Abrasive Waterjet: During the abrasive waterjet cutting process particles (such as garnet) are introduced to the stream of highly pressurized water to erode the material. This process allows us to cut hard materials such as: metals &alloys, ceramic, stone, and glass.

 

Cutting Head: The cutting head is the point in the machine where the water pressure is converted into water velocity. In the abrasive cutting process, this is also the part of the machine that includes the mixing chamber and tube. 

 

Cutting Power Density: This is the amount of energy that you can put onto an area of an object. A smaller stream at a high-pressure level means that the stream has a high velocity and a high-power density.  

 

Dynamic Waterjet: This is a feature of our state-of-the-art Flow waterjet machine. This is the part of our technology that is responsible for improving cutting speeds and ensures our stable and good tolerances. This technology automatically angles the head to the scrap side, so all taper goes in that direction.

 

Dynamic XD: Dynamic XD is another feature of Flow technology. This is the area of the machine which houses the automatic articulation of the cutting head impingement angle. This is used during bevel and 3-D cutting, and it can also be used for flat part cuts. 

 

Garnet Abrasive: Garnet is the abrasive material that is used in the majority of waterjet machines. Garnet is consistent and cost effective; it also has proven cutting capabilities and lowers the rate of wear and tear of the cutting head in comparison to other abrasive particles. 

 

Hyper Pressure:  This is a term that describes a waterjet machine that delivers 75,000 PSI or higher. At Intelligent Cutting Solutions (ICS), our advanced machines deliver 94,000 PSI. 

 

Intensifier Pump: This is the original and most common technology that uses the “intensification principle” to pressurize water.

 

Jewel Orifice: For pure waterjet streams to be made possible, water pressure must be converted into velocity; this conversion occurs when water is passed through a jewel orifice. The larger the orifice is the more water and horsepower is required to keep the pressure consistent. Sharp edges on the top of the orifice ensures that the waterjet stream is smooth and coherent. Orifices in the machine can blow out from two causes: a calcium buildup or when the edges become rounded. 

 

Kerf: The width of a cut, groove or slit caused by cutting processes of the waterjet is referred to as its kerf size. This measurement is determined and affected by the mixing tub diameter. Kerf size is generally 10% larger than the mixing tube diameter. The waterjet’s ability to have a thin width is one of its biggest selling points, and it is what makes intricate designs possible. 

 

Mixing Tube: This is a component of the machine that is used in abrasive waterjet cutting and is where water pressure is turned into water velocity.

 

Part Accuracy Characteristics: This variable is rendered through a combination of the process error, machine error, and work piece stability. It determines how far from exact the parts cut by the waterjet truly are. Our high-end, cutting-edge technology here at ICS allows for us to have high part accuracy. 

 

Pure Waterjet: This is the original form of waterjet cutting that does not include abrasive particles. This form of the process is used for softer materials, has a very thin water stream, cuts quickly, and uses low cutting forces.  

 

Stream Lag: The stream lag is characterized by the difference in the exit point of the stream from the machine to the entry point of the steam at the top of the material. Greater stream lag occurs when cutting speeds increase. 

 

Taper: Taper mostly occurs in abrasive waterjet cutting. This term refers to when the top of a cut is wider than the bottom, creating a V-shape. Taper can be decreased by slowing down on cutting speeds. 

 

Tolerance: A cutting tolerance is the small variation in sizing that can occur when cutting materials. Waterjet cutting holds extremely tight tolerances, especially in comparison to other cutting methods.  

 

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