthetic materials.
Depending on material type and thickness, the abrasive waterjet leaves a cut width range of 0.75 mm-1.25 mm(0.03 inches -0.05 inches)
With the Abrasive waterjet cutting machine, you can achieve superior cutting precision even on thicker materials. This makes it a perfect choice if you are in the production of parts for the aerospace, automotive, or construction sectors.
Buyers Guide – Which CNC Waterjet “Gantry” Designs Do You Need?
Apart from choosing either a water-only CNC waterjet or abrasive waterjet, you also need to decide on the best waterjet machine design for your parts production.
Below are the main waterjet designs to consider:
Bridge Style CNC Waterjet Machine Design
As the name implies, this waterjet design has a top design that resembles a bridge and features two vertical columns.
This robust gantry style is more suitable when you desire to work on heavy and massive materials that other waterjet designs cannot effectively handle. It guarantees you a stable cutting platform for enhanced performance.
Flying Bridge Style Waterjet Machine
The Flying Bridge waterjet machine is characterized by a single rigid column that supports the cutting head and moves together with the top bar.
You will find this design flexible. This is because it allows for easy loading and unloading of materials from three sides!
Cantilever – CNC Waterjet Machine Design
If you are looking for a user-friendly and compact waterjet machine, then the cantilever design is perfect for you. It comes with a vertical column that supports the machine’s cutting bridge.
With a cantilever type of CNC waterjet design, you can easily work on smaller components.
Articulated Arm Gantry Design
If you are looking for enhanced cutting flexibility in small working areas, then an articulated Arm gantry-type waterjet is your ideal machine.
The articulated arm-style waterjet cutter allows for smooth movement in any direction. Therefore, it enables you to cut complex parts and shapes with much ease.
Buyers Guide – Advantages & Disadvantages of CNC Waterjet.
Let’s have a look at some of the advantages and disadvantages you should expect from a waterjet CNC cutting machine:
Waterjet CNC Buyers Guide – Key Advantages
The following are the main advantages of investing in a waterjet CNC machine:
Versatility In Application
A waterjet cutter allows you to cut different types of materials based on the parts you wish to produce. The machine also allows you to cut different shapes to suit different industry applications.
The machine can also cut a wide range of component shapes to suit different application requirements.
Produce High-Precision Parts
With a waterjet CNC cutting machine, you can produce superior cut edges than other traditional cutting options. By adjusting the diameter of your waterjet nozzle, you can achieve an impressive cutting precision of up to 0.13mm
Guarantees Production Flexibility
With CNC waterjet, you can program the machine to automatically cut a wide range of designed components. For future tasks, you can program your CNC waterjet machine to use existing templates.
The machine, therefore, provides the flexibility you need to fulfill your production targets with no stress and strain.
No Need for Multiple Cutting Tools
Unlike other CNC cutting machines, the waterjet cutting machine does not require that you purchase different tools for your cutting or material drilling requirements
By controlling the waterjet nozzle flow or water stream diameter, you can readily achieve different cutting, drilling, or material slicing needs.
Reduces Material Waste Green Technology
Because the cutting process of a CNC waterjet machine is programmed, there will be less waste on materials compared to other traditional cutting options.
The machine’s cutting and drilling technology also ensures that the residual materials are recyclable.
Further, the machine uses a closed-loop technology. This ensures there is no wastage of water during the cutting process.
Saves You Costs
The operation and maintenance cost of a CNC waterjet cutting machine is much lower compared to other traditional machines. This makes it a cost-efficient option especially if you are keen on automating your production processes.
Buyers Guide – The Cons of CNC Waterjet Machine
Apart from its numerous advantages, the CNC waterjet machine also has its fair share of disadvantages. These include:
High Equipment Cost
Compared to other CNC cutting machines, you will have to spend much more on acquiring a CNC waterjet cutting machine. This is because of the machine’s many complex parts and systems.
Complex Programming / Requires Relevant Expertise
To successfully operate your CNC waterjet machine, you need a skilled and experienced machine programmer.
Getting the right technician takes time. Configuring your CNC waterjet machine for multiple production processes also takes time. All these can be a huge challenge especially when your business establishment is not financially and technically muscular!
It cannot Cut All Materials – There are Limitations!
While your CNC machine can cut a wide range of materials, especially metals, it has limitations.
For instance, the machine is not suitable for cutting tempered glass as the high water pressure will damage your tempered glass.
While the machine works well on hardwood materials, it is not suitable for some types of wood such as the standard MDF. You risk damaging the non-waterproof material.
Again, with a CNC waterjet cutting machine, you can only work on hard materials such as metals of up to 200mm.
So, if you are to cut materials above 200mm you will need to spend more time. As such it will not be the most cost-efficient cutting option to consider.
Slow Production Rate
If your manufacturing process demands quick production of large quantities of parts, then choosing a CNC waterjet machine is not a wise decision.
This is because a waterjet cutting machine is much slower. The higher the cutting precision, the slower your production rate.
Production of Harmful Materials
If the right safety measures are not adhered to, abrasive materials used in CNC waterjet cutting can be harmful. They can be hazardous to the environment as well as the waterjet machine operators.
Buyers Guide – Comparing CNC Laser With Waterjet
Differences In The Technologies They Use
While a CNC laser cutting machine uses a beam of light to cut materials, a waterjet cutter gets its cutting power from a stream of high-pressure waterjet. For harder materials, you require abrasive materials to enhance the cutting efficiency.
Differences In Cutting-Precisions
A laser-cutting machine enables to produce of parts with superior cutting-precisions compared to a waterjet CNC.
Cutting Speed
You need to know that CNC laser cutters operate at much higher speeds than a waterjet machine.
Difference in Material Thickness
If your parts’ production materials are thinner then a CNC laser cutter will be your most suitable option. However, if the materials you need to cut are larger and thicker, then a CNC waterjet cutting machine is the right choice for the job.
Effect of Heat On Parts
Because a CNC Laser produces a lot of heat during the cutting process, larger sections around your cut are areas that tend to have heat injuries!
However, when using a CNC waterjet machine, less heat is produced during the cutting process. Therefore, There will be no heat-affected zones around the cut sections.
Operation Risks
The laser light emanating from CNC laser cutters is hazardous. So, operating a CNC laser cutter has more risks. Modern waterjet cutting tools are much safer
Comparing Operation Costs
You will incur more maintenance costs on a CNC laser machine than you would with a waterjet cutting machine. This is because, unlike the laser machine, a waterjet CNC machine does not require different cutting tools. So, your maintenance costs will remain lower.
Buyers Guide – CNC Waterjet Applications
It is important that as you decide to purchase your CNC waterjet cutting machine, you have the necessary insights on how it will benefit your particular industry.
Here are just but a few of the industries that embrace the use of CNC waterjet cutting machines to facilitate their parts manufacturing processes:
Aerospace Industry
Within the aerospace industry, production of complex and high-precision parts is critical. This makes a CNC waterjet cutting machine a suitable cutting machine.
Automotive Industry
In the automotive industry, a CNC Waterjet cutting machine comes in handy in the production of a wide range of car parts. These include floor mats, door panels, and dashboard parts among other automotive materials
Electronics Industry
If you are in the electronics industry, you will find the use of CNC waterjet machines in cutting complex motherboard shapes for different electronic devices.
Medicine Sector
Production of medical instruments requires precise cutting of shapes. For health and safety reasons, choosing a waterjet cutting machine is a suitable option in the production of medical instruments and implants.
Glass Manufacturing Industry
While you cannot use a waterjet machine to cut tempered glass, you can safely use it to cut general glass sheets including custom glass parts.
What You Must Consider Before Spending on a CNC Waterjet Cutting Machine – Buyers Guide
Having taken time to learn more about CNC waterjet machines including their advantages and disadvantages, here is a checklist of the key factors you must consider before making your final purchase decision:
CNC Waterjet Buyers Guide -Your Cutting Requirements
You must have a full and better understanding of your cutting requirements both in terms of the material you want to cut, the cutting shapes, and the quality of the cut.
With full knowledge of your material, you can choose either a pure or abrasive waterjet machine with suitable cutting nozzles.
Material Hardness and Softness – CNC waterjet buyers guide
When your production materials consist of softer materials such as foam, rubber, and other composite materials, you do not have to spend on high-powered cutting waterjet. A water-only CNC waterjet cutter will serve you just fine.
However, if you plan on working on a wide range of touch materials such as metals or materials of larger sizes, go for an Abrasive CNC waterjet machine with nozzles that suit your production process.
Complexity of Component Shapes
You must also consider the designs of the parts you intend to cut when shopping for a waterjet machine.
For simple part designs a 3-axis waterjet machine will serve you well. However, when you need to cut complex shapes with high-level precision, it is wise to buy a suitable 5-axis waterjet machine.
Machine Configurations – CNC Waterjet Buyers Guide
Different programmable waterjet machines come with different configuration capabilities.
For basic and routine cutting projects, you may choose a CNC waterjet cutter with basic configuration features.
However, when your cutting processes require high-level customization, you will be better off purchasing a waterjet with advanced configuration capabilities.
Availability of Spare Parts & Technical Support – CNC Waterjet Buyers Guide
Always remember that the cost of owning a waterjet machine includes its operation and maintenance costs.
Therefore, your supplier ought to provide you with easy and timely access to the machine’s spare parts.
They should also have the desired capacity to provide all the key technical support services you may require.
Capacity or Machine Size
The capacity of your desired CNC waterjet machine should be based on your available space. The size of the parts you intend to handle, and process is also critical.
For large and heavy materials, go for a larger and more robust CNC waterjet machine design such as the gantry bridge type.
In situations where the parts you intend to work on our smaller, focus on choosing a compact CNC waterjet design such as
Purchase and Maintenance Costs
You must choose a CNC waterjet machine that is within your budget. This will save you from unnecessary financial strains that come with machine maintenance.
Remember, the more complex or powerful the waterjet machine you purchase, the more operational and maintenance costs you will have to incur.
Therefore, it is important that you “cut your waterjet coat” according to your size!
You should consider both the purchase and the maintenance costs of the CNC waterjet machine you intend to buy.
Automation Requirement
To fully automate your parts production process to cut labor costs and enhance production efficiency, consider investing in CNC waterjet cutters with advanced automation features.
CNC Waterjet Machine Brand
The brand reputation of the CNC waterjet machine you intend to buy is important. Therefore, you must be knowledgeable about the different brands in the market by assessing their features.
Researching and going through user reviews will also help you make a suitable purchase decision.
Conclusion – CNC Waterjet Buyers Guide
Investing in a CNC waterjet cutting machine is a worthwhile undertaking if you are keen on expanding your productivity.
However, you must undertake a comprehensive assessment of both your current and future cutting requirements before making a purchase decision. Researching and going through a comprehensive buyer’s guide such as this equips you with critical tips on what you ought to be aware of.
When not sure of which waterjet cutter to buy, consult a reliable and experienced manufacturer or supplier. Your supplier should have the capacity to support your services including access to suitable spare parts.