Advantages and disadvantages of water jet machining (WJM)

Advantages and disadvantages of water jet machining (WJM)

What is Water Jet Machining?

The Water Jet Machining (WJM) process is an advanced, unconventional machining process in which a water jet is directed at a workpiece. The water jet erodes and shapes the material of the workpiece, i.e. jetting is a

 process that uses water jets to remove material from the workpiece.

The pressure of the water ejected from the nozzle is 60,000 pounds per square inch or 4,137 bars. This means that the pressure is more than 4000 times the normal atmospheric pressure (1 bar). Hard materials cannot be processed with a simple water jet process. It is only suitable for softer materials such as rubber, ABS, leather, wood and plastics.

To increase the processing power of the water jet, abrasive particles are mixed with the water jet. With mixed abrasives, hard materials such as glass, aluminium, steel, granite and cast iron can be processed.

Water jet machining is similar to ultrasonic machining and abrasive jet machining in that the workpiece is machined mechanically. For precision and automatic control, this machining process is paired with a CNC machine.

How water jetting machines work?

When a high velocity water jet impinges on a workpiece, it causes erosion of the workpiece material, which results in machining.

Simple water jet equipment is almost identical in construction and operation to its abrasive counterpart. To better understand the abrasive jet machine, let us examine its structure and operation.

Applications of water jet processing

Water jet machining can be used for the following materials.

- Manufacture of aerospace components.

- Manufacture of engine components.

- Machining of thick steel and aluminium plates etc.

- Drilling and cutting operations.

- Machining of materials that are difficult to machine by conventional methods.

Advantages of water jet machining

- Relatively high precision can be achieved with water jet machining.

- No coolant is required for the process.

- Complex shapes and cuts can be produced.

- Excellent surface finishes can be achieved.

- By cleaning machine parts with water, they are dust-free.

- No harmful by-products are produced, making it environmentally friendly.

- It is less expensive to operate than other non-traditional processes.

- Negligible heat is generated when water is used to process the workpiece.

Disadvantages of water jet machining

- Water jet machining cannot be used on very thick materials.

- The initial investment is high and the equipment is more expensive than plasma machining.

- It requires more time compared to conventional processes.

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