Technologies
Waterjet cutting is a cold manufacturing process that uses a highly pressurized stream of water — reaching up to 90,000 PSI — mixed with abrasive garnet particles to cut metals, composites, stone, and
Waterjet cutting is a cold manufacturing process that uses a highly pressurized stream of water — reaching up to 90,000 PSI — mixed with abrasive garnet particles to cut metals, composites, stone, and glass with tolerances as tight as ±0.1 mm, without generating a heat-affected zone.
Waterjet cutting is a cold manufacturing process that uses a highly pressurized stream of water — reaching up to 90,000 PSI — mixed with abrasive garnet particles to cut metals, composites, stone, and glass with tolerances as tight as ±0.1 mm, without generating a heat-affected zone.
Waterjet cutting operates through a five-step process. First, water is pressurized to 60,000–90,000 PSI using a high-pressure pump. Second, abrasive garnet particles are introduced into the pressurized stream to enable cutting of hard materials. Third, the pressurized water-abrasive mixture is forced through a precision nozzle (typically 0.76–1.27 mm diameter), focusing the jet to a coherent stream. Fourth, a CNC machine guides the nozzle along a programmed path, cutting the part to design specifications. Fifth, the spent water and abrasive exit below the workpiece, carrying away eroded material particles.
Pure waterjet systems handle soft materials like foam and rubber; abrasive waterjet is essential for industrial applications involving metals, composites, and stone. At Entag, our waterjet systems maintain consistent cutting pressure in the 85,000–90,000 PSI range, enabling us to cut structural steel up to 150 mm thick and aluminum up to 200 mm with repeatable accuracy. The process produces no heat-affected zone — critical for pre-hardened steel, titanium, and composite materials where thermal distortion or microstructural changes must be avoided.
Waterjet cutting processes a broader material range than laser or plasma cutting. Metals include structural steel (S235, S355), stainless steel (304, 316), aluminum alloys (5052, 6061), titanium (Grade 5 / Ti-6Al-4V), copper, and brass. Non-metals span carbon fiber reinforced polymers (CFRP), fiberglass, rubber, gasket material, and foam. Hard materials include granite, marble, slate, ceramic tiles, and tempered glass. Thickness capability ranges from 0.5 mm sheet metal to 150–200 mm solid sections depending on material type. This versatility makes waterjet cutting the preferred process for mixed-material assemblies and heat-sensitive aerospace or medical components — applications increasingly sourced by procurement teams in Cairo, Alexandria, Jeddah, Riyadh, and Dammam.
| Criteria | Waterjet Cutting | Laser Cutting | Plasma Cutting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heat-Affected Zone | None (cold process) | Yes (moderate) | Yes (significant) |
| Max Material Thickness | Up to 200 mm | Up to 25 mm (metal) | Up to 150 mm |
| Tolerances | ±0.1–0.25 mm | ±0.05–0.1 mm | ±0.5–1.0 mm |
| Materials | Metal, stone, glass, composites, foam | Metals, some plastics | Conductive metals only |
| Edge Quality | Smooth, no burr | Smooth (thin sheets) | Rough, requires finishing |
Waterjet cutting excels for thick materials and heat-sensitive compositions. Laser cutting delivers tighter tolerances on thin sheet metal (under 6 mm) but degrades rapidly above 20 mm thickness and cannot cut stone or composites. Plasma cutting is fastest on thick structural steel but produces rough edges, a significant heat-affected zone, and cannot process non-conductors. Waterjet cutting achieves ±0.1–0.25 mm tolerances (conforming to ISO 2768-m general tolerances), produces burr-free edges, and works on virtually any material — making it the versatile choice for complex, multi-material, or thermally sensitive parts. The kerf width typically ranges from 0.8 to 1.5 mm and must be accounted for in CAD design; surface roughness averages Ra 3.2–6.3 µm and requires no secondary finishing for most applications.
What is waterjet cutting and how does it work?
Waterjet cutting is a cold-process manufacturing method using water pressurized to 60,000–90,000 PSI, mixed with abrasive garnet, to erode and cut through materials with high precision. A CNC-controlled nozzle guides the stream along a programmed path, producing clean edges with tolerances of ±0.1 mm and no heat-affected zone.
What materials can be cut with a waterjet?
Waterjet cutting handles metals (steel, stainless steel, aluminum, titanium, copper), composites (carbon fiber, fiberglass), hard materials (granite, marble, glass, ceramics), and soft materials (rubber, foam, gaskets). Unlike laser or plasma, it cuts almost any material regardless of hardness or heat sensitivity, up to 200 mm thick.
What is the difference between pure waterjet and abrasive waterjet cutting?
Pure waterjet uses only high-pressure water and is suited for soft materials like foam, rubber, and food products. Abrasive waterjet adds garnet particles to the stream, enabling it to cut hard metals, stone, glass, and composites. Most industrial metal fabrication applications require abrasive waterjet cutting.
What tolerances does waterjet cutting achieve?
Waterjet cutting typically achieves dimensional tolerances of ±0.1 mm to ±0.25 mm, conforming to ISO 2768-m general tolerance standards. Tighter tolerances are achievable on thinner materials. Kerf width ranges from 0.8 to 1.5 mm depending on nozzle diameter and abrasive flow, which must be accounted for in CAD design.
Is waterjet cutting better than laser cutting for thick metal?
For metal thicker than 20–25 mm, waterjet cutting is generally superior to laser cutting. Waterjet cuts up to 150–200 mm of steel without a heat-affected zone, while laser cutting performance degrades significantly above 25 mm. For thin sheet metal with tight tolerances, laser cutting may offer faster cycle times.
Does waterjet cutting work on stainless steel and titanium?
Yes. Waterjet cutting is one of the preferred methods for stainless steel (304, 316) and titanium (Grade 5, Ti-6Al-4V) because it produces no heat-affected zone, preventing oxidation and microstructure change at the cut edge. This makes it ideal for aerospace, medical, and oil & gas components.
Waterjet cutting delivers the precision and material flexibility that laser and plasma systems cannot match for thick sections and heat-sensitive alloys. Whether you're sourcing aerospace brackets in titanium, gaskets in stainless steel, or architectural metalwork in aluminum, Entag's waterjet service meets ISO 2768 tolerances and delivers repeatable accuracy without secondary operations.
Our sheet metal fabrication services include waterjet cutting alongside laser cutting, bending, and welding — enabling you to consolidate multi-process orders on one platform. For detailed comparison with laser cutting capabilities, see our laser cutting guide.
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