This page does not sell you a machine. It explains how to write your own requirement, and it ends with ten questions to put to every supplier you talk to, including us.
VICHOR machines are built at our manufacturing base in Liaoning Province, northeast China. We have watched a lot of buyers get the specification wrong in the same few places. Those places are what this page is about. If someone else answers these ten questions better than we do, buy from them.
Start with the part, not the table.
Most first machines end up at 3 × 2 m. Stone shops usually go to 4 × 2 m, because that is the slab. If floor space is the constraint, the C-Series cantilever goes down to 1.2 × 1.2 m and loads from three open sides. Anything else can be built to order.
When a supplier writes "3 × 2 m", ask whether that is the cutting travel or the frame. VICHOR quotes cutting travel.
Read about waterjet cutting thickness and waterjet kerf width when specifying the part.
The gantry stands on its own columns rather than on the tank. The linear guides and ballscrews sit above the waterline. On the H-Series high frame, the standard height is 300 mm and 1,000 mm or more can be built to order, with a table rated at 900 kg per square meter and a reinforced bridge made to carry more than one cutting head.
| G-Series · Gantry | 2000×1500 · 2000×4000 · 3000×2000 · 4000×2000 · 2000×6000 · 3000×6000 · 4000×10000 · 5000×20000 |
| C-Series · Cantilever | 1200×1200 · 2000×1000 · 2000×1500 · 2500×1500 · 3000×1500 |
| T-Series · tilting table | 3000×2000 · 4000×2000 |
| H-Series · High frame | G-Series range, to order |
| Custom | Widths to 5 m · longer Y-axis built on request |
Maximum and continuous operating pressure.
Ask what pressure the pump maintains under load during cutting.
One more thing before the models: in P60IV, P60IVB and S60IV, the 60 is the pressure class, and all three are identical there — 430 MPa peak, 380–400 MPa continuous. Servo is a choice about energy, not about pressure. What separates the three is redundancy and power draw.
Three-axis cuts flat. "Five-axis" means two different things.
- Standard 3-axis. Vertical jet for flat parts.
- A/B five-axis — compact cutting head ABII. The A axis tilts to 9.8°. That is not enough for a bevel and it is not meant to be: it is taper compensation, so the cut edge comes out square instead of slightly conical. Take it if your parts are flat but your edges have to be perpendicular.
- A/C five-axis — dynamic cutting head ACIII. The A axis goes to 75° and the C axis rotates without limit. Weld preparations, chamfers, and genuine three-dimensional contours.
With NcStudio, large-angle five-axis needs the NC100 controller rather than the base unit.
We offer two CNC systems: Weihong NcStudio, with functions developed for our machines, and ECS CNC system. Support for NcStudio comes from us, not from a software company you have never dealt with. Both include built-in basic CAM for cutting regular shapes; nesting is not included. Nesting or 3D machining requires IGEMS under a separate license.
Two of these are not really optional.
Water softener and a chiller appear on most option lists, including ours, but treat them as part of the machine. Water that is too hard will shorten the life of everything downstream of it, and a pump that runs hot does not hold pressure the way a cool one does. Budget for both from the start rather than discovering them in year two.
The abrasive delivery system is not an option here at all — it is standard on every machine we ship.
If a competing quotation comes in cheaper, one of the first things worth checking is whether abrasive delivery has been moved into the options column.
The rest of the option list is worked out against what you actually cut, and it belongs in a quotation rather than on a web page. Tell us the job and we will tell you which options earn their place and which ones you can leave off.
The purchase price is the small half of the decision.
A waterjet costs money in four places, and only one of them is the invoice you sign at the beginning.
Compare operating cost and cutting speed for your production task.
- Garnet. The largest running cost by a distance, and the one most first-time buyers underestimate. It scales with how much you cut, not with how much you paid for the machine.
- Electricity. Our standard pump, the WCM-P60IV, is rated at 37 kW. Over 2,000 hours a year that is real money in most countries, which is the whole argument for the servo pump in “Maximum and continuous operating pressure.”
- Consumable parts. Replacement intervals for orifices, mixing tubes and UHP seals depend on operating conditions.
- People. One operator can usually run the machine and do something else. Nesting well is a learned skill and it pays for itself in garnet.
Who supplies your consumable parts?
Every waterjet uses consumable parts. The orifices and mixing tubes in our cutting heads are standard parts, as are most of the pump's consumable parts, so you can also source them elsewhere. We recommend genuine consumable parts because they let us diagnose faults faster; with third-party parts, we first have to rule out part quality, which takes longer.
Core components
US intensifier core components — UHP cylinder, hydraulic cylinder, end cap and end nut — carry a 5-year warranty.
Core components include Yaskawa servos, THK linear guides, HIWIN ballscrews, Bosch Rexroth hydraulics and Innomotics motors. Before shipment, VICHOR sends a list of core components with part numbers and photographs. Ask suppliers for the same information.
What we will not do is win on price alone.
Ten questions to ask every supplier. Including us.
- What is the continuous operating pressure — not the peak?
- When you quote "3 × 2 m", is that the actual cutting travel or the frame size? And what floor space does the complete machine need, pump, tank and abrasive feed included?
- Which brand and model are the linear guides, the ballscrews and the servos — and can you send me a photograph of the nameplates or markings?
- Before the machine ships, will you send the list of core components, with part numbers and photographs?
- Are the orifice and the mixing tube standard parts, or proprietary to you?
- If a high-pressure seal fails in year three, when does the replacement ship — and from where?
- Who installs and trains, where, for how many days, in what language — and is it in the price or billed separately? If it is billed, what exactly am I paying for?
- What CNC am I getting, and will I need to buy separate CAM software for the work I actually do?
- What else do I have to buy before this machine can make its first cut, and what does each item cost?
- Can you put me in touch with someone who has been running your machine for five years or more?
We have answered most of these already, in the sections above where they belong — that is what this page has been doing from the top. Ask us the rest directly, and ask the same ten questions of everyone else you are talking to.
The answer to the last one is yes. We have a number of customers past the ten-year mark. We ask their permission before passing on any contact details, which is why we cannot simply list them here.
What our quotation looks like.
Want to see how your material cuts? Send a sample with a drawing, thickness and sheet dimensions for a free factory test cut. We will send you videos, photos and cutting parameters afterwards.
2-year machine warranty: 24 months or 4,000 hours, excluding UHP consumables. Specified US intensifier core components on the WCM-P60IV, WCM-P60IVB, WCM-S60IV and WCM-P90III carry a 5-year warranty.
After-sales support. We respond within 12 hours and give an initial diagnosis within 24 hours. Common spare parts ship within 48 hours on working days, with lifetime remote support.
An engineer can install and commission the machine and train your operators in a single visit, priced as a separate line in the quote. Remote installation and commissioning guidance is also available.
Factory visits are welcome by appointment. Our machines are CE certified.
Options are chosen against what you actually cut, not bundled in advance, and we will tell you which ones we think you do not need. Machines are quoted FOB or CIF as standard, and door to door if you ask for it. Installation and training are priced as a separate line, never folded into the machine price: if you want our engineer on site you are paying for his time, his visa, his flights, and his food and lodging while he is with you, each one itemised. If your people are good with their hands, we can take you through installation and commissioning remotely instead. Every item appears on its own line, so you can see what you are paying for and take anything off it.
To start, we need three things: the material, the thickness, and roughly how much of it per day. That is enough for a first quotation. Everything after that is a conversation.
Questions about buying a waterjet
How do I get a quote for a waterjet cutting machine?
Tell us your material, sheet size and thickness. A drawing and material specification help us give you a comparable quote. We’ll propose a machine configuration, estimate cutting time and provide a price. A specification sheet comes with every quote. A layout drawing is available on request.
Who handles installation, training and support after delivery?
Our engineer installs and commissions the machine and trains your operators on site. Once the site is ready, installation and commissioning take about 3–5 days. On-site training takes about 2–3 days. We respond within 12 hours, provide an initial diagnosis within 24 hours and ship common spare parts within 48 hours on working days. We provide lifetime remote support. The machine warranty is two years (24 months or 4,000 hours). UHP consumables are excluded.
What should I consider when choosing between a new and a used waterjet?
A used machine costs less upfront, but it often needs many spare parts and comes without a warranty. That adds risk. When comparing new machines, look at the UHP pump, the CNC system, the cutting table and cutting head, and the abrasive delivery system that feeds abrasive automatically.
What will it cost to run an abrasive waterjet?
We can estimate operating costs for your material and cutting conditions. Please tell us your material, its thickness and how many hours you cut each day.
Can operators replace consumable parts, and how do I identify the right part?
Your operators can replace consumable parts. We provide maintenance videos and step-by-step guidance. Send us a photo and we’ll confirm the part number. Replacement intervals vary by machine and depend on the operating environment, inlet water quality and temperature, and cutting pressure.
Is abrasive feed standard, and can I refill it without stopping?
The abrasive delivery system comes standard. With standard feed, fill it before each shift. With the continuous feed upgrade, you can refill the hopper while cutting continues. One of the options is a portable abrasive removal system. It removes spent abrasive and sludge from the tank, reducing manual cleanup and downtime.
Can a waterjet cut custom shapes, inside corners and beveled edges in porcelain or stone?
Yes. A waterjet can cut custom shapes, inside corners and beveled edges in porcelain slabs and natural stone. Send us a sample for a free test cut. After purchase, our engineer will give you cutting parameters for your material during on-site training. You can contact our remote support team whenever questions come up.
How can I reduce the risk of cracking when cutting glass?
The risk depends on the type and thickness of the glass. We use low-pressure piercing for brittle glass and laminated glass. If the glass needs to be tempered, cut it before tempering. Send us a sample for a free test cut. After purchase, our engineer will give you cutting parameters for your glass during on-site training. Remote support is available for follow-up questions.
How do I choose a setup for heat-sensitive metal or thick carbon steel?
Waterjet is a cold cutting process. It leaves no heat-affected zone on metal parts. For carbon steel over 150 mm thick, we recommend the WCM-P90III. Send us your material, thickness and drawing so we can propose a setup. You can send a sample for a free test cut. After purchase, our engineer will give you cutting parameters for your material during on-site training. Remote support is available for follow-up questions.