Your water jet is a precision, high-performance, high-volume industrial cutting and machining tool. As such, proper installation is a necessity if you want to maximize the tool’s performance, quality, and longevity. And the foundation for a proper installation is thorough, detailed site preparation.
Many people believe that high-volume output from a water jet cutting system depends solely on faster cutting speeds, larger pumps, and more horsepower. While that combination makes sense for NASCAR or Formula 1, it falls well short of creating a system that can reliably and consistently maximize a water jet’s output.
When most people think about the power industry, water jet cutting is not the first process that comes to mind. That is understandable. Water jets do not generate electricity, and they are not central to the daily operation of a power plant.
When you’re cutting steel or aluminum plate over one inch thick, you need a method that delivers precision, power, and consistency without compromising material integrity. That’s where water jet cutting shines.
Every industry that requires precision-machined parts has its own set of unique manufacturing challenges. But it’s safe to say the aerospace industry is especially challenging and demanding.
The objective of surface detection is simple: maintain the required standoff distance (SOD) between the cutting head nozzle tip and the stock’s surface across the entire cut path – regardless of material flatness and surface irregularities. The cutting surface of most materials will vary as they are not yet machined to ensure perfectly level surfaces.
The objective of surface detection is simple: maintain the required standoff distance (SOD) between the cutting head’s nozzle tip and the stock’s surface across the entire cut path regardless of material flatness and surface irregularities. The cutting surface of most materials will vary because they will not have been machined flat prior to cutting to ensure perfectly level surfaces.
Workplace safety focuses on identifying, preventing, and eliminating hazards that cause accidents or negatively impact worker health. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), part of the United States Department of Labor, sets safety standards that organizations must satisfy. Adhering to these standards is crucial for maintaining a safe working environment.
This article is designed to help reduce the learning curve for first-time water jet users. First we must make some assumptions (yes, we know what happens when you assume, but we feel we’re on solid ground here) to create this guide.
Water jet cutting systems rank at or near the top of machine tools when considering the range of materials that can be cut, the high-speed cutting that can be performed, and their high precision capabilities. With fast set up times, high edge finish quality, and the elimination of heat-affected zones that may require secondary grinding operations – they are also some of the most efficient.
