Waterjets: What’s New

The latest advances in abrasive waterjet technology could help reduce your operating costs by making your cutting processes more competitive.

LARGE SCALE PRECISION MACHINING AT GREAT VALUE
MAXIEM Waterjets, a division of OMAX^® Corporation (Kent, WA), recently expanded its lineup of Jet Cutting Centers to include 16 new machines. Such an increase allows more shops, from sheet metal fabricators to trade schools, to benefit from industry-standard performance at an incredible value.

Designed with a footprint of 265 in x 152 in (6731 mm x 3861 mm), the 80X JetMachining Center excels at large scale precision machining of larger or multiple parts out of a variety of materials, including metal, composites and stone. The JetMachining Center uses the new A-Jet, an articulated cutting head that cuts accurate beveled edges at angles determined  by the machine operator or part program.

The 80X also uses the Dual Pump Package, a fully integrated system that utilizes two P4055V pumps to produce unprecedented cutting speed and power and a significant  reduction in machining time compared to previous cutting models. Available in a flexible footprint, the package operates on the 3rd generation cutting model Intelli-MAX® Premium Software.

The other latest high-performance, low-cost machines fall within the 2000 Series, 3000 Series and 4000 Series. Manufactured in the U.S., all closely mimic premium JetMachining^® Centers by applying the same extremely efficient 50,000 psi direct drive pump technology and sharing advanced features such as the robust Intelli-MAX^® Software and Intelli-TRAX^® linear drive technology for superior performance in harsh abrasive waterjet environments.

Other shared features among the 2000, 3000 and 4000 product lines include floor or tank mounting options for expanded configuration possibilities, easy access USB ports and power/pause controller interfaces, high-pressure track plumbing for additional X-axis coverage and DualBRIDGE System compatibility, which utilizes two Y-bridges for increased productivity.

When breaking down each series, the 2000 Series consists of the 2060, 2080, 20100, 20120 and 20140 models that feature X-Y cutting travel areas ranging from 240 in x 80 in to 560 in x 80 in. The 3000 Series, which includes the 3040, 3060, 3080, 30100, 30120 and 30160 models, offers X-Y cutting travel areas ranging from 160 in x 120 in to 640 in x 120 in. As the largest of all the new machines, the 4000 Series is made up of the 4080, 40100, 40120, 40140 and 40160 models and provides X-Y cutting travel areas ranging from 320 in x 160 in to 640 in x 160 in. www.maxiemwaterjets.com

AFFORDABLE HIGH PRECISION FOR SMALL BUSINESS
The Hydro-Jet Eco 0615 S from KNUTH Machine Tools USA (Lincolnshire, IL) features a compact machine design for a high-precision, low cost water-jet cutting system. The Hydro-Jet allows small business owners the ability to manage deadlines and quality control by bringing outsourced work in-house with minimal installation.

This affordable and versatile waterjet cutting solution offers distortion free, contour cutting on virtually any type of material, including coated and uncoated metals, aluminum, copper, stainless steel, stone, marble, glass, ceramic, composites, plastic, rubber, foam and more. Equipped with a software package for quick programming on an integrated PC control with graphical user interface, this waterjet technology features a cold-cutting process which eliminates thermal stress at the cut edges and ensures that the material structure is not altered because there is never any direct contact pressure applied to the cut material.

Despite high kinetic energy, this pure-water and abrasive cutting equipment ensures high precision cuts without creating any fraying or burrs. Outfitted with a working area of 60 in x 24 in along with positioning accuracy on the X axis of ±0.002 in per ft and Y axis of ±0.002 in per ft, this waterjet allows for complex contour cuts and extremely small kerf widths for optimum material utilization and seamless nesting.

Designed to reduce material costs and preserve raw material resources, this waterjet features a maximum feed speed of 160 ipm, and operating pressure of 40,000 psi. Plus, this universal tool comes complete with a low maintenance, integrated high-pressure ten hp pump. Hydro-Jet technology is an environmentally-friendly, clean cutting process because it generates virtually no cutting or grinding dust and no chips, smoke or toxic fumes during the production process.www.knuth-usa.com

PRODUCE COMPLEX PARTS OUT OF ANY MATERIAL AT VERY HIGH SPEEDS
Capable of producing complex parts out of virtually any material, the Mid Rail Gantry waterjet cutting machine from Jet Edge, Inc. (St. Michael, MN) features an exposed tank that easily accommodates overhead loading. It comes standard with one abrasivejet cutting head; a second cutting head can be added to increase productivity. Optional mirroring capabilities make it possible to cut part cycle time in half.

The Mid Rail Gantry is ball-screw driven for higher accuracy. Its sturdy heavy-wall tubular steel construction eliminates vibration and increases longevity. The Mid Rail Gantry utilizes an industrial PC controller and can be configured so that all three axes are fully programmable (Z optional). It also features direct-couple AC brushless digital servo motors and single or double carriages. Critical bearing components are protected with heavy metal covers with brush seals and positive air pressure. The Mid Rail Gantry waterjet machine is available in many sizes, including 5 ft x 5 ft, 5 ft x 13 ft, 8 ft x 5 ft, 8 ft x 13 ft, 13 ft x 13 ft, 21 ft x 5 ft, 21 ft x 13 ft and 24 ft x 13 ft.

Jet Edge also manufactures the 100 hp, 90 ksi X-Stream xP90-100 waterjet intensifier pump that are capable of producing 90,000 psi and support 75,000 psi continuous operating pressure. The X-Stream achieves much faster cutting speeds and drastically lowers operating costs compared to traditional 60 ksi water jet pumps, enabling users to increase productivity and reduce part costs.

This unit produces 50 percent more pressure than a 60,000 psi intensifier pump, resulting in a 40 percent to 50 percent increase in productivity for many materials. Compared to a 60,000 psi pump, typical operating pressures of 75,000 psi use 30 percent less water, 30 percent less power, and up to 50 percent less abrasive, resulting in a 40 percent reduction in operating costs. The xP90-100 is capable of producing flow rates of 1.45 gpm and supports up to a .017 in orifice. Fittings and tubing are rated for 100 ksi. The X-Stream is backed by nearly ten years of extensive research and development in hyper-pressure technology. It is also available in a 50 hp model. www.jetedge.com

HIGHLY EFFICIENT AND RELIABLE CUTTING OFFERS SAVINGS
TECHNI Waterjet™ (Lenexa, KS) offers the QUANTUM Electric Servo Pump™ ESP55 incorporated with the Techjet TJ3000-X2® 5 ft x 10ft premium waterjet cutting machine. The QUANTUM Electric Servo Pump™ incorporates a servo motor directly enveloping a high load, precision ball screw. The ball screw directly houses the ceramic plungers, which reciprocate back and forth to create the pumping action, in much the same way as a hydraulic cylinder works on an intensifier pump.

The infinite control of the servo motor and precision of the ball screw enable extremely accurate control over the output pressure and volume of the water displaced to eliminate pressure spikes when deadheading. This infinite control gives an operator the ability to program virtually any pressure and flow rate from zero to full capacity, while only using the power displaced at the cutting head.

The Techjet-X2® is built to the highest tolerances and incorporates linear scale feedback to ensure the highest accuracy of motion in the industry. By mapping the entire cutting area with a laser-calibrated digital encoder, the motion system can deliver positional accuracy of 0.0005 in (0.01 mm) and high cutting speeds of up to1000 ipm or 25 m/min. This waterjet system is by far the most efficient and reliable waterjet set up offered on the market today. www.techniwaterjet.com

WIDE RANGE OF PRESSURES MEET EVERY NEED
Flow International Corporation (Kent, WA), the world’s leading developer and manufacturer of ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) waterjet technology, offers its innovative Mach Series line of waterjet cutting machines that feature the next generation in UHP technology.

Combining the latest software upgrades, ultrahigh pressures rated up to 94,000 psi, long-life intensifier and direct drive pumps, three-dimensional Dynamic Waterjet cutting advancements, and many other upgrades, all Mach Series machines are designed to deliver maximum versatility to manufacturers of all sizes and budgets. The Mach 4, Mach 3, and Mach 2 each offer complete systems solutions to address a full array of customer needs while delivering the widest range of capabilities, technologies and price in the industry.

The Mach 4 Series waterjet is the most productive, advanced machine for flat material and 3D material cutting. Manufacturers can cut faster, reduce costs and increase production by using a HyperJet 94i™ 94,000 psi intensifier pump, the highest operating pressure of any waterjet system in the world; Dynamic XD for bevel and 3D cutting of complex flat and non-flat parts; and FlowXpert™ waterjet cutting software that utilizes SmartStream™ technology to optimize cutting speeds based on a variety of user-defined parameters, such as desired edge finish, material thickness, and material type.

FlowXpert also includes FlowConnex™ revolutionary remote waterjet monitoring system that allows the owner/operator to monitor the waterjet over the internet, and track system performance.

The Mach 3 line the world’s most reliable UHP pump, intelligent process monitoring, and an array of options inside a convenient compact design that helps preserve valuable floor space. Other features of the Mach 3 include a HyPlex Hybrid™ 60,000 psi pump, the highest operating pressure of any direct-drive pump in the world; the Dynamic Waterjet™ cutting system, the original high-production/taper control system with ±10 deg of wrist motion for use on flat material cutting; and the FlowPro™ intelligent control system with powerful features that maximize flat material cutting performance.

The Mach 2 line is comprised of economical machines for those new to waterjet or on a limited budget seeking a reliable and easy-to-use system. They combine reliability with value to provide manufacturers with the waterjet system that will set them up for success. This full-featured waterjet series comes standard with all of the traditional waterjet features at a highly affordable price. With robust mechanical design, integrated machine systems, intuitive user control, multiple size and configurations, the Mach 2 series is extremely easy to use and features a JetPlex™ 55,000 psi direct drive pump; the Paser™ ECL cutting system; and the FlowMaster™ intelligent control system. www.flowcorp.com