How to cut metal with water

Do-it-yourself waterjet cutting of metal [technology]

[Waterjet cutting of metal] is a technology that the engineering and metal rolling industries cannot do without.

Sometimes it is impossible to achieve the required cut quality even through plasma cutting, which is why equipment for cutting using a waterjet is used.

Waterjet cutting of metal was first used by an American aircraft manufacturing company, which subsequently presented evidence that this technology is the best option for processing steel and other refractory metals.

Since that time, the water-abrasive method has not ceased to be in demand in various production areas. Today, machines whose purpose is to process steel, pipes, etc. with a waterjet are very popular.

Waterjet cutting process

The actual waterjet cutting process consists of four phases.

• Phase No. 1. Formation of a curved front cutting surface. A focused water jet cuts a narrow slot in the workpiece - the jet is gradually introduced into the workpiece and moves along it at a constant cutting speed.
• Phase No. 2. Beginning of the formation of a step (cliff). The angle between the jet and the cutting surface gradually increases.
• Phase No. 3. Completion of the formation of a step (cliff), moving it down. The material layer is removed only on a small section of the front cutting surface.
• Phase No. 4. Restoring the original state. The step is “pressed” into the workpiece quite quickly. As the step moves downwards, a flat cutting surface is formed again - the initial cutting state is restored.

The process described above is cyclical.

In the waterjet cutting process, water serves only as a carrier. Cutting is caused by the removal (chipping) of a certain number of layers of material, which is caused by impacts of solid abrasive particles. The presence of abrasive in the jet increases its technological capabilities and allows it to cut metal.

The most common abrasives are quartz sand, garnet abrasive, olivine, silicon carbide and electrocorundum. The widespread use of the above abrasive materials is explained by their relative cheapness, hardness and high cutting properties.

For example, garnet abrasive is hard and heavy; thanks to this, it is virtually stable throughout the entire cycle of use. This makes it possible to obtain high quality cuts with a certain roughness depth, depending on the grain size and cutting speed.

Due to its high viscosity, such an abrasive can be reused many times. Domestic enterprises mainly use quartz sand.

As with any type of material processing, the most favorable conditions for mastering the waterjet cutting process can be achieved by choosing its optimal technological parameters: the pressure of the working fluid, the shape and diameter of the opening of the water and abrasive nozzles, the amount of abrasive supplied at the distance from the nozzle to the cutting surface , feed speed, cutting surface quality. The analysis of these parameters requires detailed study and is essential when studying this technology.

Safety precautions

The waterjet cutting process is not particularly dangerous. The distance from the tube from which the jet comes out to the surface being treated is only 2.5 mm. This eliminates the impact of the jet on the hand. When the water pressure exceeds the permissible limit, a relief valve opens, which reduces the pressure to operating pressure. However, certain safety precautions should be observed when working on machines.

• Do not expose your body to the jet under any circumstances. Such a jet is capable of cutting metal 150 mm thick, let alone a hand. While working, keep your hands as far as possible from the cutting area. Before turning on the machine, make sure there are no foreign objects in the cutting path.
• Protect your eyes and hearing. Be sure to wear safety glasses and earplugs (or headphones).
• Do not place your hands on your desk.

Processing of metal products using a jet of water and an abrasive is increasingly used in modern industry (mainly in mechanical engineering and metallurgy). Technology and equipment are constantly being improved to avoid or minimize existing shortcomings.

The leaders in the production of waterjet cutting machines are the American companies Jet Edge, Flow, OMAX, and the Italian WaterJet Corp Inc. and Caretta Technology, Dutch Resato, Czech PTV, Swedish Waterjet Sweden, Finnish ALICO, Swiss Bystronic.

What water pressure is needed to cut metal?

The water pumped by the pump should have a pressure of about 1,500–6,000 atmospheres. Coming out through a narrow nozzle at near-sonic or supersonic speeds (up to 900–1200 m/s and more), the water jet is directed into the mixing chamber, where it mixes with abrasive particles. The resulting jet comes out of a mixing tube with an internal diameter of 0.5–1.5 mm and cuts metal. To dampen the residual pressure of the jet, a layer of water 75–100 cm thick is used.

Disadvantages of technology

The disadvantages of this technology include:

• design difficulties that arise when creating high fluid pressure;
• insignificant resistance of water and abrasive nozzles - quick erasing (the service life of domestic nozzles is 50 hours, foreign ones - 500-1000 hours);
• complexity of nozzle manufacturing;
• formation of slants up to 1.5 along the height of the workpiece.

• a – at high cutting speed;
• b – at a very low cutting speed – the upper edges of the cut have a slight rounding

When the abrasive nozzle wears or the cutting speed increases, the width of the gap increases - the profile of the gap has a weakly expressed V-shape. At very low cutting speeds, the slot profile is A-shaped - turbulence causes erosion of the material. The case is considered positive if rounded top edges are required.

• a – with a distance between the nozzle and the workpiece of 2-4 mm;
• b – when the distance between the nozzle and the workpiece is more than 4 mm

Read also: How to lubricate a Stihl chainsaw chain

Every year, metallurgical enterprises around the world smelt hundreds of thousands of tons of steel. Increased demands on cut quality have led to the emergence of new processing technologies. Especially considering that many alloys are quite hard. The most advanced technologies are laser and water cutting of metal (water jet). We will consider the essence of the latter in detail in this article.

First tests

Back in the 30s of the 20th century, American and Soviet scientists were puzzled by this issue. The impetus was that it was necessary to achieve high accuracy and speed of work. The first developments began in the 50s of the 20th century by engineers from the USA and the USSR. In 1979, they began to use sand, which was added to a stream of water, and the concept of “waterjet” appeared. The key requirements are high pressure and speed of water supply to the surface being treated.

Already in 1983, serial production of equipment for waterjet cutting (WJC) was launched. In fact, even today it is one of the most ideal tools for cutting, since it has no wear and it is possible to regulate the diameter of the jet. This method can work with sheet thicknesses up to 300 mm. This led to the fact that metal cutting with water began to be actively used in aircraft construction, mechanical engineering, stone processing and the production of armored vehicles and the space industry.

The influence of material on the cost of work. Functions of abrasives

Waterjet cutting of metal, the price of which is often determined by the personal preferences of the welder, can cost differently and due to the use of different abrasives. The main disadvantage of abrasives is their high cost. The abrasive is used for the so-called “punching” - that is, it allows water to penetrate into the deep layers of the metal that is being processed.

When cutting metal sheets, they try to use only cutting with water, without mixing with abrasives. However, here you need to take into account that the water consumption in this case will be very high!

Operating principle and technology description

It is based on the principle of erosion processing. It consists in the fact that a jet of water under high pressure with abrasive particles is applied to the metal being processed. As a result, particles of the metal being processed are separated. Various parameters such as speed and depth are adjusted using the jet diameter and size, as well as the abrasive flow rate.

The main component of the system is a high pressure pump (4,000 bar). It compresses the water and delivers it to a special water nozzle, behind which there is a mixing chamber. There the pomegranate sand and water are mixed. Then the mixture enters a diamond or carbide nozzle, which has a diameter of up to 1.2 mm. From it, at a speed of more than 1,000 m/s, the waterjet falls directly onto the metal being processed. This is how metal cutting with water occurs, and now we move on.

Benefits of technology

Every year, many people are interested in the issue of cutting metal with water with their own hands. This is not strange, because the technology allows you to perform a huge number of complex tasks in processing metal workpieces , which makes it relevant for various fields of activity.

The equipment used for cutting is especially in demand for thick-walled products. Only with its help can you achieve the highest quality lines from the working area of ​​200 mm steel sheet. The surface of the sheet is perfectly smooth, and there are no burrs or scale on the cut line.

Among the key advantages of this technology is ideal cutting accuracy at gentle temperature conditions. However, these are not all the advantages, because there are many more. Even the high cost of the basic installation is not considered a disadvantage, because it is compensated by savings on fastening units and working elements that are not needed even for processing thin-walled products.

Among the advantages: absence of dust, smoke screen and any other unfavorable factors. In addition, you do not need to replace worn cutting parts and monitor the sharpness of the cutter, since, in our usual understanding, there is none. Instead, the machines use a jet of water, which is supplemented with abrasive particles.

Waterjet processing of a cut is performed in one stage, while the speed of work proceeds without delay and does not decrease, even when performing complex operations with thick-walled products.

Due to universal indicators, one machine can simultaneously process a wide variety of materials, including:

Water cutters for metal are safe to use, so they are often installed in enterprises where there is a high risk of explosion.

About the features of GAR

High cutting properties can be achieved due to the presence of high-strength abrasive. In this case, a stable flow is ensured only if the garnet sand particles do not exceed 30% of the jet cross-section. Water, for the most part, performs exclusively a transport function. The size of the abrasive also depends on the requirements for the quality of the cut. The lower they are, the larger particles can be used.

Source: https://instanko.ru/drugoe/rezka-metalla-vodoj-video.html

Cutting metal with water: application, operating principle, advantages

Water-abrasive metal cutting is the most modern and advanced processing technology. The heart of the water jet cutting system is the high pressure pump. Today, experimental machines with a water pressure of 6000 atmospheres have already been developed.

Passing through a nozzle (the material can be ruby, sapphire or diamond) with a thickness of 0.1 mm, the water picks up a speed three times the speed of sound and forms a thin, focused stream that can cut almost all metals.

When waterjet cutting of metal, the thickness of the metal can be up to 300 mm.

The main advantage of water jet cutting technology is the absence of heating of products, that is, there is no thermal effect on the material, which eliminates stress and bending of the workpiece. The result is cuts of very excellent quality, which makes subsequent expensive processing unnecessary.

Some metals cannot be cut with a laser due to their reflection, and when plasma cutting, conductive material cannot be used. This is where you will need waterjet cutting, which is a progressive cutting method. But it involves getting the product wet, which can have a bad effect on metal that is susceptible to corrosion.

The principle of waterjet cutting of metal has the most important advantage - a thin stream, like a thread, allows you to create significantly less metal loss compared to conventional cutting.

The big disadvantage of waterjet cutting of metal is the very high cutting costs: 1 hour of work will cost 1,500 rubles. In addition, all the parts very soon exhaust their service life due to high pressure. Another disadvantage is that all parts require daily inspection and even repair. In general, if you decide to buy a waterjet cutting machine, then cutting metal with water yourself leads to constant high costs.

Waterjet cutting

Such widespread processes of plasma-arc separation of materials have their limitations. For example, an electric arc is very unstable: when working with metals of high electrical conductivity (copper, brass), the operation in many cases is characterized by melting of the side edges.

The presence of gases - by-products of plasma cutting - forces additional measures to be taken to protect the environmental protection of the cutting site. Plasma cutting of dielectric materials (glass, stone, etc.) is generally impossible. In such situations, there is no alternative to waterjet cutting processes.

The most popular among this group of methods is waterjet cutting.

Waterjet cutting of metal

The essence of the method and options for its practical implementation

The separation of materials during hydraulic cutting occurs due to the impact of a narrowly directed flow of liquid—water—high pressure on the interface surface. In this case, to intensify the process, a fine abrasive medium can be simultaneously supplied to the technological zone (most often, various types of sand are used for this purpose).

Combining, these two flows form an extremely rigid jet, the pressure in which (due to the increased speed of movement) locally exceeds the tensile strength of the material being cut.

If you move the tool head, in which all the above-described mechanical processes occur, along a certain trajectory, then you can obtain very complex contour configurations with the required quality and accuracy.

Read more about garnet sand for waterjet cutting

Waterjet cutting of metal using water is usually performed with the following performance characteristics:

1. Pressure - 20005000 atm (lower values ​​for softer, predominantly thin-sheet materials).
2. Water flow speed – up to 10001200 m/s.
3. Abrasive consumption – up to 50 g/s
4. The average size of an abrasive particle in plan is 100600 microns (with an increase in this parameter, the accuracy of separation of materials decreases).
5. Water consumption – up to 4 l/min.
6. Waterjet treatment is carried out in the following sequence. The material to be cut is placed in a bath filled with water and fixed in three coordinates relative to the tool head. This can be done with your own hands using a non-automated installation, or on CNC equipment using a pre-set program for separating the material.

Next, the tool head is immersed in the bath, after which an intensive supply of water is turned on at the corresponding speed and pressure values. The liquid, passing through the cutter nozzle, mixes there with the tangentially supplied abrasive flow.

Both jets are mixed and directed through a hole in the lower end of the nozzle to the surface of the material being separated.

Manually or programmatically, the nozzle is brought closer together, as a result of which the resulting jet pressure increases sharply, producing dimensional destruction of the edges.

Particles of material are drawn into the resulting gap, after which, losing their speed, they fall to the bottom of the bath, from where they are pumped out by a special pump provided by the design of the working unit. During the pumping process, abrasive fractions are separated from water, followed by filtration and drying. Due to the sufficient capacity of the water tanks, waterjet cutting can be carried out continuously and at increased jet speeds.

An example of metal cutting on a GAR installation

The equipment bath in which waterjet processing is performed performs two functions:

• Reduces the noise level when cutting (up to 7880 dB versus 130140 dB in the case of processing outside the water environment);
• Reduces the energy and speed of the water jet.

The structure of the GAR nozzle for cutting with clean waterThe structure of the GAR nozzle for cutting with water and abrasive

Technological capabilities of the method

The technology under consideration is most effective in the following cases:

1. For dielectric materials, as well as conductive products made of non-ferrous metals and copper-based alloys. This is explained by the fact that the electrical conductivity parameters of copper alloys do not allow the use of an electric arc or laser for cutting.
2. If it is necessary to separate parts of very large thickness - up to 250-300 mm: in this case, during plasma-arc cutting, edge melting always occurs.
3. To ensure proper accuracy of the interface: with the correct selection of the mode, the edge roughness is within Ra 0.5 Ra 1.25, which significantly exceeds the capabilities of any other high-energy method.
4. If warping of the finished product is unacceptable, which is inevitable with any of the thermal cutting technology options.

Waterjet cutting of metal has its limitations, so the technology is developed taking into account the following capabilities, in particular, in terms of thickness:

• For non-ferrous metals and alloys, as well as stainless steel – no more than 120-150 mm;
• For carbon fiber reinforced plastics and composite materials – no more than 150200 mm;
• For artificial and natural stone (marble, granite, basalt, etc.) – no more than 270300 mm.

When developing the technology, it should be taken into account that conductive materials of relatively small thickness (up to 510 mm) are cut poorly by the jet produced by the working unit: a noticeable energy consumption has an effect, with a performance comparable to plasma-arc or laser processing.

However, this does not mean that the technology in question is not applicable for separating thin plates or sheets: in this case, the abrasive flow is turned off and separation is carried out directly with a water jet.

As a result, the surface does not heat up, which eliminates scaling, high-temperature melting of the interface and other disadvantages characteristic of all technologies for thermal separation of materials.

A waterjet cutting machine is a complex and energy-intensive equipment containing the following components:

1. A tool head equipped with the function of rotating the cutter at a certain angle, which allows processing surfaces of complex configurations at a given speed.
2. A pumping unit for pumping water with a filtration system.
3. Compressor station for supplying abrasive fractions under pressure.
4. A work table with a three-coordinate positioning device (for small equipment, this work is performed by the installation operator himself).
5. A bath with water, which is structurally connected to the equipment frame.
6. Working containers for water and abrasive.
7. CNC control device, or remote control for manual positioning of the workpiece with your own hands.

An example of products manufactured using GAR equipment

The most popular are waterjet cutting machines from the Italian company WaterJet Corp. Inc., which produces console and portal equipment. The first is intended for cutting relatively small-sized products, the second, characterized by increased accuracy and rigidity, is suitable for processed products of greater thickness.

WaterJet Corp. Inc produces not only the power units themselves, but also pumping equipment for them. The running portal of the company's devices is equipped with automated positioning, and allows the simultaneous separation of materials that differ not only in their chemical composition, but also in thickness - a quality that is impossible in principle for thermal cutting equipment.

Mass cutting of parts on the GAR machine

Waterjet cutting in many cases is considered the only way to obtain spatial details. For example, only with the technology considered is it possible to perform separation practically without heating the workpiece (the maximum increase in edge temperature is 600 °C, and even less when processing in a water tank).

Such equipment can be used to separate thick sheet glass, ceramics, and hard alloys - materials that are very sensitive to elevated temperatures. The good quality of the final result eliminates the need for subsequent transitions, and the very small jet thickness - up to 0.8 mm - minimizes material loss.

High pressures created in the separation zone do not cause the appearance of residual stresses in the workpiece, and contribute to a subsequent increase in its operational durability.

Source: https://stankiexpert.ru/stanki/stanki-dlya-rezki/gidroabrazivnaya-rezka.html

Cutting metal with water: description of technology and recommendations:

Every year, metallurgical enterprises around the world smelt hundreds of thousands of tons of steel. Increased demands on cut quality have led to the emergence of new processing technologies. Especially considering that many alloys are quite hard. The most advanced technologies are laser and water cutting of metal (water jet). We will consider the essence of the latter in detail in this article.

Cutting metal with a jet of water: advantages

The key advantage of this method is that it allows you to achieve high quality cuts, that is, obtain the necessary roughness after processing. In addition, it is worth highlighting the following advantages:

• the possibility of a fire or explosion during processing is eliminated;
• environmentally friendly process (no gases are formed during cutting);
• alloyed additives in the processed metal do not burn out;
• possibility of processing metal up to 30 cm thick;
• low temperature in the cutting zone (90 degrees Celsius);
• high efficiency due to the absence of idling of the cutting head.

As you can see, cutting metal with water under pressure has a number of advantages over other methods. It is environmentally friendly, safe and effective. Modern machines even allow processing several sheets at once in one stroke, if the thickness allows it. In general, GAR is developing more and more every year, and therefore the characteristics are significantly improving.

Briefly about the disadvantages

But this system cannot be ideal. Therefore, there are some disadvantages here. Firstly, due to the high speed of supply of water with abrasive and serious pressure, the process is quite noisy; it is advisable to only wear earplugs near it. Secondly, the low processing speed of thin sheet steel.

But this is when compared with laser and plasma technologies. In addition, the cutting head wears out quite quickly. This in turn leads to high operating costs. Therefore, any machine for cutting metal with water must be regularly maintained and faulty or worn-out mechanisms must be replaced.

Otherwise, work efficiency and cut quality will gradually decrease.

Equipment in industry

Modern machines for professional use allow processing stainless steel up to 20 centimeters thick. In this case, the strength indicators and group of metals are not important. The small jet diameter (1 mm) allows cutting to a very high tolerance. If an industrial machine is used, then it becomes possible to process stone and other hard rocks, such as marble, etc.

Currently, this is one of the most effective and popular glass cutting methods. GAR works with both thin crystal and bulletproof glass with micron accuracy. Today, GAR machines are used for the production of gaskets and the processing of foam materials such as rubber and plastic. But to achieve optimal results, it is necessary to use modern electronic systems and various scanners.

About the design features

To achieve the required result, industry uses exclusively CNC machines. Therefore, the process is almost completely controlled by electronics. A professional machine includes various systems. For example, controlling the optimal clearance.

This system provides the best distance between the cutting head and the metal being processed for the greatest accuracy in the cut location. A material scanning sensor is also used. It is needed to scan the metal for irregularities.

The readings are transmitted to the CNC, as a result of which the gap changes.

To automate the process, an abrasive supply control sensor is introduced into the system. It regulates the amount of pomegranate sand. In addition, such a system stops operation if foreign elements (burlap, coarse particles) enter the high-pressure pump.

All this must work as one, and only in this situation can optimal results be achieved. A modern industrial machine costs a lot of money and therefore requires regular maintenance. If this is not done, it may fail completely.

DIY metal cutting with water

It is quite logical that no one will purchase industrial CNC equipment for single use. In this case, so-called manual machines are very helpful. They do not have software control, so all cutting parameters are set by the operator. Actually, the quality of the cut depends entirely on the qualifications of the specialist.

With the proper approach, you can achieve results no worse than with professional equipment. Manual machines still have their advantages. They consist in the low cost of equipment and the ability to produce a workpiece of the desired geometric shape at a certain angle on your own.

But to do this, it is advisable to completely understand the controls, and then cutting metal with water will be a completely simple task.

Let's sum it up

Currently, the most popular processing method is cutting metal with water. The pressure in this case is very high, which should not be forgotten. Failure to comply with safety precautions can lead to dire consequences. Please also note that it is not possible to make such equipment yourself. This is due to the fact that the parts must be of very high quality.

A manual machine is most optimal for home use. It does not cost as much money as an industrial one, but at the same time it has flexible settings and allows the owner to make a very high-quality cut. It is quite possible that in the near future cutting metal under water will improve and even here it will be possible to apply such a principle as GAR.

Source: https://www.syl.ru/article/307160/rezka-vodoy-metalla-opisanie-tehnologii-i-rekomendatsii

Cutting metal with water (waterjet cutting): technology and operating principles

Modern civilization cannot imagine itself without the widespread use of steel. Iron, which just 400-500 years ago was worth almost its weight in gold, today can rust by the ton in landfills. Steel is smelted in millions of tons, used absolutely everywhere.

The main problem is often its processing, since many varieties of this material are quite hard, and modern technological standards are very strict and do not allow torn and rough “cut lines”.

To improve the quality of finished products, scientists invented metal cutting with water.

When did it begin to be used in practice?

Surprisingly, this technology was quite widely used back in the 60s of the last century. For the first time it was used in quite specific industries, such as aircraft manufacturing and the space industry. But soon companies began to think that water cutting of metal was an excellent innovation that could provide tremendous opportunities for the entire industry when it was introduced into production more widely.

Since then, this method of metal processing has become more and more popular. Can water cutting of metal be used only for sheet metal, or is it also suitable for other metal structures? What are the advantages and disadvantages of this method? We will try to talk about all this within the framework of this article.

The main advantage of this cutting method is the fact that there is practically no significant mechanical impact on the surface of the material. There is absolutely no friction, the mechanisms do not heat up. This has an extremely positive effect on the quality of the cut and the entire finished part.

Processed materials

Firstly, I would like to immediately note that the scope of application of the method is not limited to metals and their alloys. It is also used for materials such as:

• Granite, natural stone, other minerals.
• Ceramics and glass.
• All metals, including even titanium and its alloys.
• Reinforced concrete and concrete.
• All types of plastic and other synthetic materials.

What’s even better is that it is possible to achieve extremely low consumption of both raw materials and components. Moreover, when working with hazardous materials, cutting metal with water is the only acceptable method, since there are no sparks, no formation of harmful dust, and there is absolutely no possibility of spontaneous ignition of the resulting production waste.

How does this work in practice?

As we said, rolled metal is not the only area of ​​application of the method, but still 70% of the work takes place in this area. The technology itself is based on the supply of water with finely dispersed abrasive material under pressure to the surface of the material. So what exactly happens during cutting? Here are the main technological processes:

• Water under enormous pressure is supplied to a particularly durable tank.
• At the same moment, abrasive is “filled” there, usually represented by the smallest fraction of sand.
• After this, the resulting mixture is fed into the nozzle.
• The stream is directed to the required area and begins to cut the material.

The quality and speed of cutting with this approach increase many times over. From time to time you just need to add abrasive. This process is fully automated; usually no intervention from service personnel is required.

It is worth considering that waterjet cutting allows you to achieve a speed that is usually only achievable with plasma processing of materials. But! The quality of the cut is such that it can only be repeated using a laser. The cost of these types of work and the complexity of the equipment used is difficult to compare, since these are completely different “weight categories”.

What equipment is used for this?

Back in the days of Ancient Egypt, people noticed that water can radically change the properties of those materials that were exposed to it for quite a long time. Even hard stones were rolled into smooth pebbles, and visible depressions appeared relatively quickly on the surface of granite and marble.

Subsequently, the same principle was adopted by modern industry. Of course, since ancient times, the procedure for using the capabilities of “hydrogen oxide” has changed significantly: firstly, it is necessary to ensure acceptable water pressure, and secondly, the thickness and direction of its jet. This is achieved as follows:

• A special very high-pressure pump not only accumulates a certain supply of liquid, but also supplies it to the material being processed. The thickness and density of the steel that can be cut depends on the power of this mechanism. Water is supplied to the pump itself from a regular water supply system, and (to prevent interruptions) it is advisable to supply it from several sources at once.
• A special power regulator is responsible for the thickness of the jet. The cutting speed and thickness of the processed material depend not only on its settings, but also on the characteristics of the abrasive material used. To “cut” something more viscous, you have to use a three-phase filler, but for simple steel, only water and a filler are enough, which, as we have repeatedly pointed out, can be used as ordinary sand. Of course, it is possible to regulate not only the composition of the mixture. What other parameters characterize metal cutting with water? Fluid pressure and velocity. Keep in mind that the minimum acceptable water speed should reach 1200 m/s at a pressure of about 4.7 t/cm!

Other equipment

Nozzles are very important. Their diameter, as well as the materials used, directly depend on both the abrasive and the jet speed. The water pressure during metal processing is so high that only high-strength alloys can be used for this.

Nozzles need to be changed, the frequency of which depends on many factors. One of the most important components of any water cutting machine is the mixer.

It is on this that the homogeneity of the resulting mixture depends, as well as the quality of the cuts, the presence or absence of chips on the edges of the processed parts.

Note that waterjet cutting is impossible without the use of high-precision automation. A feature of this method of metal processing is the taper of the edge, due to the properties of water under such specific conditions of its use.

The higher the speed, the greater this figure. But! As the taper increases, the final quality of material processing decreases in direct proportion.

To reduce such a negative effect, the patented Flow Dynamic Waterjet technology and similar methods of product quality management can be used.

What is the operating principle of smart technologies? Everything is relatively simple: the automation itself determines the type, viscosity and density of the material being processed, and then independently changes the angle of inclination and diameter of the nozzle. Only after this does the constantly adjusted cutting of metal with sand and water begin.

Preparatory operations

Lastly, no less important is the system of preliminary preparation of the liquid for its subsequent use in the metal cutting system. To maximize the life of the equipment, as well as to ensure the highest quality of processing, literally crystal clear water is vital. This is achieved by filtration through “high-precision” filters, through which all relatively large impurities with high molecular weight are removed from the liquid.

It is important to understand that different manufacturers offer different waterjet equipment, the possibility of equipping it with additional functions directly depends on the cost of the machines. Thus, the expanded functionality will allow, if necessary, to perform even complex figure cutting, not to mention simpler operations.

Water cutting functionality

In many areas of art, cutting metal with water, the price of which is much lower than laser processing (from 15 rubles per meter), has also found wide application. The fact is that one of the advantages of this method is the complete absence of chipping, as well as heating of the surface, which is why the resulting image or profile comes out exactly as the designer or artist wanted it to be. Here are the main features this material processing method offers:

• Non-standard metal cutting. The important thing is that at any angle of the nozzle the cut is very high quality. The precision is such that the finished parts, once manufactured, can be used with virtually no preparation.
• Modern machines can operate with minimal human intervention, or do not require the presence of maintenance personnel at all. Using the same equipment, you can cut out parts of the most complex configuration, and do this in the shortest possible time, but while maintaining the highest possible quality.
• Metal processing is especially common. Thus, a machine for cutting metal with water can cut up to 20 centimeters of medium carbon steel. For titanium, the figures are more modest - within 15-17 mm. Particularly strong alloys - about 12 mm. The minimum coefficient falls on the share of copper and is only 4-5 mm.
• Decorative elements and decorations using this method are not only of very high quality, but also cheap. In addition, the configuration of finished products does not depend on the worker’s experience or “steadiness of hand,” but solely on the settings. If the cutting deviation cannot exceed 0.5%, use a CNC water-cutting machine.

In recent years, pipes have been cut this way more and more often. For this purpose, special machines are used, with the help of which the pipe cut is initially polished and very smooth. Thus, waterjet cutting, services for which are offered in any major city, is becoming an increasingly common and popular method of processing a wide variety of materials.

CNC waterjet machines

CNC machines have especially helped to expand the scope of application of this method, as they allow processing a wide variety of materials, flexibly adjusting the quality of work, maximum and minimum cutting thickness, as well as other parameters.

Deviations from the specified parameters are minimal, which is almost impossible to achieve using standard cutting methods. The operating principle of this class of equipment boils down to the following actions:

• First, the appropriate software is installed, which may be different for each type of material. The program will automatically select the composition of the mixture, the type of abrasive and the required volume of water, pressure and other parameters. Special programs are responsible for shaped cutting of materials.
• As a rule, additional processing of the finished part is no longer required. If the cutting parameters were selected incorrectly or inaccurately, some roughness may be observed in the finished product. But! If you use a CNC machine that can independently select cutting parameters, this practically does not happen. In this case, the equipment automatically selects the required mode, focusing on the thickness, viscosity and density of the metal.
• In addition to cutting, such machines allow you to drill holes of various diameters and configurations. At the same time, we repeat the words already described above: if something special is required from the equipment, it is necessary to choose those models that have the corresponding additional functions.
• Sometimes these machines can be used not only for cutting, but also for polishing finished products and parts that were made on other equipment.

Manual cutting

In some cases, machines can be operated by a qualified operator. In this mode, all settings have to be set manually, which is not always particularly convenient. But manual methods of cutting metal have many advantages, including the following:

• The cost of such work is approximately one and a half times cheaper.
• In this case, the operator’s specialized education, oddly enough, is not particularly important. The fact is that manual control of such machines is quite simple and does not have a large number of complex functions. This equipment is used in cases where it is necessary to cut out parts that have a simple geometric shape.
• The functionality of the machines remains at the same level. Even cutting, drilling holes and other simple operations - all this can be done with manual control. In addition, it is possible to process not only rolled metal, but also other materials.

We hope that you understand how metal is cut with water. This method is extremely common in modern industry; it can be used to produce parts of almost any shape and configuration.

Source: https://FB.ru/article/228326/rezka-vodoy-metalla-gidroabrazivnaya-rezka-tehnologiya-i-printsipyi-rabotyi

Waterjet cutting technique

In factories that produce metal parts, body parts for cars, aircraft, ships, and industrial equipment, the most popular technological operation is cutting sheet metal. There are several technologies for metal separation, but waterjet cutting is especially popular.

The essence of technology

Cutting metal sheets using water differs significantly from other methods of cutting workpieces. Metal cutting under water is carried out using a special pump that delivers high pressure.

Water is supplied to the working part at tremendous speed. The closer the nozzle is to the metal surface, the greater the pressure. When working with water, you can cut stone, dielectrics, and alloys that have a low melting point.

These materials will deteriorate if they heat up.

Modern equipment with CNC systems performs all operations automatically without human effort. The metal particles that form after cutting pass with the flow of water through filters installed on the bottom of the container. They are separated from the water and dried. Water re-enters the working head.

The cutting speed technology is identical to working with a plasma cutter, but in terms of the quality of the finished cut it can be compared to a laser. The absence of heat treatment eliminates the formation of deposits at the ends.

Waterjet cutting methods

Abrasive cutting of metal using water can be performed using manual units or CNC machines. The technology is used in the following cases:

1. When cutting dielectrics or alloys of non-ferrous metals that cannot be cut with devices that create an electric arc.
2. Separation of metal sheets and workpieces of large thickness (more than 300 mm). If you use a plasma cutter, the edges of the part will be melted.
3. When you need to make a high precision cut. An alternative to lasers.
4. If the part cannot be damaged. Alloys often warp from extreme heat.

Waterjet units make it possible to separate non-ferrous metal alloys, natural stone, and plastic.

Areas of application

Waterjet cutting of metal allows you to work with various materials. This is due to the fact that during the technological process there is no friction or heating. This allows the technology to be used in different areas of industry:

1. Mechanical engineering, aircraft manufacturing, shipbuilding.
2. Instrument making, machine tool manufacturing.
3. Construction, production of metal structures.

Water under high pressure cuts glass, ceramic tiles, natural stone, rubber, polymer materials, various metals, and alloys.

Waterjet metal cutting

Waterjet cutting equipment

Equipment for waterjet cutting is divided according to the control method. This changes the accuracy of the work, the quality of the cuts, the speed, and the efficiency of the units. Regardless of the type of control, the machine consists of several main parts:

• containers that are filled with liquid;
• clamps, guides;
• working part with nozzle;
• fluid supply systems;
• waste water treatment systems;
• filter, container with liquid.

If a CNC is installed on the unit, the design is supplemented with stepper motors, sensors, a monitor, and a panel for setting algorithms.

Manual waterjet cutting

The principle of operation of a manually operated waterjet machine is that all operations are performed by the operator. Water cutting becomes less fast, accurate, and efficient. Among the advantages are that the equipment:

• does not require programming knowledge when managing or setting up;
• can perform a greater number of technological operations;
• has a reliable design.

Manual units are not as expensive as CNC equipment. It is suitable for small workshops. But for serial technological processes, it is better to choose units with automated mechanisms.

Manual waterjet cutting

The leading Russian supplier of waterjet cutting equipment for metalworking is the company JSC R-Garnet.

Advantages and disadvantages

Equipment that cuts metal sheets has a number of strengths and weaknesses. Advantages:

1. You can make cuts of different shapes.
2. It is possible to cut thick workpieces.
3. Cost-effectiveness during work.
4. No heating of the material. Therefore, the products do not deteriorate. The structure of the metal remains the same.
5. There is no need to further process the part after processing.
6. Universal equipment that allows you to process different materials.
7. Safety during operation of the unit. It can be started if there are flammable liquids or materials nearby.

Flaws:

1. The time required to cut through thick and thin sheets is the same. Because of this, the profitability of the device becomes questionable. To increase it, it is necessary to process several parts simultaneously.
2. The finished cut at the ends has a cone shape. Because of this, you need to choose equipment with additional automation.

Principles of work

The new technology is the following procedure:

1. The workpiece is immersed in a large container of water.
2. The master secures the part so that the working head moves freely along coordinates relative to the surface being processed.
3. Cutting with water begins with immersing the working part in a bath.
4. The equipment turns on. A powerful stream of water is applied to the surface of the workpiece.
5. Gradually the working head approaches the part, the pressure increases.

You can make the equipment yourself. To do this, you need to understand the design of the finished machine in advance, draw a drawing, prepare materials and tools. It is important to calculate the pressure correctly. Next, the structure is assembled, the container needs to be checked for leaks. A filter system is attached to its bottom, which will filter out liquid from metal particles.

Waterjet cutting of metal is a technological process in which the surface of parts is exposed to water.
A thin stream cuts the workpiece into pieces. This way you can separate sheets of large thickness without heating, which does not disturb the structure of the material. CNC control allows you to minimize the effort on the part of the operator and increase the accuracy of cuts. Metal cutting with water Water jet cutting

Waterjet cutting technique Link to main publication

Source: https://metalloy.ru/obrabotka/rezka/gidroabrazivnaya

Cutting metal with water: technology and video of cutting yourself

Today, not a single metal rolling and engineering industry can do without the technology of waterjet cutting of metal. Often, it is not possible to achieve the desired quality of cut even with the help of plasma cutting, so equipment for cutting using a waterjet jet of water is used.

Water jet cutting of metals with water was first used by an aircraft manufacturing company in America, which subsequently provided evidence that this technology was the best way to cut steel and other refractory metals . Since that time, the water-abrasive method has not ceased to be popular in various industrial fields.

Advantages of cutting metal with a waterjet

Equipment that is used for cutting metal using waterjet is indispensable in processing thick-walled products. Only these machines can provide the highest quality cutting line. After cutting the working area of ​​a 200 mm steel sheet , no burrs or scale appear on the surface of the cut line.

An ideal cut combined with a gentle temperature regime is not all the advantages that the water-abrasive method has. The high price of the equipment is more than offset by savings on fastening units and elements that are not required even when working with thin-walled products.

The absence of dust and smoke, as well as other unfavorable factors, is another of the many advantages of waterjet cutting. In addition, there is no need to replace worn cutting parts and monitor the sharpness of the cutter, because, in fact, there is none. Instead, the role of the cutting part is played by a stream of water along with abrasive particles.

The procedure for waterjet processing of a cut occurs in one step. Moreover, the speed of work proceeds without delay, the cutting speed does not decrease, even when it is necessary to process thick-walled products .

The universal characteristics of metal cutting machines make it possible to simultaneously process various materials on one device - rubber, glass, plastic or multilayer material.

Waterjet machines for cutting metal are characterized by safe operation, and therefore can be installed in enterprises with a high risk of explosion.

Use of waterjet machines and operating principle

Devices for cutting metal with waterjet are universal in use, since their capabilities do not end with cutting metal products. The technology is based on a specially created system for supplying water under high pressure to the surface being processed.

An additional element of the liquid is an abrasive added to the water. As a rule, sand microparticles are used as an abrasive additive. Water and sand simultaneously enter the mixer from separate containers, in which they are thoroughly mixed. Then the resulting mixture is fed under high pressure into the nozzle of the machine.

Afterwards, a working water-abrasive cutter, in the form of a strong jet with certain characteristics, is fed onto the part and cuts it.

In this case, the speed of waterjet cutting can only be compared with the speed of a plasma cutter, but the quality of the cut made by this method corresponds only to the quality of laser cutting.

The rapid development of modern technologies has made it possible to improve machines by expanding their operating capabilities. Due to this, their scope of use has increased significantly.

Today, water-abrasive machines allow:

• Cut products of any geometric shape using numerical programming. In this case, processing occurs completely automatically and does not require an operator. The machine is controlled by a specially installed computer program. Waterjet cutting of pipes makes it possible to make the required circle without any errors;
• Make a non-standard cut of any material, and the changing inclination of the cut does not negatively affect the quality. The work process, which is carried out at any angle, allows us to obtain an absolutely finished product at the output and not subject it to finishing;
• The waterjet method has also found its application in the field of art. The equipment makes it possible to produce various decorations and design objects; as a rule, the processing of figures is done using CNC;
• Installations for waterjet processing used in rolled metal allow cutting of the maximum thickness of any metal, this can be seen in the video. Thus, the processing of a product made of medium-carbon metal can be done using a material whose maximum thickness is 20 cm. The maximum thickness of a titanium alloy is 16-18 mm; high-strength metals can be 11 mm thick. But the thickness of the copper product reaches only 6 mm.

Features of CNC machines

CNC waterjet machines are one of the opportunities to expand the range of applications of devices, improve work efficiency and at the same time increase productivity .

CNC machines are used to manufacture products from copper, aluminum, steel and other types of metals. The high cutting accuracy of water-abrasive CNC machines has almost no deviations from the required conditions.

CNC waterjet machines have the following advantages:

• If on devices without CNC the choice of cutting jet can be selected incorrectly, then in this situation this factor is excluded. The equipment automatically controls the quality of the cut and then independently adjusts the set mode;
• Machine tools that have CNC operate in accordance with the established program. Moreover, the processing of any product is done using individual computer software. Using it, the jet pressure, composition of the cutting mixture and other parameters are automatically selected;
• At the end of waterjet processing, an absolutely finished part is obtained from the workpiece, which does not need to be subjected to additional processing or grinding in the cut area;
• Metal processing using computer software also implies the ability to make holes of the required cross-section.

Manual water-abrasive cutting equipment

Some categories of waterjet devices require operator control, as they are not equipped with CNC. In this case, the operator needs to set the angle and other characteristics with his own hands .

Since you still have to do some of the work yourself, the comfort and ease of use of this machine is far from ideal. But there are also advantages here, which consist of several factors, and they, in a sense, become decisive when choosing machines:

• An operator without special education can operate a manual waterjet machine;
• Non-CNC machines are much cheaper;
• The equipment has all the necessary technical characteristics, which make it possible to obtain products with simple shapes;
• Manual machines are distinguished by a small range of functions and simple controls; you can easily handle their adjustments with your own hands;
• A high-quality and even cut, the ability to cut at an angle, obtaining simple shapes and cutting material with clear geometric shapes - all these functions can be used on any materials, including copper, glass and steel.

Consumables for waterjet equipment

All that is necessary to restore the operation of waterjet machines is to periodically update worn elements and consumables. The abrasive consumption, even on CNC devices, often exceeds more than 350 g. in 1 minute, since when working with a material that has a maximum thickness, these data increase.

Microparticles of sand are used as an abrasive, which ensures cutting of refractory and malleable materials. The size of a microsand grain can be up to 650 microns. In addition to the abrasive, this cutting technique does not require water; it is prepared by passing through filters.

If you use water without preparation, the cutting quality will significantly decrease. Equipment parts that usually need to be replaced include: guide tubes and nozzles, and the abrasive mixture supply system. As well as the sealing parts of the hydraulic station, without which there will not be the required pressure in the system.

Source: https://stanok.guru/stanki/metallorezhuschiy-stanok/rezka-metalla-vodoy-tehnologiya-i-video-oborudovaniya.html

What is the operating principle and technology of cutting metal with water?

Let's look at the technology of cutting metal with water and the principle of its operation. During various works (both in industry and in everyday life), it is often necessary to cut metal structures. For this purpose, mechanical, laser, oxygen, and plasma cutting are used. That is, to cut metals, mainly mechanical action or high temperature is used.

Each of these methods has its own advantages and disadvantages. For example, during mechanical cutting, deformation of the metal occurs, and during gas-oxygen or plasma cutting, it oxidizes.

Advantages and disadvantages of waterjet cutting

In modern industry, a new type of metal cutting using water is actively used. This type of cutting is called water-abrasive or waterjet cutting. This method was first used in the aircraft industry.

This technology does not have the disadvantages that are inherent in cutting metal by mechanical action or high temperature. This technology was first used in the 70s of the last century. It began to be actively used in industry at the end of the 20th century.

Cutting metal using water and abrasive has a number of advantages.

1. The processed product does not heat up and is not deformed.
2. High-quality cut, so there is no need for subsequent processing of the product.
3. Metal losses are minimal.
4. Parts can be processed of any size and in any mode - manual or automatic (without human intervention).

Products made from any metal are processed at the same speed. The work consists of one stage - there is no need to reconfigure the equipment. Therefore, such cutting requires less time than other types. Waterjet cutting is ideal for processing refractory materials and steels. And one more pleasant point: such work is not accompanied by the release of smoke, odor and dust.

Using water-abrasive cutting, you can obtain parts of various shapes - you just need to set certain parameters using numerical control. This factor makes it possible to actively use this method to obtain various items intended for decorating interiors, buildings, etc.

Water-abrasive cutting also has disadvantages. First, there can be negative consequences for metals that are susceptible to corrosion. And, secondly, this type of cutting requires large financial costs. The entire mechanism must be constantly inspected. Equipment often breaks down and requires repair or replacement.

Equipment

The waterjet cutting machine consists of:

• high pressure pump;
• tool head;
• desktop;
• movement systems equipped with a belt drive or CNC control devices;
• working bath (made of stainless steel);
• containers for supplied water;
• tank for abrasive material;
• compressor for supplying abrasive material;
• a sensor designed to control abrasive;
• mixing chamber;
• remote control with a flywheel designed to simplify the control procedure;
• a device designed to remove remains of the processed material;
• device designed for feeding workpieces.

Technology

The cutting tool for waterjet cutting is a stream of water combined with an abrasive material. A jet of water is supplied at high speed under high pressure - from 2000 to 5000 atmospheres. In some devices, pressure can reach 6000 atmospheres.

Water passes through a nozzle whose thickness is 0.1 mm. At the same time, the water speed increases and can reach 1200 m/s and even higher. The water flow is focused, it can cut almost all metals. Water flow is up to 4 l/min.

After the nozzle, the water enters the mixer. Particles of abrasive material are also supplied here. This is where water and abrasive material mix. The abrasive is fed tangentially. A mixture of water and abrasive hits the workpiece. Under the influence of a focused high-speed flow, particles of the processed material are separated from the cut.

Operating principle of a waterjet cutting machine

During the cutting process, it is important to adhere to certain parameters and follow the rules for using the machine. What is important here is what water pressure is used, what flow rate, jet speed, and amount of abrasive material supplied.

The diagram shows in numbers:

• 1 – water supply;
• 2 – nozzle;
• 3 – abrasive material;
• 4 – mixing device;
• 5 – casing;
• 6 – jet of water and abrasive;
• 7 – processed material.

The process of waterjet cutting of metal includes 4 stages:

1. The workpiece is placed in a bath of water and secured. On a non-automated device, this must be done with your own hands; on a CNC machine, using a program.
2. A tool head is placed in the bath, into which water and abrasive are supplied. In this case, the necessary operating parameters are set (water pressure, flow, etc.).
3. The tool head is directed towards the material being processed.
4. A jet of water and abrasive cuts the workpiece.
5. After cutting, the abrasive material is filtered and dried.

The listed steps are constantly repeated during operation of the device. The metal is cut due to the impact of abrasive particles. Water acts as a carrier of cutting particles (that is, abrasive). The following are used as abrasives:

• quartz sand;
• silicon carbide;
• garnet abrasive;
• electrocorundum;
• olivine

The listed materials have common advantages - low price, high cutting properties and hardness. Due to their hardness and increased stability, these materials can be used repeatedly. In domestic industry, quartz sand is mainly used as an abrasive.

This type of cutting is actively used for processing workpieces made of alloy steel. This is due to the fact that the jet of water and abrasive does not disturb the composition of such steel. In addition to metals, glass, stone (natural and artificial), concrete and reinforced concrete can be processed. But, each material has its own thickness limits:

1. Non-ferrous metals, alloys and stainless steel – maximum 150 mm.
2. Composite materials, carbon fiber reinforced plastics – maximum 200 mm.
3. Natural and artificial stone – maximum 300 mm.

cutting metal with water.

Waterjet metal cutting technology

[Waterjet cutting of metal] is a technology that the engineering and metal rolling industries cannot do without.

Sometimes it is impossible to achieve the required cut quality even through plasma cutting, which is why equipment for cutting using a waterjet is used.

Waterjet cutting of metal was first used by an American aircraft manufacturing company, which subsequently presented evidence that this technology is the best option for processing steel and other refractory metals.

Since that time, the water-abrasive method has not ceased to be in demand in various production areas. Today, machines whose purpose is to process steel, pipes, etc. with a waterjet are very popular.

Advantages of the waterjet metal cutting method

Equipment used for cutting metal using waterjet is indispensable when working with thick-walled workpieces. Only these machines are capable of providing high quality steel cutting lines during pipe laying.

After grinding the working area of ​​a 200 mm metal sheet, there is no scale or burrs on the surface of the steel cutting line.

Ideal cut quality combined with gentle temperature conditions are not all the advantages that water-abrasive technology has.

The high cost of installations is compensated by savings on fasteners and components, which are not needed even when working with thin-walled workpieces.

The absence of smoke and dust, as well as other unpleasant factors, is another of the many advantages of waterjet cutting.

In addition, there is no need to replace a worn cutting tool and control the sharpness of the cutter, since, in fact, it is absent.

Instead, the function of a cutting tool is performed by a stream of water in combination with abrasive components.

The process of initial and finishing waterjet processing of a cut is performed in one stage.

At the same time, the speed of the work process proceeds without slowdown, the cutting speed does not decrease, even if it is necessary to process thick-walled elements, as, for example, when laying pipes.

The universal characteristics of metal cutting machines allow simultaneous processing of different materials on one installation - it can be plastic, glass, rubber or a multi-layer product.

IMPORTANT TO KNOW: Methods and devices for cutting aluminum

Waterjet installations for cutting metal are safe to use and can therefore be used in factories with a possible risk of explosion.

Operating principle and application of waterjet machines

Machines for processing metal with waterjet are universal in use, because their capabilities do not end with cutting rolled metal. The operating principle of water-abrasive units can be seen in the video.

The technology is based on a specially designed system for supplying water under high pressure to the surface being treated.

An auxiliary component of the liquid is an abrasive that is added to the water. Typically, microparticles of sand are used as an abrasive additive.

Water and grains of sand are simultaneously fed into the mixer from separate tanks, where they are thoroughly mixed. As a result, the resulting suspension under pressure enters the nozzle of the installation.

Then a working water-abrasive tool, in the form of an intense jet with certain parameters, is directed at the workpiece and cuts it.

In this case, the speed of waterjet cutting can only be compared with the speed of a plasma cutter, but the quality of a cut made by this method can only correspond to the quality of laser cutting.

The rapid development of modern technologies has made it possible to improve machines by expanding their operational capabilities. Due to this, their scope of use has increased.

Today, water-abrasive equipment makes it possible to:

• Carry out non-standard cutting of any material, while the changing angle of the cut does not negatively affect the quality. The work process, carried out at any angle of inclination, makes it possible to obtain completely finished workpieces at the output and not subject them to finishing;
• Cut parts of the most complex geometric shapes using numerical software. In this case, processing is completely automatic and does not require human intervention. The equipment is controlled by a specially defined computer program. Waterjet cutting (for example, pipe processing) allows you to make the desired circle without permissible errors;
• Machines for processing metal (pipes) with waterjet, used in rolled metal, make it possible to cut the maximum thickness of different metals, as shown in the video. Thus, processing of a workpiece made of medium-carbon steel can be carried out using material with a maximum thickness of 200 mm. The maximum thickness of titanium material can be 15-17 mm; high-strength alloys can have a thickness of 12 mm. But the thickness of the copper billet reaches only 5 mm;
• Waterjet technology has also found its application in the field of art. The equipment makes it possible to produce a variety of design and decoration items; most often, the processing of figures occurs using CNC.

IMPORTANT TO KNOW: Technology of cutting metal with a cutter

Features of operating CNC machines

Waterjet equipment with computer program control is one of the opportunities to expand the scope of use of machines, increase work efficiency and at the same time increase productivity.

More details can be gleaned from the information provided below and the video story.

CNC machines are used to produce blanks from steel, aluminum, copper and other types of metals.

The strict cutting accuracy provided by CNC water-abrasive equipment has virtually no deviations from the assigned tasks.

Program-controlled waterjet units provide the following advantages:

• CNC-equipped machines operate in accordance with a given program. In this case, each workpiece is processed using individual software. With its help, the jet pressure, the composition of the working cutting suspension and other parameters are automatically selected;
• If on non-CNC machines the selection of the cutting jet can be chosen incorrectly, then in this situation this point is excluded. The equipment independently controls the quality of the cut, then automatically adjusts the mode used;
• Metal processing with the help of software also provides the ability to make holes of the desired diameter;
• As you can judge from the video material, upon completion of the waterjet process, a completely finished part emerges from the workpiece, which does not need to be subjected to grinding or additional processing at the cut points.

Manual machines for water-abrasive cutting of metal

A certain category of waterjet machines is under operator control, since they do not have CNC. In this case, the operator has to set the angle of inclination and other parameters with his own hands.

Since some of the work still has to be done with your own hands, the convenience and comfort of using such equipment is far from ideal.

But this also has its advantages, consisting of several simple factors, which in some sense can become decisive when choosing equipment:

• Equipment without software is several times cheaper than CNC machines;
• Processing using a manual waterjet machine is accessible to a person without special education;
• Manual installations are distinguished by simple controls and a small set of functions, which you can set up yourself;
• At the same time, the equipment is provided with all the necessary technical properties that make it possible to obtain workpieces with simple geometric shapes;
• Smooth, high-quality cuts, the ability to cut at an angle, cut material and obtain simple figures with strict geometric shapes - all these functions can be used on any materials, including steel, glass and copper. As an example, work can be done to lay pipes.

IMPORTANT TO KNOW: Types of heat treatment of metals and alloys

You can see the process of setting up a manual machine with your own hands and its actions in the video in the section.

Details about consumables for waterjet machines

All that is required to restore the full operation of waterjet machines for cutting metal is to regularly update consumables and worn-out elements, because the machines fail over time.

The consumption of abrasive, even on machines with software, sometimes exceeds 300 g per minute, since when working with a material of maximum thickness, the figure increases.

Microparticles of natural garnet sand are used as an abrasive, which is capable of cutting viscous and refractory workpieces. The size of a microsand grain can be up to 600 microns.

In addition to abrasive, waterjet technology cannot do without water, which is pre-prepared and goes through filters.

If you use liquid without a special preparation system, the quality of the cut will significantly decrease.

The parts of waterjet equipment that most often need to be replaced are the abrasive suspension supply system, nozzle and guide tubes.

As well as sealing elements of the pumping station, without which there will not be the required pressure in the system.

The thematic video in our article will supplement the above information.

Source: https://rezhemmetall.ru/gidroabrazivnaya-rezka-metalla.html