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Xometry’s Instant Quoting Engine is covered by U.S. Pat. Nos. 11,086,292, 11,347,201, 11,693,388, 11,698,623, 12,099,341, and 12,189,361. Other patents pending.
Waterjet cutting, also known as water jet or abrasive waterjet cutting, is one of Xometry’s fabrication processes. It directs a high-pressure jet of water and an abrasive substance to cut materials for industrial applications such as machine part manufacturing. Modern water jet cutters are controlled by CNC (Computer Numerical Control) systems running G-code to position the water jet nozzle and increase accuracy. Important benefits of waterjet cutting with an abrasive substance include the ability to cut metals, plastics, foam, composites, and more without increasing the material surface temperature and compromising the internal structure of the material (no Heat Affected one, or HAZ); the ability to cut sharp corners, holes, and complex shapes with small inner radii; fast turnaround rates; and minimal material waste thanks to the precise cutting and the narrowness of the nozzle.
Our custom water cutting service offers a cost-effective and on-demand solution for your manufacturing needs. Xometry’s sheet cutting and sheet metal cutting services range from low-volume prototypes to high-volume production runs. Xometry also offers a laser cutting service and a plasma cutting service.
You can get an instant quote from a 3D CAD file or DXF file in our Instant Quoting Engine.
When it comes to sheet, we can’t be beat. The Xometry Instant Quoting Engine is equipped with various features to ensure your sheet cutting quotes are quickly generated, straightforward, and unbeatable. In addition to 3D CAD, one of the most commonly used formats for waterjet cut parts are 2D DXF. We made sure to include extensive features and support for the format. Below are a few of the key elements we’ve incorporated to offer you the most optimal DXF quoting experience for your waterjet cut parts:
Xometry offers a comprehensive selection of waterjet materials in various thicknesses for cutting.
Waterjet can cut virtually any material, making it perfect for preparing material blanks to near-net shape.
The range of materials available, low cost per unit, and speed of production makes waterjet a great option for prototyping.
Large format cutting, vast material options, and high throughput have made waterjet a favorable technology for end-use parts.
Free shipping available for domestic waterjet orders ; learn more!
Similar to CNC machining, sheet metal processes produce highly durable parts well-suited for both functional prototypes and end-use production.
All sheet metal parts are built on-demand and with lower setup costs compared to CNC Machining. Depending on your needs, order as little as a single prototype up to 10,000 production parts.
Combining the latest cutting, bending and punching with automated technologies, Xometry provides instant sheet quotes and completed parts in as little 12 business days.
Choose from a variety of sheet metals across a wide range of strength, conductivity, weight, and corrosion-resistance.
| Description | General Tolerance |
|---|---|
| Distance Dimensions | For full details on tolerances offered by Xometry's sheet cutting service, including edge to edge tolerance and taper, please consult our manufacturing standards. |
| Thickness Dimension | Thickness tolerances are determined by the material blank. |
| Minimum Recommend Part Size | 3.000" |
| Minimum Feature Size | 2X material thickness with a minimum of 0.125" |
| Kerf (slit size) | Approximately 0.062" |
| Edge Condition | Waterjet parts will have a vertical striation on the edges and may show a slight taper. |
This table contains general information concerning Xometry’s waterjet cutting services. Learn more about our official sheet cutting manufacturing standards.
The Basics Of Waterjets
A waterjet cutter, also called a waterjet, is an industrial cutting device used for the fabrication of flat-cut parts. Using a nozzle to focus water into a high-pressure stream, a waterjet can be used to cut semi-soft materials like rubber, foam, or wood. Abrasive granular substances can be added to the jet in order to cut harder materials like aluminum and sheet metal.
How Waterjets Work
A waterjet is connected to a high-pressure pump, which pushes water through specialized tubing and then expels it from the nozzle at a focused volume and a velocity of up to 900 m/sec. The perfect ratio of velocity and volume is what allows the waterjet to maintain its unique high-pressure cutting stream.
In the case of abrasive waterjet cutting, the abrasive substance (often garnet or aluminum oxide) is combined with the water in a chamber near the nozzle, and the mixture is then ejected in a thin water stream.
A waterjet is given great accuracy and repeatability by CNC technology, which is able to reliably manage the movement of the nozzle and water. Software and hardware in waterjet platforms can reduce taper for more vertical edges on thicker materials.
Waterjet cutting does not warp or alter the structure of the material being cut, as a laser or more traditional cutting tool sometimes does. It is also is capable of very fine and complicated shapes. Additionally, a waterjet’s precision cuts do not require sanding or grinding, and it produces no byproducts that might harm human operators or the environment — unlike laser cutting and plasma cutting. The water can also be recycled, reducing waste and cost while increasing energy efficiency.
CNC waterjet cutters can be used on almost any material, and are easily adjusted from pure water cutting to abrasive water cutting. This makes them an adaptable tool for many industries.
Choose from millions of possible combinations of materials, finishes, tolerances, markings, and certifications for your order.
Get your parts delivered right to your door without the hassle of sourcing, project management, logistics, or shipping.
We are ISO 9001:2015, ISO 13485, IATF 16949:2016, and AS9100D certified. Only the top shops that apply to become Suppliers make it through our qualification process.
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