A beginners guide to waterjet cutting
Aqua Dynamics Ltd- A Comprehensive and Unique Waterjet Cutting Service in the UK based in South Oxfordshire.
At Aqua Dynamics Ltd, we use the latest Omax waterjet cutting technology to cut to your specifications with skill and precision.
In the broadest sense, the term ‘waterjet’ encompasses any cutting tool that utilizes a high-pressure stream of water. More specifically, waterjets can be divided into pure and abrasive subcategories.
Pure waterjet is used for cutting softer materials, including gasket, foam, food, paper, plastic and carpet.
Abrasive waterjet is used to cut harder materials, such as metal, ceramic, stone, wood and glass.
Versatility is one of the primary strengths of waterjet technology. The broad scope of materials include:
- Metals—all types, strengths with thicknesses up to 180mm
- Natural materials—stone, glass, ceramic, wood
- Synthetic materials—carbon fiber, composites, fiberglass, plastics, hard rubbers
- Laminates—bimetals, thermocouples, stacked sheets of material
The team at Aqua Dynamics Ltd have utilized this cutting edge technology for over 20 years.
Aqua Dynamics Ltd work with numerous industries from the Oxfordshire area across the UK.
Aerospace
Waterjets are good at cutting carbon fiber composites for modern wing and fuselage components. Waterjets are also the preferred method to cut metals such as titanium that are subject to work hardening, as well as the superalloys used in jet engines.
Architecture
Decorative stone patterns, floor tile patterns, building facades, and stained glass are all the waterjet’s niche. Ornamental metalwork and furniture components are also applications for waterjet cutting.
Art
Waterjets can cut almost anything, opening worlds of possibilities to creative minds.
Automotive
Waterjets are used to cut components for the interiors of vehicles, especially insulation, liners, panels, and carpet. All types of gaskets are also cut in waterjets.
Electronics
Waterjets are gentle enough to cut circuit boards. They are also appropriate for cutting sheet metal enclosures.
Labs
For material testing in laboratories, waterjets excel at cutting specimens that are free of work hardening, residual mechanical stresses, heat-affected zones, contamination, and edge defects. Waterjets are suitable for cutting test coupons for mechanical testing in almost any material.
Manufacturing
Regarding waterjet cutting, the keyword is versatility. Fiberglass, composites, and graphite are all perfect applications for waterjet cutting. Waterjets also excel at cutting metals that are subject to work hardening (titanium and Inconel), very hard metals, and thick plates.
Where do we stop? Waterjets can cut almost anything. Waterjets are also more accurate than many other cutting methods, and they cut without creating residual mechanical stresses or heat affected zones.
It is a material-neutral process which makes it brilliant for a range of applications. Our specialists in waterjet cutting and precision waterjet profiling work with companies throughout London, and the whole of Southern England. We welcome specialized manufacturing requests and are capable of fulfilling orders in a speedy and efficient manner.