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Changes for page Desktop Waterjet Cutting

Last modified by Zaara Hashmy on 2026/03/16 19:22
From version 9.1
edited by Zaara Hashmy
on 2026/03/16 17:57
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To version 12.4
edited by Zaara Hashmy
on 2026/03/16 19:22
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15 15  )))|(% style="width:376px" %)(((
16 16  4,600 psi
17 17  
18 -
19 19  (317 bar)
20 20  )))|(% style="width:307px" %)0.45 GPM
21 -(1.7 L/min)
22 -\\(at 4,000 psi)
20 +(1.7 L/min).  (at 4,000 psi)
23 23  
24 -While CO2 laser cutters can cut a variety of materials, we stock sheets of Acrylic and Birch Plywood in 12x24 inch sizes, and 1/8" and 1/4" thicknesses. Keep in mind these dimensions are nominal, and may not be precisely accurate.
25 25  
26 -== ==
27 27  
28 28  = About the Waterjet =
29 29  
30 -[[Waterjet cutting>>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_jet_cutter]] is the process of using a high pressure jet of water to cut a material.  --laser to vaporize a material, so that the laser beam cuts through the material. When this is combined with a CNC tool head and both power and speed are balanced properly, this process allows the user to create flat parts from sheets of material, using 2D CAD drawings.--
26 +[[Waterjet cutting>>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_jet_cutter]] is the process of using a high pressure jet of water to cut a material. 
31 31  
32 32  The waterjet has a hydraulic power output of 820 W. There are a variety of materials that the waterjet can cut, example of allowed materials include acrylic, agate, aluminum, borosilicate, brass, carbon fiber, ceramic tile, copper, gabbro, fused glass, graphite, granite, HDPE, marble, memory foam, mild steel, neoprene, polycarbonate, polyethylene, polyurethane, porcelain tile, silicone, spring steel, stained glass, stainless steel, titanium, and tool steel. Materials that are water soluble or shatter under high pressure are not suitable for waterjet cutting.
33 33  
34 -**Advantages: (Needs to be edited still)**
30 +**Advantages:**
35 35  
36 -* Laser cutting tool heads never touch the material, leave fairly clean cuts, and are highly accurate and repeatable.
37 -* Laser cutting is far faster than manual cutting of the material, especially with repeated cuts in bulk materials.
38 -* Laser cutting allows for very small and intricate designs, which would be difficult or impossible with traditional cutting tools.
39 -* Laser cutting allows for much more efficient material usage than hand cutting in many cases.
32 +* Waterjet cutting is a cold cutting process, meaning there is no heat-affected zone (HAZ), so the material’s mechanical and microstructural properties remain unchanged.
33 +* It can cut a wide variety of materials, including metals, ceramics, composites, glass, and polymers, making it extremely versatile.
34 +* It allows for thicker material cutting compared to many other methods (including laser cutting).
40 40  
41 41  **Disadvantages: (needs to be edited still) **
42 42  
43 -* Our CO2 lasers can't cut metals, or materials that reflect/poorly absorb its wavelength at powers below 130W.
44 -* Laser cutters create a fine cutting spot size by focusing the laser through a lens, and as a result, cuts can never be completely perpendicular to the material.
45 -* In most cases, CO2 lasers have difficulty penetrating cleanly through materials greater than 1/4 inch thick.
38 +* Waterjet cutting is generally** **slower than laser cutting, especially for thinner materials.
39 +* There can be a taper (slight angle) in the cut, especially in thicker materials, affecting edge perpendicularity.
46 46  
47 47  = Software and Usage Instructions =
48 48  
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66 66  
67 67  **Rotation:** the angle which the part needs to be rotated to
68 68  
69 -**X & Y positions:** The top left of the screen represents 0. All X and Y movements will move from the top left of your part. 
63 +**X & Y positions:** The top left of the screen represents 0. All X and Y movements are from the top left of your part. 
70 70  
71 71  **Scale:** Scale of parts can be changed by any magnitude
72 72  
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82 82  
83 83  [[image:1772478775055-319.png||height="264" width="550"]]
84 84  
85 -== Cutting Path Adjustments ==
79 +== Cutting Path Adjustments ==
86 86  
87 87  Change the cutting path to match the design of your file.
88 88  
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95 95  **No Cut:** Lines will not be cut
96 96  
97 97  
98 -[[image:1772479961994-308.png||height="242" width="554"]]
92 +[[image:1773683954161-404.png||height="254" width="527"]]
99 99  
94 +
100 100  == Tabs and Leads ==
101 101  
102 102  Tabs are a connection point between your part and where it's being cut on the material. Tabs keep your part in place while being cut, and improve the overall cut accuracy by preventing your part from popping up or out of place. The default settings are that all cut paths receive a single tab, with the size based on the material, however tabs can be manually adjusted as well.
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103 103  
104 104  A Lead refers to the distance that a cut will made away from the Cut Path. This is done to make sure that the pierce at the start of a cut does not remove any excess material on your part. The Lead’s location and size are designated with a blue indicator.
105 105  
101 +[[image:1773683858499-270.png||height="255" width="534"]]
102 +
103 +[[image:1773683891726-308.png||height="257" width="534"]]
104 +
105 +== Cut ==
106 +
107 +There are three setting selections for cut quality: Coarse, Medium, and Fine. Cut rate and cut quality have an inverse relationship, a faster Cut leads to lower quality, and better quality requires a slower Cut. The page includes cut details such as rate, time, abrasive use, cut cost, and cut extents.
108 +
109 +This is the final step in file preparation, and file naming and downloading are done at this stage. A virtual cut path simulation will also be available for viewing. 
110 +
111 + [[image:1773688664148-514.png||height="257" width="534"]]
112 +
113 += =
114 +
106 106  = Machine Setup =
107 107  
108 108  == Turning Machine On ==
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111 111  1. Twist the E-Stop button to where it releases, the screen should begin to turn on.
112 112  1. Check that the button on the bottom right of the machine is set to "On" (if screen is still not turning on, consult a staff member)
113 113  
114 -== Setting Up ==
123 +== Setting Up ==
115 115  
116 116  1. On the starting screen there will be two options, "Select Cut File" and "Setup & Maintenance". Press the OK button to Select the Select Cut File option.
117 117  1. Scroll down until the cursor is next to the file you created earlier, and hit OK
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149 149  
150 150  == ==
151 151  
152 -== Required PPE ==
161 +== Required PPE ==
153 153  
154 154  * Close toed shoes
155 155  * Eye glasses/goggles
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