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Water Jet Cutting Services
Water jet Cutting uses a high velocity narrow jet of a liquid (water) to cut materials. The jet of liquid velocity is about 2000 ft/sec. Material is eroded from the work piece at the impact location of the liquid jet. The liquid pressure at the impact area is approximately 60,000 psi. Typical cut path removal is approximately .002” to .040” wide. One can cut virtually any 2D shape with CNC control directing the water jet location.
Waterjet cutting can machine virtually any material, one can even water jet cut material after it has been heat treated. Typically, the difference between cutting material before heat treat vs. after is negligible to an water jet. Water jets are very capable for exotic materials like Inconel, Hastalloy, Titanium, etc.
Limitations to the shape: The minimum inside radius an abrasive jet can cut is about 0.015" (0.38mm) on most machines. Higher power machines may require a minimum radius of up to 0.030" (0.75mm). Smaller radii such as 0.01" (0.25mm) can be machined with special nozzles. You can make a hole that is as small as the diameter of the nozzle. This means 0.030" to 0.060" (0.75mm- 1.5mm). However, in thicker materials, the tolerance on such holes becomes increasingly difficult to maintain.
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