Waterjet question - cutting through tubing

[Brandon Holley]

There must be some way to keep the pressure low enough to cut through the 1st and not the 2nd. No?

[Dick Linn]

I would imagine that the best way would be to cut each side separately. If the top was cut above water and the bottom submerged, you might not have a problem, especially with a slower travel and lower pressure.

[DonRotolo]

Anyone who runs a waterjet will know how to do that.

This Thread has a link to some photos showing an Xbox cntroller cut up by waterjet - demonstrates that thick objects can be cut as well.

[Cory]

Originally Posted by Don Rotolo

Anyone who runs a waterjet will know how to do that.

This Thread has a link to some photos showing an Xbox cntroller cut up by waterjet - demonstrates that thick objects can be cut as well.

If you look at the X-box cut into an X photo, you can see how poor the finish is on the exit cut, relative to the entry cut.

If you tried to do both sides in one shot, that's probably what's going to happen. If it was solid, you could cut something 12" thick if you really wanted to, and had a big enough pump, and the exit cut would be pretty decent.

the block of wood inside the tubing sounds pretty easy and simple to me.

[vivek16]

I don't really think sticking something in there will stop the water. Waterjets can cut through 8" thick steel like butter.

-Vivek

[Cory]

Originally Posted by vivek16

I don't really think sticking something in there will stop the water. Waterjets can cut through 8" thick steel like butter.

-Vivek

Mike is a waterjet expert. If he says you can put a 4x4 in there, it's good enough for me

[ducttapedude]

Originally Posted by Cory

Mike is a waterjet expert. If he says you can put a 4x4 in there, it's good enough for me

If I remember right, the waterjet has the capability to cut through that much steel, but adjusting settings on pressure/speed can change a lot of things you do with it.....I think. so, set it for 1/8th aluminum is a fairly fast pass. and 4 inches of wood is a lot....

not sure on this stuff, but if that makes any sense.

[Joe G.]

Originally Posted by vivek16

I don't really think sticking something in there will stop the water. Waterjets can cut through 8" thick steel like butter.

-Vivek

I believe that the purpose of the wood would not be to stop the water, but to create the same effect as a solid piece of metal. If the jet dosen't have any room to spread out, it will retain its power all the way through the tubing.

[AdamHeard]

Originally Posted by rocketperson44

I believe that the purpose of the wood would not be to stop the water, but to create the same effect as a solid piece of metal. If the jet dosen't have any room to spread out, it will retain its power all the way through the tubing.

He says to cut the four sides individually, so It probably isn't going all the way through. The wood must be doing something to the water to keep it from cutting through.

Either way, I'd take his word on waterjetting.

[Triple B]

Thanks Cory, but I am no expert.
I have played with waterjets for about the last ten years and have tried many different operations.
The wood will disperse or defuse the water to the point that it wont go thru the second wall, which allows you to flip the part and get a nice cut on both sides.
You doo need to play with the cut speed and pressure as it is much like voodoo, works great one time and no so great the next.
I will try and bring a sample to IRI if possible.
mike d