History of waterjet cutting of metal
Waterjet cutting of metal has its own history dating back to the middle of the 20th century. It was developed in the USA for cutting composite materials in the aviation industry and quickly found its way into other industrial sectors. Advances in technology and materials, including the development of pumping systems, nozzles and abrasives, have contributed to the improvement of this method. Research is currently underway to apply advanced abrasives, automated control and quality control systems to improve the efficiency and accuracy of waterjet metal cutting. As a result, the history of waterjet cutting of metal reflects a constant desire to develop and improve the method, opening up new perspectives for its application in various industries.
How it works
Waterjet metal cutting is based on the use of a jet water mixed with abrasive particles to process and cut the material. This process requires special equipment, including a water supply system, a nozzle, as well as a monitoring and control system.
Waterjet metal cutting has a wide range of possibilities and is used in various industries. It allows you to achieve high precision, quality and sharpness of the contours, and also provides the ability to create complex geometric shapes. Some of the advantages of this method include the ability to process a variety of materials, reducing the thermal impact on the material being cut, and minimizing possible deformations.
There are a variety of materials and technologies used in waterjet cutting of metal. For abrasives, granular sand, ceramic or metal particles are used. Technological parameters such as water pressure, flow rate, abrasive type and nozzle geometry can be adjusted to achieve optimal cutting results.
Due to its efficiency and ability to work with various materials, waterjet metal cutting remains an important tool in various industries, such as industrial production, automotive industry, shipbuilding and many others.
Overview of existing materials and related tools
There is a wide range of materials and tools used in waterjet cutting of metal, among of which:
- Composite materials: such as carbon fiber and fiberglass.
- They have high strength, lightness and anti-corrosion properties. However, their processing may require special equipment and skills.
- Carbide materials: for example, tungsten carbide.
- They are characterized by high hardness and wear resistance, and are also ideal for for cutting hard materials. However, they can be more fragile and expensive than other options.
- Ceramic materials: such as aluminum oxide. They have high hardness and wear resistance as well as chemical resistance. However, they can be brittle and must be handled with care.
- Metal materials: such as steel or aluminium. They are widely used in industry and have good mechanical strength. However, some metals can be difficult to machine and require special tools and techniques.
Each of these materials has its own advantages and disadvantages, and the choice of the optimal material depends on the specific requirements of the project and the material being processed.
Trends and forecasts for the development of this technology in the coming years
With the development of new materials such as composites, nanomaterials and biomaterials, there is a need to develop appropriate methods and technologies for waterjet cutting for efficient processing of these materials. Research and development in this area can lead to new materials that can be successfully processed using waterjet cutting.
In the coming years, new technologies can be expected that will offer improved waterjet metal cutting methods. This may include new water supply systems, improved process control and management systems, and the development of automated and robotic solutions. However, the complete replacement of existing technologies requires additional research and testing of the effectiveness of new approaches.
For the further development of waterjet cutting of metal, experiments and studies are being conducted to improve the process and expand its capabilities. This includes research in the field of abrasive materials, optimization of cutting parameters, development of new related tools and improvement of process control and monitoring systems.
