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FAQ's

Is waterjet cutting economical?

Yes. There are many ways the process proves to be a time and cost saver:

  • Eliminates the need for dies, holding fixtures, and special set-ups
  • Parts can be nested for higher material yield
  • Ability to cut multiple layers of material
  • Low cost for prototype parts or large run production
  • Edge finish reduces or eliminates the need for secondary processing operations
  • Fast turnaround virtually no set-up
  • Narrow kerf less material waste
  • Cuts both non-metallic and metallic materials without heat

How does abrasive waterjet cutting compare to other processes?

  • Saws (Bandsaws) Waterjet is faster, requires less labor, can cut harder materials, cuts tightly curved shapes and can make holes.
  • Lasers In most cases waterjet cuts thicker materials, all types of reflective metals, and non-metallic substrates leaving no heat affected zones.
  • Wire EDM Where +/-.005 tolerance is required, waterjet is faster, less expensive, can cut non-metallic substrates and can make holes.
  • Plasma / Gas Torch Cutting Waterjet is more accurate and can cut cleaner,œready to use edges and no secondary process is required.
  • Traditional Machining Waterjet requires no tooling or set up and can cut harder materials. There is less material waste which optimizes parts yield.

Does waterjet cutting have a high degree of Accuracy? What about Quality? Yes to both. Here are examples:

  • Holds tolerances down to in most cases
  • Edges are free from burrs and resemble a sandblasted surface
  • Edge quality can be adjusted through cutting speed
  • Flexible materials can be cut with less taper than with die cuttingCut quality typically needs no further processing and allows you to use
  • Intricate, complex shapes with small inside corners can be easily cut
  • Soft materials can be cut without distortion
  • CNC controlled – parts are repeatable

What material sizes can you cut?

We have three machines: two have a cutting envelope of 50 x 100 inches, and the third machine has an envelope of 60 x 120 inches. Please contact us for your oversized cutting needs. We have the capability to handle larger shapes with multiple set ups.

How thick or thin can you cut?

We can cut thicknesses from .003 up to 6 inches.

How do you charge?

Each job is priced individually based upon machine run time, the material selection, and the quantity of parts.

What types of electronic files can you accept?

We prefer .DXF format but we can also accept Solid Works, AutoCAD, Adobe Illustrator or any of the following suffix extensions: *.A,*.AI, *.ART, *.CAM, *.CDL, *. CMX, *.DWG, *.EPS, *.HPG, *.HPGL, *.IGES, *.IGS, *.N, *.NC, *.NCC, *.ORD, *.PDF, *.PLT, *.PRF, *.PTE, *.SHX, and *.TXT.

What if I dont have an electronic file, can you work from blueprints, hand sketches or artwork?

Yes, we can scan your drawing, sketch or artwork and provide you a quote. If extensive re-creation of artwork is required, we will create a CAD file that can be waterjet cut for you.

What do you need from me to cut a job?

Please refer to our Get a Quote page. We need a drawing or file of the part you want cut, the material type and thickness, the quantity of parts you want, if you want to provide material or would like us to provide it and job completion date.

How does a waterjet work?

The Omax waterjet works by using a 50 to 100hp electric motor to drive a 3 piston pump. This pump feeds pressurized water through stainless steel tubing to the cutting head. In the cutting head there is a diamond orifice that generates the 50,000psi of water pressure and increasing the speed of the water to roughly 2000mph. Immediately after this orifice there is an expansion to generate a venturi effect and pull in abrasive garnet at about 1lb per minute. The garnet is very similar to 80 grit sandpaper, essentially creating very high speed liquid sandpaper. This creates a kerf (width of cut) to between 0.030” and 0.040” depending on the machine. This high speed “liquid sandpaper” will cut nearly anything up to about 6 or 7” thick.

Is waterjet machining a green process?

Yes, it is an environmentally friendly process that uses no gases or chemicals .