Water jet table

[DirkaDirka875]

My work is looking into buying a water jet table, anyone have any recommendations on what brand to look into? Only thing we will be cutting is 316L stainless sheet and UMHW/other plastics. No one has any experiance with one so looking for some input on what to avoid and why. Table size will probably be a 4x8.

 

[XJsavage]

Been running a 6x12 for 5 years now. Ours is a Waterjet Corporation "Classica" model, dual head.
You can save a lot of money going single head. The dual head helps a lot on production but cost twice as much to run. Is it worth it even for us? No.
The most important thing to look at is how far the head will actually travel X and Y. It's better to oversize it because it saves time not having to nestle every sheet at 0,0 every single time. A 5x10 table will happily cut a 4x8 sheet with plenty room to play and makes changing sheets out easier not dealing with axis over-travel codes.
As far as a pump goes, go big. It's the heart of the system. For longevity reasons, you never want to max it out. Our KMT60 double piston is capable of running up to 60ksi for days and days on end. I Cadillac it at 50-55ksi. It can go up to 90ksi but that is an insane amount of strain that would cost us a fortune and would eventually destroy itself.
Make sure the inlet water source is very stable and atleast triple filtered at 5 micron or smaller. The tiniest little bit of debris will wear the internals out fast. Stay on top of changing filters too. Once they get dirty and get to be too restrictive, it'll cause the pump to overwork and overheat. 120+ degrees pump temp is deadly for it.

Make sure you have an air source that's consistent and dry. 125psi+ and be able to hold it.

Only buy the highest quality garnet you can find. The Chinese garbage 80 mesh will give you nightmares and clog nozzles like no tomorrow.

Keep the Waterjet away from all other machines. The pulverized garnet that floats in the air will ruin every moving part around it over time.

Long story short, a WJ can be a huge cash cow as long as you're cutting oddball stuff nobody else does. Otherwise, plasma or laser is the ticket.

 

[No fries]

I ran a cutter grinder made by SE Huffman years ago. They made water jets in Clover SC (locally) just down the road from Charlotte. They were good quality 20 years ago if they are still in business. Also I was always told the difference between a laser and water jet, was a water jet won't cauterize your skin when it cuts you.

 

[DirkaDirka875]

Been running a 6x12 for 5 years now. Ours is a Waterjet Corporation "Classica" model, dual head.
You can save a lot of money going single head. The dual head helps a lot on production but cost twice as much to run. Is it worth it even for us? No.
The most important thing to look at is how far the head will actually travel X and Y. It's better to oversize it because it saves time not having to nestle every sheet at 0,0 every single time. A 5x10 table will happily cut a 4x8 sheet with plenty room to play and makes changing sheets out easier not dealing with axis over-travel codes.
As far as a pump goes, go big. It's the heart of the system. For longevity reasons, you never want to max it out. Our KMT60 double piston is capable of running up to 60ksi for days and days on end. I Cadillac it at 50-55ksi. It can go up to 90ksi but that is an insane amount of strain that would cost us a fortune and would eventually destroy itself.
Make sure the inlet water source is very stable and atleast triple filtered at 5 micron or smaller. The tiniest little bit of debris will wear the internals out fast. Stay on top of changing filters too. Once they get dirty and get to be too restrictive, it'll cause the pump to overwork and overheat. 120+ degrees pump temp is deadly for it.

Make sure you have an air source that's consistent and dry. 125psi+ and be able to hold it.

Only buy the highest quality garnet you can find. The Chinese garbage 80 mesh will give you nightmares and clog nozzles like no tomorrow.

Keep the Waterjet away from all other machines. The pulverized garnet that floats in the air will ruin every moving part around it over time.

Long story short, a WJ can be a huge cash cow as long as you're cutting oddball stuff nobody else does. Otherwise, plasma or laser is the ticket.

Thanks for all the information! I was thinking that being a pharma company and everything we use is 316L SS that the waterjet would be the ticket. No sugar'd up edges to refinish from a plasma table and would a lazer do the same on SS?

 

[XJsavage]

Thanks for all the information! I was thinking that being a pharma company and everything we use is 316L SS that the waterjet would be the ticket. No sugar'd up edges the refinish from a plasma table and would a lazer do the same on SS?

Laser produces a far cleaner cut and much faster too.

 

[braxton357]

If you're talking thin plastics and steel then go with a laser, the garnet sand can make waterjet cleanup a pain. If you're talking about thick stuff then start looking at 5x10 waterjets.