Waterjet Cutting

Our abrasive waterjet system offers approximately:

• 13' × 6.5' cutting envelope

• Z‑travel sufficient for common plate thicknesses

• Overhead crane for safe loading and unloading of plates within the table size

We use a taper‑control cutting head to reduce kerf taper and improve edge squareness on thicker material.

We focus on parts that fit within this envelope and can be handled safely and efficiently in our shop

• Mild and alloy steels

• Stainless steel

• Aluminum

• AR500 plate

• Wear‑resistant and tooling plates (within practical limits)

• Plastics, rubber, and composites

• Other specialty materials that cannot tolerate thermal cutting

• Brackets, tabs, and gussets

• Mounting plates and base plates

• Flat components for weldments

• Guards, covers, and small panels

• Hardware plates and link plates

• Parts destined for forming, machining, and welding

• AR500 plate parts for wear surfaces and impact areas

• Mounting plates, base plates, and machine plates

• Brackets, gussets, and tie‑in components

• Flat guards, covers, and protection plates

• Components that will be formed, machined, or welded afterward

• Large flat parts where distortion from heat is a concern

Waterjet is usually the right choice when:

• Material is AR500 plate or other wear‑resistant steels

• The part is too thick for laser

• You cannot accept a heat‑affected zone

• You must preserve base material properties or flatness

• Non‑metal or composite materials are involved

Laser is usually the right choice when:

• Material is mild steel, stainless, or aluminum within standard thickness ranges

• Speed and high throughput are the priority

• A small heat‑affected zone is acceptable

Waterjet provides:

• High‑quality edges with no heat input

• Profile accuracy suitable for fabrication and machining prep

• Clean edges; many parts require little or no secondary cleanup

Critical dimensions can be finish‑machined after cutting if required.

Waterjet provides:

• Cut thick or specialty materials

• Form components within our press brake capacity

• Machine critical features on cut plates

• Weld components into finished assemblies

• Inspect parts and assemblies before shipment

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Waterjet-cut parts often move into CNC machining for tight-tolerance features or into welding and fabrication for assemblies. For thinner materials where speed is critical, laser cutting may be the better option.