How Powerful Are Waterjets?
Did you know that waterjets were first used in the United States in the 1970s? They were mainly used for cleaning applications. Through the years, abrasive waterjets developed, which allowed accurate cutting of hard materials.
Today, global waterjet cutting is one of the fastest-growing processes in the world because of advanced technologies like 3D cutting and multi-axis waterjets, according to Allied Market Research.
Read more about the power of waterjets and how they can do things that other cutting technologies can’t.
How Powerful Are Waterjets?
Waterjets use nozzles to carry high pressure, fine streams of water and garnet to cut materials. The garnet typically has a Moh hardness of 6.5 to 7.5. This means it can cut through any materials softer than the garnet. Abrasive waterjets are able to cut many materials of varying thicknesses, such as metal, titanium, glass, hardened steel, ceramics, plastic, stone, and rubber.
For example, a waterjet can cut through a 4-inch slab of titanium with a 50,000 PSI stream of water and garnet-laced grit, which travels 700 mph.
To give you an idea of how powerful waterjets are, check these pounds per square inch (PSI) comparisons:
Household faucet — 60 PSI
Fire hose — 1,200 PSI
Pressure washer — 4,000 PSI
Waterjet — 90,000 PSI
As you can see, the pressure of the water makes a huge difference for various applications. Waterjets usually have water pressure from 50,000 to 90,000 PSI. The nozzle horsepower creates various water pressures for cutting.
How Waterjets Make Powerful Cutting Streams?
High-pressure pumps supply the water to the waterjet nozzle. The reason the water stream is powerful is that as it flows out of the waterjet nozzle at very high velocity, the aerodynamic drag acts as a boundary for the stream.
This slows down the water and causes it to spread. Inside this spreading water is the core that sends the primary energy when it hits the hard surface you’re cutting.
The length of the core depends on which nozzle you’re using and flow conditions. If you’re using a poorly designed nozzle, it can result in poor upstreams that cause the stream to break up after leaving the nozzle. It’s important to use high-quality waterjet nozzles for all your cutting applications.
As the water travels beyond the pressure cone, it breaks up into separate droplets. These drops still have the force and can be productive, but they’ll be less precise. For example, the droplets would still be beneficial for commercial cleaning at low pressure.
Parts Needed for Waterjet Cutting Machines
Most waterjet machines require the following parts to produce high-velocity water jets and smooth cuts:
Reservoir for storing water
High-pressure pump for pressurizing water
Intensifier connected to the pump for pressurizing to the desired level
Accumulator for storing pressurized water temporarily
Control valve to control the direction and pressure of water to the nozzle
Flow regulator to regulate water flow
Nozzle to stream the water jet at a high velocity
Mixing tube for mixing abrasive as the water flows from the nozzle
Catchers to catch the abrasive material after making the cut
These are the essential components of most waterjets but some machines feature upgrades and control retrofit kits. Also, some waterjets feature an economical single-intensifier pump while dual intensifier pumps give you increased operating performance.
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