Flow MACH 300 - Cutting Tips and Part Quality

Tips for cutting different types of materials
Where used
Mach 500 · Mach 300 · Mach 200 · Mach 100
Summary
Tips and general guidelines for cutting certain types of materials.
All materials
The abrasivejet cuts with a water/abrasive mixture. If the cutting speed is relatively fast, the jet will lose
power as it penetrates the material. Thus, surface finishes tend to be roughest at the bottom of the cut
face.
Surface finish quality decreases as cutting speed increases, and increases as cutting speed decreases,
but eventually you will reach a point where a further decrease in cutting speed will not improve surface
quality.
Increasing water pressure to increase water velocity (thus abrasivejet power) will improve surface finish.
Hard or soft materials
Taper is a product of the cutting effectiveness. A change in cutting power or cutting speed could
drastically alter the taper. If you increase cutting speed for hard materials—such as metal—the taper will
also increase. Most hard material tapers are V-shaped—widest at the top of the cut. Some soft
materials—such as glass or plastic—may have a reverse taper—wider at the bottom of the cut.
Laminates
Some laminates consist of two or more materials with very different properties. Cutting with the harder
material on top might minimize taper.
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Retrieved from Flow KB on April 13, 2021 PST
Cutting and Applications