WATER JET

CUTTING
TECHNOLOGY

SUBMITTED BY:
KISHAN KUMAR SINGH
MECHANICAL ENGG.
3RD YEAR

Overview:Introduction
Types of Water jet cutters
Advantage & Disadvantage
Future of Water jet cutter
Conclusion

Introduction to Waterjet
It is an industrial tool capable of cutting a

wide variety of materials using a very highpressure jet of water.

Cold cutting process which means
materials which are sensitive to the high
temperatures cutting process.
No limit to machining & most versatile
machining processes

Principle of Working
1. Generate Pressure
An ultrahigh-pressure pump generates a stream of water with
pressure rated up to 94,000 psi (6,480 bar).
To put it into perspective, a fire hose contains a pressure of 390
to 1,200 psi (20 to 84 bar).
2. Convert Pressure into Velocity
This pressure is converted into velocity via a tiny jewel orifice,
creating a stream as small as a human hair which can cut soft
materials.
3. Introduce Garnet
To increase cutting power by 1,000 times, garnet is pulled into
the supersonic waterjet stream.
Water and garnet exit the cutting head at nearly four times the
speed of sound, capable of cutting steel over one foot thick.

Structure of Water Jet

Cutting

Pure of
Abrasive
Water
Water
jet cutter
jet cutter
cutter
Types
Water
jet

Pure Water Jet Cutting

It cuts soft materials such as cardboard,

disposable diapers, tissue papers, automotive

interiors, foam, rubber & fiber glass.
Very thin stream (0.004-0.010 inch diameter)
Very little material loss due to cutting
Very low cutting forces.
Water inlet pressure between 500800psi (3
6MPa).

Abrasive Water Jet

Cutting
Used to cut much harder materials
Water is not used directly to cut material as in

Pure, instead water is used to accelerate

abrasive particles which do the cutting
The diameter of orifice is aprox 0.015 inch.
The pressure exerted by the AWJ cutter is
about 1600 psi(11MPa).

Abrasive used is

standard Tungsten
Carbide which lasts 4-6
hours.
Premium Composite
Carbide lasts 100-150
hours
Consumables include
water, abrasive, orifice
and mixing tube

Components
Pump
Nozzle
Orifice
Control System

ComponentsPump :
50 100 hp electric

driven pump
Hydraulic Based
Operation
Pressures Up to
60,000psi (4000 bar)
Smooth Output

ComponentsNozzle:

ComponentsOrifice:
Garnet particles introduces

here.

Garnet abrasive particles

Components- control
system

Advantages
Cheaper than other processes.
Very safe.
Cut virtually any material. (pre hardened steel, mild steel,
copper, brass, aluminum; brittle materials like glass, ceramic,
quartz, stone)
Cut thin stuff, or thick stuff.
Make all sorts of shapes with only one tool.
No heat generated.
Leaves a satin smooth finish, thus reducing secondary
operations.
Clean cutting process without gasses or oils.
Systems are very easy to learn.
Unlike machining or grinding, waterjet cutting does not
produce any dust or particles that are harmful if inhaled.
The orifice diameter in waterjet cutting is very small, and very
little material is wasted.
Waterjets are much lighter than equivalent laser cutters, and
when mounted on an automated robot.

Work done by Water jet

cutters

This part is shaped with waterjet

using one tool. Slots, radii, holes, and
profile in one 2 minute setup.

Get nice edge quality from different

materials.

Disadvantages

The main disadvantages of water

jet cutting is that a limited
number of materials which can be
cut economically. While cutting
other hard materials, cutting rate
has to be greatly reduced, and
the time to cut increases that`s
why waterjet cutting can be very
costly.
Another disadvantage is that
very thick parts can not be cut
with waterjet cutting and hold
dimensional accuracy.
Waterjet lag

Water jet cutters Vs Other

Cutters
Abrasive water jets can machine many

materials that lasers cutters cannot.

Water jet cutters does not have thermal
distortion where as laser cutters have.
Water jets are much faster than electrical
discharge machines.
Water jets require less setup than any other
cutting machine.
Maintenance cost is low than any other
cutting machine.

Future of Water jet

cutters
Drilling wells
Drilling for oil
Radial tunnels digging
Mining

Practical Applications
Edge finishing
Radiusing
Polishing

Conclusion
Relatively new technology has caught on

quickly and is replacing century-old methods

for manufacturing
Used not only in typical machining
applications, but food and soft-goods
industries
As material and pump technology advances
faster cutting rates, longer component life and
tighter tolerances will be achievable
Paves the way for new machining processes
that embrace simplicity and have a small

References
www.flowcorp.com
www.waterjets.org
www.aqua-dynamics.co.uk

Thank you