Don’t Believe These Myths About Water Jet Cutting
As long-time veterans of the water jet cutting industry, we know we use technology that isn’t well understood. Most people only think of saws or lasers when it comes to industrial or commercial cutting. If they’ve heard of water jet cutting, it’s probably only in the context of cutting stone.
Today, we’ve taken a few minutes to write about some of the myths we’ve heard concerning water jet cutting, and why they’re wrong.
Debunking Four Myths About Water Jet Cutting
- Water jet cutting is (NOT) imprecise
This one is understandable—how can a jet of water achieve the same precision as a laser? By making the cutting jet of water highly pressurized and very thin, that’s how. Water jet cutting can achieve tolerances of ±0.003,” which is more precise than either lasers or saws and certainly more precise than most applications require. Plus, unlike saws and lasers, water jet cuts do no require post finishing. Sanding, filing, and/or polishing are never required, which means that the precision of the cut is not compromised after the fact.
- Water jet cutting is (NOT) only for large operations
This is no longer true. In the beginning, water jet cutting shops tended to serve only large companies. However, as technology advanced and more water jet companies entered the market, water jet services became readily accessible. Today, affordable water jet cutting is available to any industrial or commercial customer, and even to artists, architects, designers, or individuals who need something precisely and/or intricately cut.
- Water jet cutting is (NOT) only for prototyping
Water jet cutting is indeed an excellent option for rapid prototyping. With its ability to make quick, clean cuts without the need for reworka water jet cutting shop is an excellent prototyping partner. But it is also a great solution for large production runs or for anything in between.
- Water jet cutting can (NOT) only handle flat objects
This is another myth that in not true. Years ago, again in the beginning, water jet cutting services focused almost exclusively on flat sheets. But, today, the combination of improved jet technology, better CAD integration and more capable software enable computer-controlled water jets to effectively and precisely cut highly complex 3D shapes. Pipe splitting and drilling, for example, are examples of this.
Precision Cutting Service has been providing state-of-the-art water jet cutting services nationwide for over twenty-five years. We are fast, precise, and cost-effective. Contact us for top-quality cutting today! You will be happy you did.