Water Jet Machines Key Terms

Understand water jet machines terminology to make smarter business choices

By Howard Robertson

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.

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