Waterjet cutting: design rules
Cutting almost any material with a high-pressure water and abrasive jet, without heat.
Typical tolerance
Typical: about ±0.1–0.25 mm in thin material; tolerance and edge taper get worse with thickness.
Files to send
DXF or DWG at 1:1, closed contours.
Common materials
Metals including titanium, stone, glass, composites, rubber; thick material up to about 100 mm or more.
The rules, with reasons
- Kerf and taper. Plan for a cut width of about 0.8–1.2 mm and a slight taper that grows with thickness. Why: The jet widens and lags as it passes through thick material.
- Inside corners. Expect an inside corner radius of at least about 0.5 mm. Why: The jet has a diameter.
- Small holes. Keep holes at least about 1× the thickness in thick material. Why: Small holes in thick plate taper badly.
- Heat-sensitive material. Choose waterjet for composites, hardened steel and heat-sensitive parts. Why: There is no heat-affected zone.
Before you ask for a quote
- Material and thickness
- Edge quality grade needed
- DXF at 1:1
- Quantity
- Secondary machining
Common mistakes
- Expecting laser accuracy in thick plate
- Tiny holes in thick material
- Forgetting the edge taper
Request a quote Find manufacturers
Typical rules of thumb, not a guarantee. The manufacturer's own design guidelines override them: ask for them and check your design against both before ordering.