The industrial tool known as a water jet cutter cuts a wide array of materials. There are some materials that are highly sensitive to the high temperature generated by other cutting methods; during those times, a water cutting is deployed to gain favourable results.
How do water jet cutters cut materials?
The science behind it is fairly easy to grasp. An extremely overwhelming amount of energy is concentrated in a small area as high-pressure water is forced through a tiny hole keeping the spray coherent. The small orifice creates a high-pressure stream of water and a high-velocity beam that is basically powerful enough to cut metal. It works somewhat like you keeping your finger over the end of a garden hose. Doesn't the pressure of water increase tenfold when you do that?
Advantages of water jet cutters
Water jet cutters are flexible and fairly precise. They hold many advantages, and some of them are discussed below;
- No other industrial tool cuts material without interfering with its inherent structure better than a water jet cutter. It is because it doesn't super-heat the area adjacent to the cut. Since the effects of heat are lowered to a bare minimum, the intrinsic properties of the metals aren't harmed and changed when cut with a water jet cutter.
- Water jet cutters can produce complex shapes of materials with the help of 3-D machining heads and specialised software. So, the equipment can perform intricate cuts in material as well.
- One of the selling points of a water jet cutter is its lack of a role in environmental degradation. The green technology is environmentally-friendly since it doesn't create hazardous gases, chips, grindings, etc.
- Contrary to popular belief, the high kinetic energy in water jet cutting doesn't cause deformation in parts. In fact, it is quite the opposite. When a material is cut with a water jet cutter, there isn't a need for secondary finishing process in most cases because of the lack of frayed edges and burrs in the material.
- The water jet technology is highly coveted in the meat-cutting industry. It is because a lack of contact between the animals in the slaughterhouse substantially decreases the possibility of cross-contamination. After all, the animals only come into contact with water.
- The water jet cutters don't use as much water as often believed. And, even if you believe that they do, the used water can still be recycled using a closed-looped system.