Waterjet machines are precision tools and call for a high level of skill and accuracy. These machines eject water with such force that they can engrave or cut metal. Sometimes the water is mixed with an abrasive matter that sharpens the cutting ability.

If you are a small business owner who needs a waterjet machine for creating a product or providing a service, you should definitely implement a water jet machines education and training policy to ensure the safety of your employees. In fact, in order for your business to be successful, you as a business owner should make training for water jet machines a priority for your employees for many reasons, including:

1. If your employees are not skilled in using certain abrasive water jet cutting machines, not only will product be damaged, but so will your profits and reputation.

2. Waterjet machines are dangerous if not used correctly. Avoid a lawsuit, or worse, an accident, by ensuring your employees are skilled in using this tool.

3. Consider on-site and hands-on training initially for a water jet saw, and incorporate tutorials and other online training resources for further educational purposes.

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Check out the training available for a water jet cutting machine before adding it to your program

It is imperative that you review training and educational resources first, then create a list of required training for your employees. Providers of waterjet machines can be helpful resources also. This way you can make sure the training resources are reputable and relevant to the type of service you provide.

I recommend: Wardjet features courses on cutting techniques, as well as a user training course for its M-series waterjet. Richel offers a two-day course on subjects including waterjet cutters and multiple head cutters.

Mandate a continuing training policy for employees who use water jet saws

Continued training for your employees should be a requirement since safety is a big issue with these machines. Online tutorials or videos are helpful and often free. The objective should be to insist on a level of skill from your employees, thus increasing their level of safety.

I recommend: International Waterjet Machine offers a number of demonstration video clips on waterjet cutting techniques. Waterjets.org gives a basic introduction on waterjets, their purpose and the advantages of utilizing them.

Stay abreast of the latest in flow jet machine techniques

If you want your business to compete in its industry, you need to stay current in your equipment, knowledge and skill. This means continually looking up relevant resources so you are familiar with every aspect of your business.

I recommend: Jet Edge offers hands-on precision cutting training at its training lab. AccuStream provides hands-on training, in addition to product manuals.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  As your business grows, consider allocating the responsibility of researching training resources for particular a water jet machine to one person or department.

Water jet machines first started seeing widespread use in the 1970s, and today are recognized as the cleanest and most efficient cutters for many types of jobs and materials. Instead of using a less precise technology that's often harder to manipulate, work with a water jet saw to fashion the product you want to the exact specifications you need.

Abrasive water jet cutting employs simple physics and common elements. A water jet machine, otherwise known as a water jet saw or flow jet machine, fires a concentrated stream of water at high speed at whatever material you need to cut. For certain materials, an abrasive substance like garnet or aluminum oxide is suspended as grit in the water for extra cutting power. Why should you use this technology, and what are your options?

1. There are many advantages to water jet cutting machines.

2. You have various choices in water jet cutting services.

3. Consider purchasing your own water jet machine if your needs require extensive use.

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Get more accurate results by using water jet saws

Water jet saws are ideal for working with when you need a very fine or intricate result. The medium adds an unparallelled precision to your cutting and prevents many of the side effects of more conventional cutting tools, such as material-damaging heat. Because it uses high-pressure water instead of a solid cutting material, a water jet cutter produces little or no friction, meaning that you get a perfectly-shaped product with no damage or discoloration from heat. Additionally, most machines use a computer for a controlled, exact cut.

I recommend: Alibaba.com and the WaterJetting Directory list many different kinds of machines, for many different jobs. Find out what type of water jet saw, and what size, would be ideal for the kind of work you must do.

Locate the company that would best provide water jet cutting services

As with any industry, you have various choices when it comes to water jet cutting services. You'd like to find a company that will do the job you want for a price that's reasonable to you. Some services specialize in a certain area, and others can handle virtually any kind of cutting you may have in mind. Analyze your needs and balance them against your budget. What is it you need? How much are you willing to spend? Answering these questions gives you an edge when it comes to picking the right service.

I recommend: Determine your exact requirements before contacting any companies. That way, you can browse companies and select a service that's appropriate and tell them precisely what you need.

Consider whether you might want your own flow jet machine

Flow jet machines aren't cheap, but if you're starting up a business that would require their frequent use, then purchasing your own equipment may not be such a bad idea. There are many options; if you can afford it, a new machine is a good choice because, as with any new equipment, it's pretty much guaranteed to be in good condition. On the other hand, used water jet machines are easy to find; there's little chance that the person before you actually did any damage; and, most importantly, used water jet cutter prices can be a lot easier for your budget to handle.

I recommend: Shop around and see what new and used machines cost. Compare prices at Direct Industry and see what works best for your business.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If you're considering purchasing your own machine, contact someone who works with a water cutting machine to get a first-hand opinion. You might also ask them about visiting their workplace to watch one in operation. There's nothing like a live demonstration.

Water jet machines are suitable for machining various materials, such as metal, plastics, glass or even stone. A water jet machine contains a mechanism that sprays a pressurized water jet at high velocity. This water jet can cut, drill or grind the components as per application requirements.

Whether you want to buy water jet machines or use water jet cutting services, you will need to understand various technical terms that indicate different techniques, components or materials relating to the water jet machines. This guide will explain technical terms relating to water jet machines, such as abrasive water jet cutting, water jet stripping, etching and piercing.

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Abrasive water jet cutting

In the abrasive water jet cutting process, a combination of water and abrasive material is sprayed on the component to be machined. This process is suitable for cutting complicated shapes without changing the metallurgic properties of the component, as it does not induce any thermal stress or HAZ (heat affected zone) in the component.

I recommend: Jet Edge, a supplier of abrasive water jet cutting services, offers information about this process and materials that can be machined by this process. In addition, you can read through information at Euclid Precision Grinding, another metal cutting service provider.

Water jet stripping

Water jet stripping (or water jet cleaning) is the process of cleaning or preparing components or their surfaces with high-pressure water jets for further machining operations. Generally, this process does not require any additive for the water fed to the water jet machines.

I recommend: To understand the definition for water jet stripping, read through the glossary of technical terms at Progressive Technologies Incorporated, a supplier of surface treatment machinery.

Etching

Etching is a process similar to engraving. In etching, the component is machined without cutting it all the way through. Generally, glass panels are etched to provide a nice aesthetic look.

I recommend: waterjets.org, an information source for the water jet process and machines, offers a glossary of water jet terms, such as abrasive water jet and etching.

Piercing

Piercing is the process of shearing an opening in the component, generally in the form of sheet. There are different piercing techniques, such as wiggle piercing, stationary piercing and dynamic piercing.

I recommend: You can read through the metal forming glossary at Advantage Fabricated Metals, a fabricator of custom metal components.

Attenuators

An attenuator is an important component of a water jet machine that sustains the output pressure of the water fed to the water jet machine.

I recommend: IQS, an online directory of manufacturers of industrial products, provides a glossary of technical terms relating to water jet machines.

Intensifiers

As the name indicates, an intensifier is a high-pressure pump that develops the water jet pressure as per application requirements.

I recommend: To learn more about intensifiers, their construction and applications, read through information at WARDJet.

Garnet

Garnet is the natural mineral that is used as an abrasive for abrasive water jet cutting operations. For an abrasive water jet cutting operation, speed of cutting and surface finish of the cut depends upon garnet quality.

I recommend: To learn more about garnet, read through the abrasive term glossary at Abrasive Engineering Society.

Water jet cutting by a water jet saw, or flow jet machine as they are sometimes called, refers to the process of cutting a metal, rock or other object utilizing the power of water pressure. There is usually a blade that works in conjunction with the water jet cutting. The advantage of water jet cutting is that the material stays cool and does not heat up, catch fire or lose its shape.

Taking the time to learn about how water jet cutting and their associated machines can help you build your business. Here are some helpful tips to get you started as you try to determine water jet machines pricing and costs.

1. Locate companies that produce water jet saws. Learn about their various applications and determine the price for a machine that fits your needs.

2. Find a water jet saw that has already been used by a previous manufacturer.

3. Find a water jet cutting facility that offers water jet cutting services.

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Find water jet saws that fit your needs

Water jet saws, or water jet cutting machines as they are sometimes referred to, combine the force of water with a blade to cut through materials. These saws are commonly found in the manufacturing field for the purposes of cutting large-scale metal, rock and other materials. Determine the size and scope of the water jet saw that you need for your business so that you can receive an accurate quote.

I recommend: Visit the website for Ward Jet. They manufacturer many different types of water jet saws. They request that the customer call for specific quotes as their machines are manufactured for the specific use of the client. These machines generally range from $10,000 to $200,000. NLB Corp is also a producer of water jetting saws in a similar price range.

Locate a water jet saw that has been used

There are many companies that specialize in acquiring, refurbishing and re-selling a water jet cutter that has been used. This can save the company quite a bit of money over the purchase of a new machine. Take the time to determine what size machine you need for your business, and then hunt for used machines from reputable dealers to purchase for your business.

I recommend: Visit the website for both Tristate Machinery and Richel. Both companies specialize in selling used water jet machines. Like many of the other manufacturers, they insist that you contact them for used water jet machine prices. While these prices will be less than the new machines, they will still range from $5,000 to $150,000.

Locate water jet machines services for your business needs

Rather than loading your warehouse with a flow jet machine and bearing the expense of operation and the expertise of someone to run the machine, consider outsourcing your project to your water jet cutting service. This is ideal for the manufacturer who is trying to make a prototype to get a manufacturing project off the ground.

I recommend: Go to the website for Dix Metals for more information on the water cutting machine services they offer. These prices are quote based. A job can run anywhere from a few hundred dollars for the water cutting of a prototype, to hundreds of thousands of dollars for a manufacturer who is outsourcing and using their services. Fruehauf Manufacturing provides similar water jet cutting services.