Abrasive waterjets let you cut everything from metal to wood. But they also offer you the option of cutting your material out of the water or with the water raised to cover the machine head.
Better still, underwater cutting in no way impairs waterjet nozzle efficiency. This is because the nozzle itself is typically about .4 inches (or about 1 millimeter) to the surface of the material.
There are two main advantages to cutting underwater. The first is less noise. When you cut above water, the stream exits the nozzle at close to the speed of sound. This creates a very loud noise, which necessitates the use of hearing protection. You can reduce the noise, and eliminate the need for protection, simply by cutting underwater.
The second major advantage is that you eliminate all splashing. You can use a sponge or brush around the tip of the nozzle to prevent splashing when you cut above water. But there will always be stray splashes of water as the stream bounces off the material or the slats under it.
Another lesser-known benefit to cutting under water is that parts rust less when submerged. This is because being underwater prevents the constant splash of water, and then air, then water, then air, which accelerates the rusting process over simply cutting the entire thing submerged.
In some cases, you can also reduce the amount of frosting. This is an effect that happens when stray abrasive particles “frost” the material you are cutting. Usually, this happens right at the edge of where you have cut. It can also happen in a circular pattern around the area where you pierce your material.
Of course, you do need to stay aware of the material you’re using. Thin material that tends to float, or be pushed around by the backsplash when under water is better cut above the water. Material that is more than 2 inches (5 centimeters) is also better cut above the water. This is because you won’t be able to raise the water enough to cover the material
Techmoon abrasive waterjets are state-of-the-art machines that offer amazing versatility for all your cutting projects. And they cost thousands less then those made by our nearest competitors. For cutting edge quality in cutting technology, contact us today!
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