A waterjet cutting machine, often simply referred to as a waterjet, is an innovative technology that precisely cuts materials using a high-pressure water jet. The versatility of this method is remarkable: While filtered water is typically used for waterjet cutting, an additional abrasive such as sand is added for special materials. This sophisticated process not only ensures the integrity of the cut edges but also prevents any changes in the material structure.
As one of the most cost-effective cutting techniques, waterjet cutting using a waterjet machine is extremely popular. Its strengths are particularly evident when processing a wide range of materials—whether steel, aluminum, precious stones such as marble and granite, fragile glass, various plastics, feather-light foams, or insulating materials. The precise cutting is performed with minimal need for post-processing and completely without thermal influence on the workpiece.
The water jet generated impresses with an average pressure of 4,000 to 6,000 bar and reaches a breathtaking speed of up to 1,000 m/s. Surprisingly, the workpiece remains virtually unchanged in temperature during the cutting process. This makes the technology suitable even for hardened steel—an application area that is normally off-limits to laser cutting.
Waterjet cutting technology first emerged in 1971, when the first fully functional machine of its kind was unveiled in Sweden. Toward the end of the 1990s, this technology underwent a remarkable advancement: the groundbreaking Dynamic Waterjet process was introduced. This innovation corrected the angular errors that can arise from material expansion during cutting. This paved the way for precise cutting of even thicker workpieces. In addition to its cutting capabilities, it was discovered that this technology is also ideal for deburring. The achievable precision reaches an impressive 0.005 mm per meter of processing length, setting new standards in the world of precision material cutting.