Plastics

Yes, waterjet cutting can be used for technical plastic parts such as panels, covers, gaskets, spacers, insulation parts, protective components and custom plastic details. The process is suitable for both simple shapes and more detailed geometries.

Because the cutting path is digitally controlled, waterjet cutting can support repeatable production of plastic parts in different sizes, shapes and material thicknesses.

For many plastic materials, pure waterjet cutting is the preferred method because it uses only high-pressure water. Abrasive is normally used for hard materials such as metal, stone, glass or ceramics, while many plastics can be cut efficiently without abrasive.

This makes pure waterjet cutting a clean and precise option for plastic applications where narrow cuts, low material impact and reduced contamination are important.

Waterjet cutting can be used for many plastic materials, including acrylic, polycarbonate, polypropylene, PVC, nylon, PET, polyurethane and other technical plastics.

The best cutting setup depends on the material type, thickness, hardness, flexibility and required edge quality. For more demanding applications, test cutting can help define the right process parameters.

Yes, waterjet cutting can cut plastics without melting because it is a cold cutting process. Unlike thermal methods, it does not use heat to separate the material.

This can help prevent melted edges, burn marks, thermal deformation and changes in material properties. It is especially useful for plastics that are sensitive to heat or require a clean cut.

Yes, waterjet cutting can create small holes, detailed contours, internal cut-outs and complex shapes in plastic materials. This is useful for technical plastic components, custom panels, prototypes and parts with many openings or design details.

The final result depends on the material properties, part geometry, thickness and machine setup.

Yes, waterjet cutting can be suitable for both rigid and flexible plastics. Rigid plastics may benefit from precise, non-thermal cutting, while flexible plastics can be cut without the pressure and deformation that may occur with some mechanical cutting methods.

Correct material support, fixturing and cutting parameters are important to achieve consistent results, especially when working with thin, flexible or elastic plastic materials.

In many cases, plastic sheets can be stacked during waterjet cutting to improve productivity. Stack cutting can make it possible to cut several identical parts at the same time, which can reduce production time for recurring components.

The suitability of stack cutting depends on the plastic type, sheet thickness, part geometry, required accuracy and how well the material layers can be held in place during cutting.

Edge quality is affected by the plastic material, thickness, cutting speed, water pressure, nozzle setup and how well the material is supported during cutting. Softer, thinner or more flexible plastics may require adapted settings to achieve consistent results.

For technical plastic parts, it is important to define the required tolerance, edge finish and production volume before choosing the final cutting setup.

Yes, waterjet cutting is well suited for custom plastic parts and prototypes. Since the process is based on digital files, it can be used for one-off parts, short runs and design changes without the need for dedicated tooling.

This flexibility is useful for product development, maintenance parts, replacement components and customer-specific plastic applications.

Companies should consider the plastic materials they need to cut, material thickness, part size, tolerance requirements, production volume and whether they need one or multiple cutting heads. They should also consider material handling, stacking possibilities, software workflow and future production needs.

Choosing the right waterjet solution from the beginning can improve productivity, reduce waste and support both current and future plastic cutting applications.