Waterjet Cutting Process Offers a Viable Alternative for Precision Manufacturing
Within the manufacturing industry, there is a frequent need to produce parts or components to precise specifications on a repeatable basis. In turn, these requirements are satisfied by the use of state-of-the-art precision machining technologies to cut, punch, or drill through different types of materials.
In many cases, these machining processes incorporate some element of heat (or superheat) to make those materials more flexible/pliable. And, thus reduce the time, cost, and/or energy required to complete the task. There will be times, however, when the materials in question might be sensitive to the high temperatures used in certain methodologies; these would be ideal circumstances to apply the process known as waterjet cutting.
Waterjet cutting involves the use of a thin, high-pressure stream of water to produce parts, shapes, or components. The pressure of the water stream, or jet, is created by a specially-designed pump, and it is usually in the range of 50,000 to 60,000 pounds per square inch (PSI); the jet also contains an abrasive substance, customarily particles of garnet, to help in the actual cutting process. Since this can be a particularly loud/noisy process, the material being cut may be submerged in a tank of water as well.
The process of waterjet cutting can be applied to create shapes and cutouts of virtually any degree of complexity. Parts and components that are commonly manufactured through this method consist of:
- Flat washers
- Machine parts
- Metal brackets
- Automobile parts
- Sheet metal boxes
- Game consoles/panels
While many of the above parts or shapes are composed of sheet metal. Precision machining companies that provide waterjet cutting services for their clients, such as Noble Precision in Toronto, can also work with several other types of materials; examples of some alternatives to sheet metal would include:
- Steel
- Titanium
- Aluminum
- Copper Alloys
- Stainless Steel
- Plastics, Rubbers, Foam, Composites
- Marble, Granite, Ceramics
Waterjet cutters are versatile industrial tools that offer the capability to cut a wide range of materials to varying widths and depths and into many shapes and sizes. Since the waterjet cutting process is performed in the absence of heat, it does not change or interfere with the inherent structure and properties of the materials that are being cut; this can be particularly important when that material is some type of metal.
Accurate Waterjet Cutting Services to Meet Your Parts Needs and Specifications
There are several cost savings and other advantages/benefits that can be realized through the use of waterjet cutting; these can include the following:
- Custom tooling not required – economical option for short production runs
- Offers the flexibility/capability to cut single-layer or multiple-layer material
- Absence of heat means that edges of material are not affected or distorted
- Capable of attaining high accuracy (0.025 mm) and repeatability (0.025 mm)
- Produces good edge quality, often eliminating a need for secondary finishing
- Effective use of resources – water and garnet abrasive can both be recycled
- Operator safety – generates less airborne dust, smoke, fumes, contaminants
Many of these savings and benefits are of course dependent on the accuracy of the cutting process and the overall effectiveness of its application; for these reasons, manufacturers in Toronto and throughout Ontario will rely on the services of Noble Precision for their waterjet cutting needs.
Noble Precision’s investment in state-of-the-art technology, notably its 5-axis simultaneous CNC waterjet machines, as well as the latest in specialized CAD/CAM software creates the foundation for high-accuracy production of complex multi-dimensional parts/components from a wide range of materials. Noble can attained accuracy of 0.025 mm with complex or straight cuts due to the advanced cutting head technology, coupled with the 90,000 p.s.i pump. A cross-section of the industries for which Noble Precision can provide accurate waterjet cutting services includes but is not limited to:
- Aviation
- Aerospace
- Electronics
- Automotive
- Transportation
- Mining/Natural Resources
- Heavy Equipment Manufacturing
To obtain further information on the precision manufacturing capabilities offered by Noble Precision, please visit our Capabilities page.
For accurate waterjet cutting services that will meet your needs and specifications, call the precision manufacturing experts at Noble Precision today at 647-499-7569 or Contact us to request your no-obligation consultation.
