In the past only one piece of metal could be cut at a time with a saw or other metal cutting mechanical process.
Water cutting steel psi.
This system used a 100 000 psi 690 mpa pump to deliver a hypersonic liquid jet that could cut high strength alloys such as ph15 7 mo stainless steel.
During the initial two decades of waterjet cutting relatively small increments in pump pressures up to 60 000 psi 4 100 bar were typical.
The water is forced through a 0 010 to 0 015 in diameter orifice hole in a jewel.
The water pressure is typically between 20 000 and 55 000 pounds per square inch psi.
To calculate your material cutting speed and waterjet pump pressure download the kmt 60 000psi 90 000psi cutting calculator on your computer.
One way to understand the sheer amount of pressure involved in waterjet cutting is to compare it with other water sources in terms of maximum pounds per square inch psi.
Unlike oxy acetylene torches hydro cutting is flame free and safe for use in explosive atmospheres.
This abrasivejet has an internal 013 ruby orifice to produce a 040 diameter jet of water.
It was time intensive and expensive.
Used to cut honeycomb laminate for the mach 3 north american xb 70 valkyrie this cutting method resulted in delaminating at high speed requiring changes to the manufacturing process.
Look for a few sparks to fly.
Automated control assures accuracy and consistency for both straight and beveled cuts.
Logarithmic scale comparing four sources of water in terms of upper pressure limits.
Unfortunately as the pressure increases so does the cost and maintenance so this is not as simple as it seems.
The more water you flow the faster the cut.
A 50 hp pump creates 52 400 psi pressure for a jet of water and garnet abrasive mixture to cut 1 16 inch steel.