Can Waterjet Cut It?

Waterjet cutting uses a high-velocity stream of water to cut material. Mixed with abrasive garnet, it can cut hard materials like steel, aluminum, stone, and composites. Because it doesn’t generate heat, it avoids distortion, hardening, and heat-affected zones, which makes it a precision cutting method.

Nearly anything, including:

• Mild steel, stainless steel, and aluminum
• Titanium and other exotic alloys
• Stone, granite, marble, and tile
• Glass
• Plastics and composites
• Rubber, foam, and gasket materials

FlexJet systems are built to run this full range without switching machines or processes.

Up to 12 inches, depending on the material, pump horsepower, and cutting speed. FlexJet’s high-pressure pumps and rigid machine construction hold accuracy even on thick or dense material.

No. It’s a cold cutting process with no heat-affected zone (HAZ), which makes it well-suited for heat-sensitive materials, precision parts, and parts headed for welding or secondary machining. Parts come off a FlexJet table flat and stress-free, cutting down on rework.

Adding garnet abrasive to the water stream lets the machine cut hard materials like metal, stone, and glass. FlexJet is tuned for efficient abrasive flow to keep waste down while holding a clean edge.

Water only, no abrasive. Used for soft materials like rubber, foam, gaskets, plastics, and textiles. Many FlexJet shops run both abrasive and pure jobs on the same machine.

Waterjet advantages: no heat distortion or hardening, cuts thick material easily, cuts reflective and exotic metals, and handles many materials on one machine. Lasers can be faster on thin sheet metal, but waterjet wins on versatility and material range.

Waterjet gives tighter tolerances, cleaner edges, and no heat-affected zone. Plasma is often faster for rough cuts, but waterjet is the better call when precision and edge quality matter.

Usually not. Waterjet-cut parts typically come out with smooth edges and minimal burrs, cutting down or eliminating grinding and deburring.

About 0.5 to 1 gallon per minute. FlexJet systems are built to keep operating costs in check without giving up performance.

Yes. No hazardous fumes, no thermal emissions, and minimal waste. The garnet abrasive is an inert, natural material that can be disposed of with common waste.

Aerospace, automotive, metal fabrication, job shops, architectural and stone work, and defense manufacturing. FlexJet serves both small shops and high-mix production floors.

Yes. Modern waterjets run on CNC controls with CAD/CAM integration and automation features. FlexJet includes free training for the life of the machine at Flex headquarters, which cuts down ramp-up time for new operators.

Precision cutting with no heat distortion, the ability to cut nearly any material, a platform that handles both prototypes and production, free lifetime training at Flex headquarters, and support backed by the Flex service team.