What Is Waterjet Cutting?
Abrasive waterjet cutting is a cold-cutting process in which a high-pressure water stream (up to 90,000 psi / 620 MPa) mixed with fine garnet abrasive particles is focused through a precision nozzle and directed at the workpiece surface to erode material along a programmed cutting path. Unlike laser cutting, which relies on thermal energy, waterjet cutting is entirely mechanical — the abrasive particles physically abrade the material without generating heat, making it the only cutting method that produces zero heat-affected zone (HAZ) and zero thermal stress in the cut substrate. This makes waterjet cutting uniquely suited for thick glass, laminated glass, glass-ceramic composites, and thermally sensitive optical materials where laser or diamond wheel cutting would introduce unacceptable residual stress or micro-cracking. Modern 5-axis waterjet systems can cut arbitrary 2D contours and tapered profiles, with cutting depths from 1 mm up to 100 mm or more.
プロセス能力
- Cutting Pressure: Up to 90,000 psi (620 MPa)
- Abrasive Media: 80 – 220 mesh garnet (grade selectable by finish requirement)
- Material Thickness Range: 1 mm – 100 mm (standard); beyond 100 mm on request
- 位置精度： ±50 µm (precision mode); ±150 µm (standard)
- 表面粗さ（Ra）： 1.6 – 3.2 µm (fine cut); 3.2 – 6.3 µm (standard cut)
- 切り込み幅： 0.8 – 1.5 mm (nozzle-dependent)
- Axisの設定： 3-axis and full 5-axis (tapered and angled cuts)
対応素材
| 1 | 溶融石英 | コーニング 7980 / 東ソー ES-2000 |
| 2 | 石英ガラス | SCHOTT Lithosil Q / Heraeus Suprasil 1 |
| 3 | ホウケイ酸ガラス | パイレックス 7740 / ボロフロート 33 |
| 4 | ソーダ・ライムガラス | Float / Laminated / Tempered |
| 5 | サファイア | C面／A面 |
| 6 | 結晶化ガラス | ZERODUR / PYROCERAM 9606 / MACOR |
| 7 | 工業用セラミックス | Al₂O₃ / AlN / Si₃N₄ / ZrO₂ |
| 8 | 光学ガラス | BK7 / N-BK7 |
| 9 | シリコン | フロートゾーン／チョクラルスキー法 |
| 10 | 合わせガラス | PVB / SGP interlayer composites |
| 11 | Armor Glass | Multi-layer ballistic glass composites |
エッジの品質と仕上げ
- Ra 1.6 – 3.2 µm (Fine Cut): Slow feed rate, fine abrasive (220 mesh) — suitable for optical windows and precision components
- Ra 3.2 – 6.3 µm (Standard Cut): Balanced speed and finish — general industrial and structural glass
- Ra 6.3 – 12.5 µm (Rough Cut): High feed rate, coarse abrasive — rapid stock removal, requires post-processing
- Taper Angle: ±0.5° (standard); compensated to 0° with 5-axis taper correction
- Edge Chipping: ≤ 100 µm (standard); ≤ 50 µm (precision, with reduced pressure)
- 後処理オプション： CNC edge grinding, polishing, chamfering, AR coating compatible
代表的な用途
- Thick Optical Windows: Fused silica and borosilicate windows 10–100 mm thick for laser and defense systems
- Aerospace Glass Components: Complex-contour cockpit glazing and sensor windows
- Architectural Glass: Decorative and structural glass panels with curved and irregular outlines
- 工業用サイトグラス： Heavy-duty borosilicate and quartz sight windows for pressure vessels
- Glass-Ceramic Blanks: ZERODUR and MACOR machining blanks for precision instruments
- Armor & Ballistic Glass: Multi-layer laminated glass panels for defense applications
カスタム仕様
We accept custom waterjet cutting orders based on DXF, STEP, or customer-supplied drawings, for both prototype and production volumes. Custom parameters include abrasive grade selection, feed rate optimization for target surface finish, 5-axis taper compensation for vertical edge profiles, and multi-pass strategies for ultra-thick substrates. Post-cutting services — including CNC edge grinding, polishing, chamfering, ultrasonic cleaning, and full dimensional inspection — are available as part of an integrated processing workflow. All cut parts are delivered with edge quality documentation, dimensional reports, and material traceability.
Cutting Speed vs Material Thickness
