According to the Market Research International Corporation, water jet cutting is quickly becoming one of the most versatile and fastest growing processes in the world. Because it is so cost effective and more efficient in reducing the amount of hazardous waste, the water jet cutting system is often a sought after process in the current economy.
Dr. Norman Franz, an early water cutting pioneer (1950s – 1970s), tried different ways to cut lumber with water, using heavy weights to push large amounts of water through a small opening. Unfortunately, he was not able to maintain the high-pressure water stream at a constant rate with this preliminary engineering.2 As the technology developed more, and the waterjet eventually maintained consistent pressure, in 1980, Dr. Mohamed Hashish discovered that by using abrasives in the water stream (sand from an ashtray, in the initial discovery!) that you could cut wood much more effectively. This breakthrough, which ultimately used garnet and aluminum oxide as abrasives, caused water jet technology to really gain popularity.1
The water jet cutter is a fairly simple process that mimics water erosion in nature, only it is more concentrated and extremely accelerated. Water is ejected from a nozzle using a high-pressure water pump and the high-speed stream of water, laced with abrasives, can be easily adjusted to cut through almost any material; some exceptions consist of tempered glass, which is known to shatter, diamonds, and ceramics. 4
Because the water jet cutter has the ability to cut through materials without using heat, the materials intrinsic properties are not harmed or changed and therefore the water jet is the leading process in "green" technology.2 Large pieces of scrap metal, that might have been lost in traditional cutting methods, are easily reused, and the process itself reduces the amount of fumes and contaminants that can be produced in the traditional cutting of such materials as asbestos and fiber glass. 4Health risks of water jet cutter employees are therefore greatly reduced, making liabilities minimal.
The water jet cutter versatility allows it to fit into almost any industry, proving itself unique in performing in ways that other technologies simply cannot. From cutting ultra-fine details in stone, glass, and metals to eliminating pathogens in beverages and other edible products; from cutting high-strength materials used in military and aerospace science to slicing delicate food products without damage - there is not much the water jet cutter cannot do.4 This ability to be used on such a broad spectrum of materials allots for more cost-effective production on almost all industry planes.
With plenty of water jet manufacturers all over the world and the variable amount of space the machine occupies (from only a few square feet to a few thousand), it is easy to meet the specifications and demand of its buyers. Also, in the effort to reduce costs, the engineering and manufacturing industry can find new efficiencies by utilizing a water jet cutting system1. Water cutting is an innovative “new” technology that should continue to contribute to industrial manufacturing push to the next level.
1 Flow International Corp; www.flowcorp.com
2 www.Waterjets.org
3 www.HowStuffWorks.com
4 Jet Edge; www.jetedge.com