Technologies
The waterjet cutting process guide for metals uses a high-pressure stream of water — pressurized to 60,000–90,000 PSI — mixed with abrasive garnet particles to cut through metals without generating he
The waterjet cutting process guide for metals uses a high-pressure stream of water — pressurized to 60,000–90,000 PSI — mixed with abrasive garnet particles to cut through metals without generating heat. Unlike laser or plasma cutting, waterjet produces no heat-affected zone (HAZ), making it ideal f
The waterjet cutting process guide for metals uses a high-pressure stream of water — pressurized to 60,000–90,000 PSI — mixed with abrasive garnet particles to cut through metals without generating heat. Unlike laser or plasma cutting, waterjet produces no heat-affected zone (HAZ), making it ideal for heat-sensitive alloys, hardened steels, and thick materials. The process cuts metals up to 200mm thick while maintaining dimensional tolerances of ±0.1mm to ±0.25mm, depending on material thickness and cut speed.
Hydraulic pump pressurization — A high-pressure pump compresses water to 60,000–90,000 PSI and forces it into the cutting head assembly.
Water acceleration through the nozzle — The pressurized water is forced through a small diameter ruby or sapphire nozzle (0.10–0.35mm), accelerating to supersonic velocity (~900 m/s).
Abrasive garnet introduction — At the mixing chamber, granular garnet abrasive (80–200 mesh) is introduced into the water stream, creating an abrasive slurry.
Focused cutting jet formation — The abrasive-laden water exits a secondary focusing tube (mixing tube) as a coherent, focused jet approximately 1–2mm in diameter.
Metal material removal — The jet impacts the workpiece surface, causing micro-fracture and erosion of the metal at the kerf (cut line). Cutting speed: 50–500 mm/min, depending on material thickness and desired surface finish.
Debris evacuation — Water and abrasive particles, along with severed metal chips, exit the underside of the workpiece into a containment tank or drain system.
CNC motion control — The cutting head moves in X-Y coordinates under CNC control, following the programmed part geometry from CAD files.
Part removal — Once the cutting cycle completes, the part is removed, dried, and inspected for dimensional conformance.
Waterjet cutting is material-agnostic — it cuts ferrous and non-ferrous metals, composites, ceramics, and glass without material restrictions. Realistic thickness ranges by metal type: aluminium up to 150mm, stainless steel up to 100mm, titanium and Inconel up to 80mm, hardened tool steel and copper alloys up to 100mm. Thicker sections are technically possible but incur slower cut speeds and tolerance degradation. At Entag, we deliver sheet metal fabrication and thick plate cutting to specification for engineers across Cairo, Alexandria, Jeddah, and Riyadh.
| Parameter | Waterjet Cutting | Laser Cutting | Plasma Cutting | CNC Milling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heat-Affected Zone | None (cold process) | Yes (moderate) | Yes (significant) | None |
| Max Metal Thickness | Up to 200mm | Up to 25mm (mild steel) | Up to 80mm | Varies by setup |
| Dimensional Tolerance | ±0.1mm – ±0.25mm | ±0.05mm – ±0.1mm | ±0.5mm – ±1.0mm | ±0.01mm – ±0.05mm |
| Material Compatibility | Metals, composites, stone, glass | Metals, acrylics only | Conductive metals only | Metals, plastics, composites |
Choose waterjet cutting when:
Material thickness exceeds 25mm and laser cutting is insufficient
Parts are heat-sensitive or require zero thermal distortion (hardened tool steels, Inconel, composites)
You need to cut non-conductive materials or mixed material assemblies
Edge squareness matters more than absolute positional tolerance (±0.1mm vs. ±0.01mm)
For aerospace-grade precision (±0.01mm), CNC machining services in Egypt or EDM finishing is preferable.
What is the waterjet cutting process for metals?
Waterjet cutting uses a high-pressure water stream (60,000–90,000 PSI) mixed with abrasive garnet to cut metals without heat. It's a cold-cutting process producing no heat-affected zone, suitable for stainless steel, titanium, aluminium, copper, and hardened tool steels. The process cuts materials up to 200mm thick while maintaining ±0.1mm–±0.25mm tolerances, with no thermal distortion to the microstructure.
What tolerances does waterjet cutting achieve?
Waterjet cutting achieves dimensional tolerances of ±0.1mm to ±0.25mm per ISO 2768-m, depending on material thickness and cut speed. Thinner materials and slower cutting speeds produce tighter tolerances. For precision requirements tighter than ±0.1mm, CNC milling or EDM machining is more appropriate.
How thick can waterjet cutting cut metal?
Waterjet cutting can cut metals up to 200mm thick depending on material type. Practical limits: aluminium up to 150mm, stainless steel up to 100mm, and titanium up to 80mm. Above these thicknesses, edge squareness, surface finish, and tolerance control degrade due to jet diffusion and slower cutting speeds.
Does waterjet cutting cause a heat-affected zone (HAZ)?
No. Waterjet is a cold-cutting process — cutting temperature at the kerf stays below 120°C. This eliminates HAZ, thermal distortion, and microstructural changes. It is the preferred choice for heat-sensitive alloys, hardened steels, and parts where dimensional integrity must be preserved.
What is the difference between waterjet cutting and laser cutting for metals?
Laser cutting is faster and more precise (±0.05mm) for thin sheet under 25mm but generates a heat-affected zone. Waterjet handles thicker materials (up to 200mm), produces no HAZ, and cuts a wider range of materials including composites and non-conductive materials, but is generally slower than laser for thin sheet.
Is waterjet cutting available in Egypt and Saudi Arabia?
Yes. Entag provides waterjet-compatible tube fabrication services and waterjet cutting for engineers and procurement teams across Egypt (Cairo, Alexandria) and Saudi Arabia (Jeddah, Riyadh, Dammam). Parts can be quoted within 24 hours by uploading a CAD file.
Ready to start your project? Request a quote on Entag — upload your CAD file and get a price in 24 hours.
