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What Are The Most Persistent Myths About Water Jet Cutting?

Water jet cutting machines are state of the art cutting equipment that lets you cut through plastics, metal and even carbon fiber, sans any distortion or warping risks. While we see that there is an impressive growth in the wide-scale use and popularity of water jet cutting, there is a proliferation of incorrect belief system about it.

Most of these erroneous impressions and misleading beliefs about it became popular myths. Unfortunately, they are working to the disadvantage of many of us because they are keeping us from our way of seeing exactly what this material cutting method is capable of. Below are some of the most popular myths about water jet technology. While we can’t have an exhaustive list of all the myths surrounding it, it is high time that we debunk some of these myths now.

Abrasive Water Jet is Noisy and Slow Process

We can see and understand the reason why some people today tend to assume that the use of waterjet technology will take a significant amount of effort and time to produce. What this technology makes use of is an accelerated form of erosion. In doing so, it can slice through a material, usually in what can be best described as fast pacing. But even if it is accompanied by fast cutting speed, it is not known to produce mess or noise issues.  

By carrying out the cutting process under a small amount of water, the steam, the spray or the mist it will likely produce will be reduced. Aside from that, underwater cutting will also alleviate noise levels. Cutting just above the water surface is indeed likely to produce only 95-decibel sounds although the distance between the mixing tube and the material will have a role to play here, the cutting process done underwater will produce about 75-decibel noises.  

Water Jets Can’t Cut Complex Parts

Many of us have been misguided about water jet technology. This leads us to think that water jet cutting machines are not applicable for use in precision cutting for 3D components. 

The truth about this is that the recent technological advancements in the 3D printing space have taken the versatility of water jet cutting machine to the next level of perfection. It’s cutting head can now swerve in different directions with its motions being under the control of advanced software. This unique and outstanding feature of waterjet machines allows it to handle the cutting of 3D parts in just one single but fluid motion. Hence, it makes secondary cutting unnecessary.  

Water Jet Pumps Run the Risk of Imploding At any Given Time

For as long as you acquired your water jet pump from some of the accredited and reputable manufacturers, there is absolutely no reason for you to concern yourself about this. Ponder on this now: Compared to air, water is less compressible. This means to say that there is a lesser amount of energy contained in a water jet pump as opposed to a scuba tank. 

It is of paramount importance that water jet machine manufacturers adhere to the strict rules and implemented industry standards when it comes to designing their high-pressure pumps. One vital aspect from these standards will make sure that every high-pressure vessel is designed to make some leaks first before they would even break. This signifies a safety feature for it, there will be no pressure build-up in those regions that are likely to have a catastrophic failure.  

Garnet Mesh Size Don’t Have Any Adverse Effect on Speed

The truth here is, the garnet mesh will have affect cutting speed to a certain extent. Here is for better understanding of this: 

Larger abrasive mesh tends to cut at a faster pace, however, this runs the risk of leaving the surface finish rougher. The most preferred mesh type to use of water jet cutting is 80 mesh, even if a 50 or 60 mesh tends to cut faster. On a thin sheet of metal, will only leave behind a minimal impact.