Author Archives: Steve Milne

YEAH, YOU CAN CUT THAT WITH WATER JET MACHINES (PART 1)

The ever-growing list of materials water jet systems could process led to widespread adoption in practically every industry. Factor in the integration of CAD/CAM capability in recent years and you now have arguably the most versatile cutting solution available. Where it was common 30 years ago for people to say, “You can cut that with water?!,” today is common to hear, “You produced that 5-axis cut with those beautiful edges using water?!.” Yeah, you can cut that with water jet systems.

CUTTING COMPOSITE MATERIALS WITH WATER JET SYSTEMS

According to an article by TWI, a composite material is:

a combination of two materials with different physical and chemical properties. When combined, they create a specialized material to do a certain job, for instance, to become stronger, lighter, or resistant to electricity. They can also improve strength and stiffness. Companies develop and use these materials instead of traditional materials because they improve their base materials’ properties and are applicable in many situations.

WHERE IS YOUR WATER JET MANUFACTURER AFTER THE SALE?

If you are in the market for a better cutting solution, choices abound. First there are a plethora of different cutting technologies, including water, plasma, laser, torch, saw, shear, slitting, and more. Then there are a variety of manufacturers for each solution. Factor in your unique cutting needs and your decision matrix is already full!

HIGH-VOLUME PLATE CUTTING IN THE METALS DISTRIBUTION INDUSTRY

Metals distribution companies play a pivotal role in the supply and manufacturing chain from raw ore to finished goods. With labor shortages and an increasing variety of specialty metals in demand, this role is becoming more important every day.

PLASMA CUTTING VS. HIGH PRESSURE WATER JET CUTTING

If you’ve read any of our previous blogs, you are already familiar with the specifications, features and capabilities of water jet systems. You may not be as familiar with plasma cutting systems. Let’s dig into what a plasma cutting system is, and how they stack up against water jet machines.

SELECTING THE BEST CUTTING METHOD FOR YOUR METALS

The most common methods for cutting sheet steel and plate steel includes Shearing, Laser Cutting, Plasma Cutting, Oxyacetylene Cutting and Waterjet Cutting. Each cutting method has advantages within its range of processing.

CUTTING TITANIUM, STAINLESS STEEL, AND OTHER SPECIALTY ALLOYS WITH WATER JET MACHINES

When considering what machine to use to cut specialty metals and alloys, it’s important to consider a variety of factors. Your decision must be guided by material type, thickness, ability to machine post cut, and how much tolerance your operation has for post-cut processing.

AN INTRODUCTION TO 3-AXIS WATERJETS AND ABRASIVE CUTTING

Despite the misnomer related to 3-axis machines, these types of waterjet systems offer a wealth of potential and advantages over other cutting operations, including manual cutting and even more expensive 5-axis machines. Let’s explore the different types of 3-axis waterjet and AbrasiveJet systems and their respective benefits.

HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT NOZZLE ORIFICE COMBO FOR YOUR WATER JET MACHINE

If you’ve purchased a water jet machine, you’ve invested pretty heavily into water jet or abrasive systems and you want to get the most out of your machine. However, before you get started, invest some of your time into doing some research around the right orifice and nozzle combination for your product and/or application. Perhaps nothing is more crucial to cut quality and speed than the right orifice and nozzle combination.

WATER JET PUMP MAINTENANCE SERIES – PART 3: HIGH PRESSURE SEAL CHANGE

In part 3 of our water jet pump maintenance series, we’re going to go through a high-pressure seal repair for our Generation III water jet intensifier pump.