Applications
Waterjet cutting applications
One waterjet cuts stone, glass, metal and composites, with no tool change between materials. The material pages below explain what you can cut, what to watch for and how to configure the machine.
Send a sample for a free test cut →
Materials
Stone
Countertop cutouts, inlays and 45° miter joints on one machine
Countertops, inlaid floors, beveled edges, monuments
ZEBRANO · Marbello · Gullotti · Banas
Glass
Cut holes, narrow slots and shapes before tempering
Architectural and decorative glass, laminated and bullet-resistant glass
SuperKote · APG · Toronto glass fabricator
Metal
Steel plate parts with no heat-affected zone at the cut edge
Flanges, gaskets, brackets, decorative parts, thick plate
Scott · Link Middle East · Latitude
Composites
Carbon fiber, fiberglass, honeycomb panels, fiber cement board
Panel openings, profiles, anti-slip products
Luxwood · TRAX · BEAM
What changes between materials on a waterjet?
| Material | Abrasive or pure water? | Piercing considerations | Common cutting heads | Common cutting tables |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stone | Abrasive | Use low-pressure piercing for brittle stone; place the piercing point in the waste area | ACIII (5-axis; miter joints and beveled edges) | T-Series tilting table or G-Series |
| Glass | Abrasive | Use low-pressure piercing and a longer lead-in | 3-axis cutting head | G-Series; optional T-Series for large sheets |
| Metal | Abrasive | Thick plate takes longer to pierce; place the piercing point in the waste area | 3-axis cutting head; ABII for taper compensation; ACIII for bevels | G-Series |
| Composites | Usually abrasive; pure water can cut thin, soft materials | Use low-pressure piercing to prevent delamination | 3-axis cutting head or ABII | G-Series; C-Series where space is limited |
| Rubber, foam and gasket materials | Pure water | Generally no special requirements | Pure waterjet cutting head | Sized to suit the sheet |
When waterjet is not the best choice
- Glass that has already been tempered cannot be cut: all profiles and holes must be cut before tempering.
- If you only need straight cuts and have no cut-edge requirements, sawing usually costs less. Waterjet has the advantage for holes, complex shapes and accuracy.
- For high-volume cutting of thin metal sheet, laser is usually faster. Waterjet has the advantage for thick plate, reflective metals, heat-sensitive materials and nonmetals.
Other materials
Waterjet also cuts rubber, foam, plastics, fiber cement board and concrete products. Kraso in Germany uses VICHOR to cut rubber and concrete pipes; BEAM in Egypt cuts fiber cement board. If you are unsure whether your material can be cut, send a sample for a test cut.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How thick can a waterjet cut?
It depends on the material and pump. Stone can be cut up to 300 mm thick with an H-Series high-frame cutting table and the standard WCM-P60IV pump. Use WCM-P60IV for carbon steel up to 150 mm, and WCM-P90III above 150 mm.
What is the accuracy?
Cutting accuracy is ±0.1 mm.
Is there a heat-affected zone?
No. Waterjet uses cold cutting, with no thermal stress or microstructural changes at the cut edge.
Abrasive or pure water?
Hard materials need abrasive; soft materials such as rubber and foam use pure water. Disconnecting the abrasive feed tube allows pure waterjet cutting with the standard cutting head. For frequent pure waterjet cutting, we recommend a pure waterjet cutting head.
Do I need height sensing?
It depends on the material. We recommend laser height sensing for stone, tiles and sintered stone; for metal sheet, fiber cement board or fire-resistant board that is uneven or warped, or for highly reflective metals, we recommend a contact height sensing and anti-collision system. Ordinary flat metal sheet and glass generally do not need height sensing. Copper, aluminum, mirror-finish stainless steel, glass and crystallized glass panels are not suitable for laser height sensing.
Can I test-cut before buying?
Yes, free of charge. See the 3 steps above.
What after-sales support is available?
Response within 12 hours, initial diagnosis within 24 hours, common spare parts shipped within 48 hours on working days, and lifetime remote support.
Free test cutting in 3 steps
- Send your material to VICHOR with a drawing, thickness and sheet dimensions.
- The factory carries out the test cut free of charge.
- We send back cutting videos, photos and processing parameters, followed by a complete machine proposal and quotation.
Quote
Tell us your material, sheet size and thickness — we will spec the machine.
Send a drawing and a material spec. We will come back with a machine configuration, a cutting time and a price. Reply within one business day.
