Metal

Aluminium

Ferrous metals

Non ferrous metals

Keywords explained

Waterjet cutting metal

Waterjet cutting metal is the process of cutting metal materials with an ultra high-pressure waterjet combined with abrasive particles. It is used when metals need to be cut with high precision, minimal heat impact and flexible shape control.

Waterjet metal cutting

Waterjet metal cutting is another way to describe the same process. The term is often used when comparing waterjet technology with other metal cutting methods such as laser, plasma, flame cutting or mechanical machining.

Waterjet machine for metal

A waterjet machine for metal is a machine system configured to cut metal sheets, plates or components. Important factors include pump capacity, cutting head setup, abrasive supply, table size, software and the required cutting quality.

Abrasive waterjet cutting

Abrasive waterjet cutting uses high-pressure water mixed with abrasive particles to cut hard materials. For metal cutting, abrasive is normally required because the abrasive particles help erode the metal and create the cut like a liquid sand-paper.

Heat-affected zone

A heat-affected zone, often called HAZ, is the area of material affected by heat during thermal cutting. Waterjet cutting does not create a heat-affected zone because it is a cold cutting process.

Cold cutting

Cold cutting means cutting without heat. In metal cutting, this helps avoid thermal distortion, warping, hardening, discoloration and changes in the material structure.

Kerf in metal cutting

Kerf is the width of the cut made by the waterjet. A narrow kerf helps improve material utilization, reduce waste and make it possible to cut detailed shapes or nest parts closely on the same sheet or plate.

Sheet metal cutting

Sheet metal cutting means cutting flat metal plates into parts, components or blanks. Waterjet cutting can be useful for metal plates when precision, material integrity and flexibility are important.

Thick metal cutting

Thick metal cutting refers to cutting thicker metal materials where cutting force, edge quality and process stability are important. Abrasive waterjet cutting can be a suitable option when heat distortion must be avoided.

Alloy cutting

Alloy cutting means cutting metals made from a combination of elements, such as stainless steel, titanium alloys, nickel alloys or tool steels. Waterjet cutting can be useful for alloys that are difficult to cut with heat-based methods.

Stainless steel cutting

Stainless steel cutting requires control of edge quality, surface finish and material properties. Waterjet cutting can cut stainless steel without thermal discoloration or heat-affected zones.

Titanium cutting

Titanium cutting can be challenging with thermal methods because heat can affect the material. Abrasive waterjet cutting can process titanium while helping preserve the material’s properties.

Near-net cutting

Near-net cutting means cutting a part close to its final shape, reducing the need for additional machining or manual finishing. Waterjet cutting can support near-net metal parts by producing accurate contours and clean, sating smooth edges.

Bevel cutting

Bevel cutting means cutting an angled edge instead of a straight vertical edge. In metal applications, bevel cutting can be useful for weld preparation, chamfers and components that require angled geometry.

Edge quality

Edge quality describes the finish, accuracy and consistency of the cut edge. In waterjet metal cutting, edge quality is affected by material type, thickness, cutting speed, abrasive flow, pressure, nozzle setup and machine accuracy.

Specify your metal cutting needs

To recommend the right waterjet solution for metal cutting, it is important to understand both the material and the production requirements. Metal materials can vary in hardness, thickness, alloy composition, surface finish and final application, which means the cutting setup should be adapted to the specific production need.

 

When contacting Water Jet Sweden, please share information about the metal type, sheet or plate size, material thickness, part geometry, tolerance requirements and expected production volume. It is also useful to specify whether the material is steel, stainless steel, aluminium, titanium, copper, brass, hardened steel, tool steel or another alloy.

Drawings or CAD files can help define the required cutting paths, holes, internal cut-outs, bevels, curves and level of detail. Please also include information about edge quality requirements, whether the part needs to be close to final shape, if post-processing is expected and whether the application involves prototypes, custom parts, recurring production or thick plate cutting.

If your production involves several different metals, varying thicknesses or complex geometries, this should also be included. With the right information, Water Jet Sweden can help evaluate the most suitable machine configuration, pump capacity, cutting head setup, abrasive process, software workflow and production solution for your metal cutting needs.

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FAQ

Can waterjet cutting be used for metal?

Yes, waterjet cutting can be used for many metal materials. The process uses high-pressure water combined with abrasive particles to cut metals with high precision and minimal heat impact.

It is suitable for applications where material properties, edge quality and dimensional accuracy are important.

What types of metal can be cut with waterjet technology?

Waterjet cutting can be used for steel, stainless steel, carbon steel, aluminium, titanium, copper, brass, bronze, tool steel, hardened steel and many other alloys.

The right cutting setup depends on the metal type, thickness, required edge quality and production volume.

Why is abrasive used when cutting metal with waterjet?

Abrasive is used because metal is a hard material that cannot normally be cut efficiently with water alone. The high-pressure water accelerates abrasive particles, which erode the metal and create the cut.

Abrasive waterjet cutting makes it possible to cut hard metals, thick plates and demanding alloys with high precision.

Does waterjet cutting create a heat-affected zone in metal?

No, waterjet cutting does not create a heat-affected zone because it is a cold cutting process. The metal is cut without thermal stress, which helps preserve material properties.

This is especially useful for stainless steel, titanium, hardened steel and other metals where heat can affect performance, shape or surface quality.

Can waterjet cutting reduce distortion and warping?

Yes, waterjet cutting can reduce distortion and warping because it does not use heat to cut the material. Thermal cutting methods can cause the metal to expand, contract or change shape.

Waterjet cutting helps maintain dimensional stability, especially for parts where accuracy and flatness are important.

Can waterjet cutting be used for thick metal plates?

Yes, abrasive waterjet cutting can be used for thick metal plates. The possible thickness depends on the metal type, pump pressure, cutting head setup, abrasive flow, required edge quality and production speed.

For thick or high-value materials, test cutting can help define the most suitable process settings.

How does waterjet cutting compare with laser or plasma cutting for metal?

Laser and plasma cutting can be fast and efficient for many metal applications, but they use heat. This can create heat-affected zones, thermal distortion or changes in the cut edge.

Waterjet cutting is different because it is a cold process. It is often preferred when material integrity, thick materials, complex shapes or reduced secondary processing are important.

Can waterjet cutting be used for prototypes and custom metal parts?

Yes, waterjet cutting is well suited for prototypes and custom metal parts. Since the process is digitally controlled and does not require dedicated tooling, it can support short runs, design changes and one-off components.

This flexibility is useful for product development, maintenance parts, special projects and customer-specific production.

What affects edge quality when cutting metal?

Edge quality is affected by the metal type, material thickness, cutting speed, abrasive flow, water pressure, nozzle setup, machine accuracy and selected cut quality.

For parts with visible edges, tight tolerances or limited post-processing, the edge quality requirements should be defined before production.

What information should I provide for a metal cutting application?

To evaluate a metal cutting application, it is helpful to provide the metal type, material thickness, sheet or plate size, part geometry, tolerance requirements, edge quality expectations and production volume.

It is also useful to share CAD files or drawings, information about holes, bevels, internal cut-outs, post-processing needs and whether the application involves prototypes, recurring production or thick plate cutting.