Capabilities
Abrasive waterjet cutting
A stream of water and garnet abrasive, moving under CNC control, erodes its way through the material rather than melting it. That single difference is why the part keeps its temper, its flatness and its chemistry.
What it's good at
Waterjet is the right tool when heat is the enemy. Hardened tool steel keeps its hardness right up to the cut line. Titanium and Inconel come off the table without an oxidised, work-hardened edge that has to be machined away. Thin aluminium and long, narrow parts stay flat because nothing expanded and contracted.
It is also the most materially indifferent process in the shop. The same head that profiles a 2 inch steel plate will cut marble tile, carbon fibre panel, gasket rubber and glass — often on the same day, with nothing changed but the feed rate and the fixturing.
Because the cut is driven from your CAD geometry, complex internal features, tight radii and nested part layouts cost no more than simple shapes. There is no tooling to make, which is why a single prototype is economical.
Typical work
- Flat profiles and blanks
- Gaskets, shims and seals
- Hardened die and tool details
- Aerospace brackets and honeycomb
- Architectural inlay and signage
- Machine guards and wear plate
- Composite and laminate panels
- Rough profiles for EDM finishing
Process specifications
| Process | CNC-controlled abrasive waterjet |
|---|---|
| Cutting medium | High-pressure water with garnet abrasive |
| Heat-affected zone | None — the process is cold |
| Material range | Metals, glass, stone, composites, plastics, soft goods |
| Quantities | One-off prototypes through production runs |
| File formats | DXF, STEP, IGES, dimensioned PDF |
Machine envelope, thickness limits and positioning tolerance are quoted per job. Send your drawing and we'll confirm exactly what we can hold on your material.
Waterjet vs. thermal cutting
Where laser and plasma fall short
| Consideration | Waterjet | Laser / plasma |
|---|---|---|
| Heat-affected zone | None | Present at every edge |
| Hardened steel | Cut with no temper loss | Risk of local annealing |
| Reflective metals | No issue | Difficult or impossible on laser |
| Glass, stone, composites | Cut cleanly | Not suitable |
| Thick plate | Handled | Limited by power and edge quality |
| Fumes | None — water and garnet only | Metal fume extraction required |
Have a drawing ready?
Upload a DXF, STEP or PDF and we'll come back with a written quote — no hidden setup charges.