Water Jet Cutting

Engineering – complete system – pumps

Engineering – cutting head technology

The concept and possibility of cutting with water under pressure had been first recognized centuries ago.

“The percussion of water opens and penetrates. The energy of water becomes even stronger as far as it is directed towards a center.”
- Leonardo da Vinci

CMS Industries, among its diversified application technologies, not only provides water jet CNC cutting solutions with its CNC machining centers, but also incorporates the TECNOCUT division, CMS’ water jet cutting division for the design, engineering, and manufacturing of the complete range of water jet technology from the pumps to the tip, including a broad range of CNC solutions for specific water jet cutting applications, and known for its track record of proven success and market share throughout Europe and the world.

The principle of water jet cutting:

Simply put water jet cutting is a flow of water at high pressure (close to 400Mpa, or about ~60,000 psi), which is directed through a suitably calibrated hole, so as to produce a coherent jet. At this pressure the speed of the jet flow is approximately twice the speed of sound.

The jet, to which can be added abrasive cutting grit, based on the requirement of the parts to be cut, is then directed against the surface of the workpiece and is able to create a separation cut by means combined erosion and abrasion.

Two principal water jet typologies:

Pure water cutting

Used to cut materials with low and medium density, and hardness, such as:

• Rubber and synthetic rubber
• Gasket materials
• Insulation materials, foam rubber, sound absorbent materials
• Textiles, felt, carpet, moquette
• Leather, natural and synthetic skin
• Shoe materials
• Kevlar TM, electric circuits
• Wood
• Plastic materials
• ABS, PVC     
• Food

Abrasive Cutting

Used to cut the materials with high density and hardness, such as:

• Marble, stone, granite, tiles, etc.
• Glass (Monolithic glass, multilayer glass, etc.)
• Metal (stainless steel, steel, aluminum, copper, titanium, alloy and special alloy, bronze, brass, silver, etc.)
• Hard plastic, etc.

Main advantages:

• Flexibility in cutting: from the drawing to immediate cutting, and which can also be done in small batches
• A good cut surface, free from processing residue
• Water jet cutting does not induce thermal or mechanical changes to the material, cutting is carried out at “cold” temperature
• Complex designs can be produced quickly and precisely
• Kerf width is extremely small reducing waste, parts can be tightly nested
• Specific equipment to hold parts laying flat is not necessary, the cutting tool and the material never touch
• Low production costs
• Good ambient working conditions: the system neither raises dust nor fumes during the cutting process

Technological comparisons:

Water Jet Quality index: