Waterjet cutting
Waterjet cutting is a cold cutting process in which a high-pressure water jet, usually mixed with abrasive garnet, cuts material along a programmed contour. Because no heat is introduced, there is no heat-affected zone, which makes waterjet cutting suitable for thick plates, hardened or heat-sensitive materials, plastics and composites.
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Typical parts
- Thick steel and stainless steel plates and flanges
- Parts in hardened or wear-resistant steel
- Gaskets and seals in rubber and fibre materials
- Engineering plastic plates and wear parts
- Composite and laminate parts
- Blanks for machining where heat must be avoided
Quantities
- Prototypes, spare parts and series
- No tooling cost
Inspection
- Contour check with calipers, gauges or optical system
- Edge taper and edge quality
- Machined features measured as CNC parts
Documents
- Dimensional report
- EN 10204 3.1 certificate for metals
How waterjet cutting works
A high-pressure pump forces water through a small nozzle. In abrasive waterjet cutting, garnet sand is added to the jet in a mixing chamber, and the jet erodes the material along the programmed contour. Soft materials are cut with pure water. The cutting head is moved by a CNC table; some machines have a tilting head to compensate for the taper of the cut edge.
Dimensional and surface inspection
Waterjet cut parts are checked against the drawing or DXF contour with calipers, gauges or an optical measuring system. Edge taper and edge quality are assessed against the drawing requirements. Machined features are measured as for any CNC machined part.
Standard documents are a dimensional report and, for metals, a material certificate to EN 10204 3.1. More on the quality page.
Materials for waterjet cutting
Steel and stainless steel
- S355
- 1.4301
- 1.4404
- wear-resistant grades
Aluminium and copper alloys
- EN AW-6082
- brass
- bronze
Engineering plastics
- PE-UHMW
- POM
- PA
Rubber and gasket materials
- EPDM
- NBR
- fibre gasket sheet
Composites
- glass and carbon fibre laminates
There is no fixed size or thickness limit. Send us your drawing and we will define the right production route and confirm feasibility.
Is this the right process?
When waterjet cutting is the right choice
- The cut edge must be free of a heat-affected zone
- The material is hardened, heat-sensitive or non-metallic
- Plates are thick, or many different materials are needed for one assembly
When another process is better
- Thin and medium steel sheet in series: laser cutting is faster
- Precise bores, threads or 3D features: cut the blank by waterjet, then CNC milling
- Hardened tool parts with fine contours and tight fits: wire EDM
Related pages
- CNC millingCNC milled parts in steel, stainless steel and aluminium from machine shops in Türkiye: housings, plates, brackets and machined castings, with CMM reports.
- Engineering plasticsMachined and injection moulded engineering plastic parts in PA6, PA66, PA6-GF30, POM-C, PE-UHMW and PEEK, produced by manufacturers in Türkiye.
- Machinery and equipmentMachine bases, housings, shafts, gear blanks, guides and plastic wear parts for machinery and equipment manufacturers, produced by manufacturers in Türkiye.
- Construction and mining equipmentPins, bushings, hubs, housings, counterweights and wear parts for construction and mining equipment manufacturers, produced by manufacturers in Türkiye.
- Energy and infrastructureFlanges, rolled rings, shafts, bearing and gearbox housings, valve and pump parts for energy and infrastructure equipment, from manufacturers in Türkiye.
Frequently asked questions
When should I choose waterjet instead of laser cutting?
Choose waterjet when the edge must stay free of heat effects, when the material is hardened, heat-sensitive or non-metallic, or when the plate is too thick for an economical laser cut. For thin and medium sheet in steel or stainless steel, laser cutting is usually faster and cheaper.
Which materials can be cut by waterjet?
Almost any material: steel, stainless steel, aluminium, copper alloys, titanium, engineering plastics, rubber, composites and laminates. Pure water without abrasive is used for soft materials such as rubber and foam.
Does waterjet cutting need tooling?
No. Waterjet cutting works from a 2D drawing or DXF file. There is no tooling cost, so it suits prototypes, spare parts and series.
Send your drawing. You get a quotation in 3 to 5 working days.
Your drawings are handled confidentially; NDA on request.