W

ATER JET CUTTING

Submitted to
Mr. Prasad Yadav.M.Tech
Presented By:
V.LOGANATHAN M-TECH (PDM)
 INTRODUCTION TO WATER JET
 Key element in WJM is a jet of water.

 Water jet travels at velocities as high as 900 m/s.

 When the jet of water strikes a work piece surface, the erosive force of water removes the
material rapidly.

 The water, in this case, acts like a saw and cuts a narrow groove in the work piece material.
 True cold cutting process – no HAZ (Heat Affected Zones), mechanical stresses or operator
and environmental hazards
 PRINCIPLE
 When the a high pressure (150-1000 MPa) and high velocity (540-1400 m/s) of water jet

comes out of nozzle and strikes the work piece of the material, its kinetic energy is converted

into pressure energy including high stresses in the work material. When this induced stress

exceeds the ultimate shear stress of the material, small chips of the work piece material get

loosened and fresh surface is exposed.

 The fluid flow rate is typically from 0.5 to 2.5 l/min

 Water is the most common fluid used, but additives such as alcohols, oil products and

glycerol are added when they can be dissolved in water to improve the fluid characteristics.
 WHY USE WATER JET?
 It can cut almost everything, with greater efficiency and productivity.

 It is one of the fastest growing major machine tool processes in the

world due to its versatility and ease of operation.

 Water jets cut accurately, reduced scrap-saving money through

greater material utilization.

HOW WATER JET WORKS?

 High pressure (60,000 psi), which when bombarded on

the work piece erodes the material.

 A high velocity water jet when directed at a target in such a

way that, its velocity in virtually reduced to zero on striking

the surface. Because of this water jet will make a hole in the

material if the pressure is high enough.

 TYPES OF WATER JET
PURE WATER JET
Pure Water jet is the original water cutting method. In
which pure water is compressed at very high pressure &
released through a narrow opening.

ABRASIVE WATER JET

Abrasive water jet is same as pure water jet and within
just 2 minutes the very same water jet can be transformed into
an abrasive water jet to cut hard materials by adding abrasives
to it.
 PURE WATER JET CUTTING

1. Water under pressure

2. Water nozzle

3. Pure water jet

4. Work piece

5. Cut width
 PURE WATER JET CUTTING
 Pure Water jet is the original water cutting method. In which pure
water is compressed at very high pressure & released through a
narrow opening.

 It forms water jet, which comes out at the speed of up to 850 m/s
 The largest uses for pure water jet cutting are disposable diapers,
tissue paper, and automotive interiors .

 Provides Very thin stream (0.004 to 0.010 inch in diameter is the

common range) .

 Very little material loss due to precise cutting.

 PURE WATER JET CUTTING
 Non-heat cutting ,Usually cuts very quickly.
 Able to cut soft, light materials(e.g., fiber glass
insulation up to 24" thick).
 Used to cut soft, thin, or porous material
Silicone
VCT (tile)
Foam
Cork
Teflon
Composites
Plastic
 ABRASIVE WATER JETS
1. Water under pressure

2. Water nozzle

3. Water jet

4. Abrasive feed (unpressurised)

5. Mixing chamber (vacuum chamber)

6. Abrasive nozzle (focusing tube)

7. Water jet with abrasive

8. Cut width
 ABRASIVE WATER JETS
 In abrasive water jet, the water jet stream accelerates abrasive particles and
those particles erode the material from the work piece.
 The abrasive Water jet is hundreds of times more powerful than the pure
Water jet.

 Extremely versatile process, No Heat Affected Zones, No mechanical

stresses.

 Easy to program

 Thin stream (0.020 to 0.050 inch in diameter)

 10 inch thick cutting, Little material loss due to cutting

 Quickly switch from pure water jet to abrasive water jet.

 TYPES OF ABRASIVE MATERIALS

 garnet , aluminum oxide , olivine , silica sand , silicon carbide , etc .

 Virtually any material can be cut by using abrasive jet
machining method , i.e. harder materials like titanium to steel.

 Abrasive particles must be hard ,high toughness, irregular in

shape & edges should be sharp (usually about 0.001 in)
PARAMETERS AFFECTING THE
PERFORMANCE OF WJM
 ADVANTAGES OF WATER JET
CUTTING
There are no heat affected zones (HAZ)
 The material does not get warped, discolored or hardened

Ability to manufacture burr-free parts

 No jagged edges or burrs

Near net shape cutting

 Eliminates the need for secondary operations

Can cut through thick materials

 Up to 12” in thickness
 DISADVANTAGES
 Abrasive powder cannot be reused.

 Very thick parts can not be cut with Water Jet

 One of the main disadvantages of water jet cutting is that a

limited number of materials can be cut economically.

 Taper is also a problem with WJM in very thick materials.

 WJM is very expensive process. It is not suitable for mass

production because of high maintenance requirements.
 MATERIALS, WHICH ARE GENERALLY
MACHINED USING WJ AND AWJ

 Steels  Ceramic Matrix Composite

 Non-ferrous alloys  Concrete

 Ti alloys, Ni- alloys  Stone

 Polymers  Granite

 Honeycombs  Wood

 Metal Matrix Composite  Reinforced plastics

 APPLICATIONS
• Paint removal
• Cleaning
• Cutting soft materials
• Cutting frozen meat
• Textile, Leather industry
• Surgery
• Cutting
• Drilling
• Turning
• Glass Fiber Metal
 APPLICATIONS

Aerospac Food Processing

e

Marble Industry
 APPLICATIONS

Automotive Electronics and

PCBs

Concrete