Selecting a Water Jet Cutting Machine

As the saying goes: "If you want to do a good job, you must first prepare the right tools." Only with the right and suitable tools at hand can you work efficiently and with ease.

A waterjet (ultrahigh-pressure water jet cutting machine) is a processing tool, and the standard for a good tool is: first, high efficiency; second, durability with low failure rate; third, low cost.

Step One: Evaluate cutting efficiency.

Cutting efficiency includes both incision quality and cutting speed. A distinctive feature of waterjet cutting is that the lower the cutting speed, the higher the incision quality.

By taking the same material to several water jet manufacturers for testing, and then comparing: who has faster cutting speed under the same cut quality; and under the same cutting speed, who achieves higher cut quality. The minimum requirement for cutting is to sever the material. Cutting speed is a very reliable comparative indicator.

Step Two: Compare durability.

The main issue with water jets lies in the high-pressure system. The performance levels of products from various water jet manufacturers are clearly distinguishable.

The quality of components such as high-pressure cylinders, accumulators, high-pressure plungers, check valve bodies, high-pressure seals, and one-way valves directly determines the fault rate of water jets. The longer the lifespan of these components, the better.

Step Three: Compare the costs of repairs and maintenance.

Currently, there is no standard for waterjet cutting, resulting in low interchangeability of parts. Moreover, the high-pressure components of waterjets have a limited lifespan. Therefore, when purchasing a waterjet, it's not just the overall price that matters, but also the cost of accessories. One must consider not only the unit price but also the lifespan to accurately calculate the overall cost of operation.

In summary, selecting the right waterjet cutting machine requires thorough investigation and careful consideration from various angles.