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The selection of CNC cutting and waterjet cutting stainless steel is based on precision, requirements, and estimated budgets. Waterjet CNC and other cutting methods are widely used to cut stainless-steel parts for different uses as per customer specifications. Several factors, such as surface finish, volume of the parts, and applications, determine the use of the distinct cutting methods.
Overview of Cutting Methods
Waterjet CNC cutting and other types of CNC cutting are computer-controlled methods used in manufacturing stainless steel parts. CNC cutting methods are used to cut stainless steel into the desired shape as per the customer’s requirements. Generally, Waterjet CNC stainless steel is distinct from other cutting methods because it uses a high-pressure waterjet to cut the workpiece, which does not build up heat zones on the parts.
Waterjet Cutting Explained
Waterjet CNC cutting uses a high-pressure stream of water with abrasive materials to cut stainless steel. The computer-controlled CNC machine controls the nozzle of the waterjet system along the designed path to cut the workpiece of stainless steel. This cutting process is used for stainless steel parts fabrication, where the original strength of the materials is important for structural integrity.
The waterjet CNC is mostly used in the following cases:
- It is used for thick stainless-steel parts, which require clean edges without any thermal distortion.
- It is used for the heat-sensitive parts of the machinery and industries
- It is used for the parts where different materials need to be cut for the specified parts
CNC Cutting Explained
The CNC cutting process is a computer-controlled method for fabricating stainless-steel parts. Several cutting methods, such as laser, plasma, and waterjet, are applied to cut the stainless-steel parts.
Laser cutting uses a concentrated beam of light to cut the thin stainless steel, where precision, tight tolerances, and fine details are important. On the other hand, plasma cutting is applied to thicker materials where cost and dimension accuracy are important rather than precision.
Waterjet cutting is used for medium to thick stainless steel to get a precise and smoother surface with the original properties of the metals. Waterjet CNC cutting stainless steel overcomes the limitations of laser and plasma cutting.
The CNC cutting process is widely used in manufacturing stainless steel parts because of the following reasons:
- CNC cutting is fast and repeatable
- CNC cutting is efficient for large volume production compared to conventional methods
- CNC cutting process has the capacity to produce complex shapes with the required precision and accuracy
Comparison (Cost / Precision / Speed)
Waterjet CNC cutting and other CNC cutting processes have their own pros and cons. The selection of waterjet and other CNC cutting processes is chosen based on the following three factors: cost, precision, and speed.
Costs
Waterjet CNC cutting stainless steel has a higher operating cost because it uses abrasive materials and slower production. CNC laser and plasma cutting are more cost-effective for the high-volume production of stainless steel.
Precision
The waterjet CNC cutting process offers excellent precision and good surface finishes on thicker stainless-steel parts. This is also beneficial for parts where original properties of SS are important because thermal distortion does not happen in waterjet cutting.
CNC laser cutting offers a precise and accurate cutting of thin stainless-steel parts and produces complex shapes. Plasma cutting is a less precise cutting process. But Plasma cutting is widely used to fabricate the thick stainless-steel parts for larger production and repeatability.
Speed
Waterjet cutting is normally slower than laser and plasma cutting because it uses waterjet to remove materials rather than high heat. Laser cutting is faster for thin stainless steel. CNC plasma cutting is faster for thick stainless steel compared to laser or waterjet cutting.
Which Method to Choose
The fabrication of the stainless-steel parts using the CNC cutting process depends on the applications and part specifications.
Waterjet CNC cutting is chosen if
- The thermal distortion needs to be avoided for the parts.
- The stainless steel is thick and extremely sensitive.
- The parts need smooth surfaces and can work for complex and mixed layers of the materials.
CNC laser cutting is chosen if
- Precision and tight tolerance are important for the stainless-steel parts
- The materials’ thickness varies from thin to medium.
- Faster cutting and high-quality are important requirements for the fabricated SS part
CNC plasma cutting is chosen if
- The stainless-steel thickness varies from medium to thick, and the cutting speed is faster.
- Accuracy is important, but the surface finish is not important.
Conclusion
The CNC waterjet and other CNC cutting are selected as per the applications and customers’ requirements for stainless steel parts. Waterjet cutting is used for parts where thermal distortion can be avoided to get the original characteristics of the materials with a high-quality surface finish. On the other hand, CNC laser and plasma cutting are used for precision and cost effectiveness of stainless-steel parts, respectively.
Looking for precision-engineered stainless steel solutions? Contact Jianglin Steel today to discuss your project requirements and discover how our advanced cutting capabilities can meet your exact specifications.
