What tolerances can you hold?
The accuracy you will get typically is +/- .030" depending on part size and part thickness.
This also depends on cut speed. When you cut faster the taper becomes greater. Likewise
the slower you go the taper becomes less. The slower we cut your part the tighter the tolerance.
How Thick?
Waterjet's can cut up to 8.00" in thickness depending on material type and hardness. Generally we don't
cut anything thicker than 4".
What materials can not be cut?
Tempered glass can not be cut with a waterjet. Some tile breaks from stress relief when cutting. Some
laminated materials delaminate when piercing, but not all of them some test cuts would be necessary.
Extremely hard brittle materials don't react well to cutting.
What materials can be cut?
The materials that can be cut are a wide range to numerous to mention all of them. To list some of them
would be all of your metals. Along with that would be Granite, Marble, Tile, Glass, Rubber, Foam, Plywood, Plastics, etc.
How wide is the Kerf?
The Kerf is about 10% of the diameter of the cutting orifice. If a .040" diameter tip is used Kerf is around .043" in diameter.
What is the smallest hole you can cut?
The radius limitations are dependent on the diameter of the nozzle being used. Using a 0.040" diameter tip the minimum radius will be around 0.05. Which would make a 1/8" hole. Aquacuts can cut small holes in light weight material. As the material gets thicker the hole size needs to increase in order to maintain accuracy.
What taper can I expect?
The taper you get is a function of the cut speed. On a part from 1/2" Carbon Steel at a medium cut speed a 6" circle would measure 5.95" at the top and 6.02 at the bottom. This would give you a nominal measurement of 6" about half way through the thickness of the part. As you slow down the taper decreases so that you would be 5.98" at the top and 6.003 at the bottom.
F.A.Q.'s