Water Jet Cutting
- Ideal for Intricate Designs
- High Cutting Accuracy & Tight Tolerances
- No Heat-Affected Zones
Get a Quote
And connect to Fathom experts
Water Jet Cutting Service
Precision Cutting
Versatile Multi-Material Cutting Service
Do you need precision metal part fabrication? Trust Fathom’s water jet cutting service. Our large format water jet machines can cut materials up to 6 inches thick with a tolerance of 0.005″- 0.015″. This cutting method is excellent for producing prototypes and low-volume to medium-volume parts. Our experts can help you with your water jet cutting needs.
Water Jet Cutting // Get A Quote
How Does Water Jet Cutting Work?
Waterjet cutting uses an ultra-high pressure stream of water to erode a thin line of material. It’s very precise and provides excellent edge quality. It can even cut multiple sheets of metal at the same time. That helps make water jet cutting an affordable process.
Here’s how water jet cutting works: Sheet metal is first placed on a cutting table. It may be secured to prevent it from moving. The cutting table is designed so excess water and metal particles drain away. That keeps the cutting area clean.
High-pressure pumps increase water pressure to extremely high levels. They force a stream of water through a nozzle. It accelerates the water to supersonic speeds. This tiny but powerful stream cuts a thin line through the material. An abrasive substance may be mixed with the water. That helps it cut hard or thick metals.
What Materials Can be Processed Using Fathom’s Water Jet Cutting Service?
These materials are often processed using water jet cutting:
- Aluminum
- Steel
- Titanium
- Inconel
- Brass
- Tool steel
- Composites
Advantages of Water Jet Cutting
- It can be used with many types of materials
- No thermal impact on the material structure
- Incredible accuracy with low set-up cost
- Variable speed to maintain the vertical edge quality
- Minimal kerf width
- Minimal secondary finishing
- Efficient material usage
- Cost-effective
- Produce complex shapes
- Quick turnaround (6-8 business days)
Biggest Advantage //
No Heat-Affected Zones
Many methods of material cutting cause heat-affected zones along the path of the cut. That can weaken it. In other words, the heat generated by cutting can alter the microstructure of the metal along the cutting edge. During laser cutting, for example, the laser not only cuts the metal but also heat treats the edges next to the cut. That may cause brittleness and other problems.
Water jet machining is a cold process. It doesn’t cause heat-affected zones. That makes it ideal for parts with intricate shapes with multiple bends.
Water Jet Cutting Specifications
Fathom’s water jet cutting service is ideal for cutting larger or multi-part projects. It provides rapid water level control for submerged cutting. Is has a work envelope with X-Y cutting travel from 13′ 4″ up to 26′ 8″ x 6′ 8″ (4,064 – 8,128 mm x 2,032 mm).
The accuracies and tolerances of water jet machining are more precise than standard cutting processes:
- Sheet capacity up to 60″x120″
- Tolerance .005″-.015″
- Kerf .040″
- Material thickness up to 8″
How Does Water Jet Cutting Compare to Other Cutting Methods?
| Material Thickness | Tolerance | Kerf | Part Volume | Set Up Cost | Lead Time ** | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OMAX WATERJET | Up to 6″ | 0.005″- 0.015″ | .020″/.040″ | 1 to 5000 | Low | 6-8 days | Metal, glass, plastic, stone, rubber, kevlar, carbon fiber, ceramics, etc. Taper up to 59 ° |
| MICROCUT™ | .0005″ – 0.5″ | 0.0005″ -0.005″ | 0.009″, 0.011″, 0.0196″ | 1 to 5000 | Low | 6-8 days | Metal, glass, plastic, stone, rubber, kevlar, laminates, carbon fiber, ceramics, etc. |
| FIBER LASER | AL: 0.250″ SS: 0.375″ CRS: 0.500″ COP: 0.250″ Brass: 0.125″ | 0.002″ – 0.005″ | .008″ | 1 to High-Volume | Low | 6-8 days | Metals – Fast |
| WIRE EDM | 0.001″ – 6″ | 0.0005″ | 0.005″ | 1-200 Is Best | Low | 6-8 days | Conductive Metals, Carbon |
| * CHEM ETCH | 0.005″ – 0.060″ | Is +/- 10% of material thickness, .002″ min. | Equal to metal thickness | 1- Infinity | $350 Min. | 6-8 days | Metal Only. No Burrs. Beveled Edges. Half Etch and Holes. |
* Inner radius should be 100% of material thickness. Outer Radius should be 75% of material thickness.
**Dependent on geometry, volume and material: EXPEDITE options available.
Need to Cut Thin Metal Precision Parts?
Microcut™ micro water jet cutting technology is a revolutionary, abrasive waterjet technology. It can cut materials up to 0.5 inches thick with a tolerance as tight as 0.0005 inch. It’s exclusively available via Fathom’s Ithaca, NY operation.
Talk to an Expert
Our experts are ready to talk to you about your project. Get started today with an online quote.
