What is a waterjet cutter?
A waterjet cutter is a computer guided cutting system which uses water and abrasive, which are forced through a nozzle at high pressure. The resultant jet is capable of cutting many materials quickly and accurately, and usually provides a finished product that needs no further treatment of the cut edge.
Is my material appropriate for waterjet cutting?
A waterjet cutter can process ceramic, stone, metal, paper, wood, glass and a wide variety of other materials. If you're manufacturing using any similar raw materials, then a waterjet process may help you increase your productivity and quality.
How thick can my material be?
Waterjet tables traditionally cut materials that are up to about 6-8 inches in thickness. Harder-to-cut materials might require a thinner profile.
What processes are waterjet cutting's competitors?
There are other processes used for finely controlled material fabrication, but each has their own benefits and drawbacks. The processes that are superficially the most similar to waterjet cutting are laser cutting and wire EDM fabrication. Each of these processes are best at certain jobs, and are less adequate for others. It's up to the consumer to find out which cutting process has the best fit for their job.