Water jet Technology

Water jet Technology

INTRODUCTION:

Water jet cutting uses Ultra High Pressure water (up to 60,000 psi), to cut through almost any material known to man. Fluid jets are the results of transforming high pressure into high velocity by means of a nozzle. The water jet acts like a saw & cut a narrow groove in the materials.

Entering abrasive particles into a high velocity water jet stream in mixing tube forms abrasive water jet forms abrasive water jet. The jet achieves velocities of up to 900-1000 m/sec after being pressurized to350-400 Mpa. Abrasives are transported into the mixing tube by inductive jet pump effect produced by water jet passing through the mixing tube. Energy is transferred from water to abrasive particles in the mixing tube

Application of jet is based on the interaction of jet with a material to

• Remove surface layer
• Influence substratum layer
• Remove substratum layer

For cleaning/removing dirt or deposits from the surfaces with water jets, high-speed stream of medium pressure with a high flow rate is used. One has to choose suitable pressure levels to avoid damage to the substratum layer of the material. In contrast, for cutting and machining applications, high velocity stream of very high pressure with low flow rates is employed.
In machining with AWJs, material is removed by erosive action of impacting. Abrasive particles strike the work piece at one million collisions per second. A large amount of particles kinetics power is transferred to the work piece. However, only 10% of the hydraulic power is transmitted from water jet to abrasive particles. Further, only 10% of the power will be utilized in material removal. The remaining energy loss may be due to heat losses, to the friction between abrasives and mixing tube wall, etc. even through a fraction of energy is utilized, it offers many advantage in cutting different types of materials ranging from soft materials like wood, leather, plastics to hard plastics to materials such as rock, ceramics, aerospace alloys and composites. Certain materials like composites the cannot be cut easily with conventional machining techniques can easily be processed with abrasive water jets. Several recent applications AWJs include training milling, drilling nuclear facility decommissioning and decontamination.

Liquid jet cutting system can be classified into pure water jet systems and abrasive entrainment systems.
Water jet cutting technology is unique, advanced level of automation able to cut almost all materials cost efficiency. Water jet allows tremendous flexibility and versatility in manufacturing and provides for more cutting possibilities. Simply put, "…water jet is by far, the most flexible and desirable technology in our business and delivers results with amazing reliability", says one of the proud water jet & Laser job shop owners. .

Ingersoll Rand's heavy involvement over the past four decades in Ultra High Pressure Technology has greatly contributed to the further development of modern water jet cutting capabilities.
A water jet can cut both hard & soft materials including, but not limited to titanium, stainless steel, aluminum, munitions, exotic alloys, composites, stone, marble, floor tile, glass, automotive headliners & door panels, gasket, foam, rubber, insulation, textile, food and many more.

Soft materials are cut with water only, while hard materials require a stream of water mixed with fine grains of abrasive.

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