Technologies
Waterjet cutting is a cold-cutting process that uses a high-pressure stream of water — typically pressurized to 60,000–90,000 PSI (4,100–6,200 bar) — mixed with abrasive garnet particles to cut throug
Waterjet cutting is a cold-cutting process that uses a high-pressure stream of water — typically pressurized to 60,000–90,000 PSI (4,100–6,200 bar) — mixed with abrasive garnet particles to cut through metals without generating heat. The process produces zero heat-affected zones, making it ideal for
Waterjet cutting is a cold-cutting process that uses a high-pressure stream of water — typically pressurized to 60,000–90,000 PSI (4,100–6,200 bar) — mixed with abrasive garnet particles to cut through metals without generating heat. The process produces zero heat-affected zones, making it ideal for heat-sensitive alloys, hardened tool steels, and materials where thermal distortion would compromise dimensional integrity.
The waterjet cutting process operates through a controlled sequence of pressurization, abrasive mixing, and precision cutting:
This is a cold-cutting process — cutting temperature at the kerf stays below 120°C, far lower than laser cutting (up to 1,200°C) or plasma cutting (3,000°C+).
Waterjet cutting handles virtually all conductive and non-conductive metals:
Aluminium: up to 150mm thick
Stainless Steel (300 & 400 series): up to 100mm thick
Titanium & Exotic Alloys (Inconel, Hastelloy): up to 80mm thick
Copper, Brass, Bronze: up to 120mm thick
Hardened Tool Steel: up to 100mm thick
The absence of a heat-affected zone makes waterjet the preferred choice for hardened steels and heat-treated materials where laser or plasma cutting would cause microstructural degradation. Maximum practical thickness is 200mm for softer metals, but quality degrades beyond 100mm for most production applications.
Waterjet cutting achieves dimensional tolerances of ±0.1mm to ±0.25mm depending on material thickness and cutting speed, compliant with ISO 2768-m for fabricated parts. Surface finish ranges from Ra 3.2 to Ra 6.3 (micrometers), comparable to laser cutting but coarser than EDM machining.
Thinner materials and slower cutting speeds produce tighter tolerances. For requirements tighter than ±0.1mm, CNC machining or EDM finishing is necessary. At Entag, we deliver waterjet-cut sheet metal parts to ±0.1mm tolerance for materials up to 100mm thick, with quoted turnaround within 24 hours across Egypt (Cairo, Alexandria) and Saudi Arabia (Jeddah, Riyadh, Dammam).
| Parameter | Waterjet | Laser | Plasma | 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 | ±0.1–±0.25mm | ±0.05–±0.1mm | ±0.5–±1.0mm | ±0.01–±0.05mm |
| Material Compatibility | All metals + composites, glass | Metals, acrylics | Conductive metals only | Metals, plastics |
| Surface Finish (Ra) | Ra 3.2–Ra 6.3 | Ra 1.6–Ra 3.2 | Ra 6.3–Ra 12.5 | Ra 0.8–Ra 3.2 |
| Best Use Case | Thick/heat-sensitive materials | Thin sheet, high volume | Structural steel | Precision machined details |
Choose waterjet cutting when:
Material thickness exceeds 25mm (laser limitation)
Part geometry includes heat-sensitive alloys or hardened steels
Material is non-conductive (laser cannot cut)
No secondary finishing budget exists (one-pass edge quality)
Laser cutting outperforms waterjet for thin sheet metal (under 10mm) and high-volume production runs where speed and precision matter more than HAZ risk. For parts requiring tolerance tighter than ±0.05mm, CNC milling is the appropriate choice.
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 process producing no heat-affected zone, making it suitable for stainless steel, titanium, aluminium, copper, and hardened tool steels up to 200mm thick.
What tolerances does waterjet cutting achieve?
Waterjet cutting achieves dimensional tolerances of ±0.1mm to ±0.25mm depending on material thickness and cutting speed. Thinner materials and slower cut speeds produce tighter tolerances. For tolerances tighter than ±0.1mm, CNC milling or EDM machining are more appropriate.
How thick can waterjet cutting cut metal?
Waterjet can cut metals up to 200mm thick. Practical material-specific limits: aluminium to 150mm, stainless steel to 100mm, titanium to 80mm. Above these thicknesses, cut quality, edge squareness, and tolerance control degrade significantly.
Does waterjet cutting cause a heat-affected zone?
No. Waterjet is a cold process — cutting temperature at the kerf stays below 120°C. This eliminates HAZ, thermal distortion, and microstructural changes. It's the preferred choice for heat-sensitive alloys, hardened steels, and parts where dimensional stability is critical.
What is the difference between waterjet cutting and laser cutting for metals?
Laser cutting is faster and more precise (±0.05mm) for thin sheet up to 25mm, but generates a heat-affected zone. Waterjet cuts thicker materials (up to 200mm), produces no HAZ, and cuts non-conductive materials. Laser is faster; waterjet is more versatile.
Is waterjet cutting available in Egypt and Saudi Arabia?
Yes. Entag provides on-demand sheet metal fabrication including waterjet-compatible services across Egypt (Cairo, Alexandria) and Saudi Arabia (Jeddah, Riyadh, Dammam). Upload a CAD file and receive a quote within 24 hours.
Ready to start your project? Request a quote on Entag — upload your CAD file and get a price in 24 hours.
