Job and machine shops use the unmatched versatility of waterjets to expand their capabilities beyond what is possible with machining centers, lasers, EDM or mills. When using waterjets you can throw out pre-conceived ideas about what are traditionally considered "difficult applications." Although abrasive waterjets are ideally suited for tough, and lucrative, applications such as titanium, Inconel, brass, tool steel, glass, stone or composites, the most commonly cut materials include aluminum and steel. Abrasive waterjets cut material from 1/16 inch to 8 inches thick, in high or low volume. Typical part tolerances range from between 0.003 and 0.005 of an inch, although tolerances as close as 0.001 of an inch can be achieved as well.

Within every abrasive waterjet is a pure waterjet cutter, and you can switch from abrasive waterjet cutting to pure waterjet cutting in just two minutes. The hair-thin waterjet can quickly cut gaskets, foams, plastics and thin rubber. The dual processing capability of UHP waterjets greatly enhances any shop's versatility. In-house machine shops realize all these same benefits from abrasive waterjets. For machining high volume, short runs or prototype parts, waterjet shapecutting systems are the most versatile machine tools in the world. With Flow's shapecutting systems, you truly get Simply Better Cutting.

According to Frost and Sullivan, waterjets are one of the fastest growing machining processes in the world, and one reason is how few secondary operations are required. Most abrasive waterjet cutting produces net shaped parts, so secondary finishing is eliminated. In applications with a mirror finish or tapped hole, secondary finishing is quick and easy because abrasive waterjets do not produce a re-cast layer as do methods which rely on heat or friction to cut such as plasma or laser.

Flow's waterjet shapecutting systems can cut virtually any material. Because there is absolutely no mechanical stress, heat distortion or heat-affected zone (HAZ), material can be stacked to increase productivity. Setup and fixturing are complete in just minutes. Because waterjets cut with a narrow kerf, parts can be tightly nested or common-line cut so raw material usage is maximized. Abrasive waterjet cutting is maneuvered with software-controlled, robotic motion systems — not hard tooling — so there are no costly, time-consuming changes between jobs. With Flow's exclusive FlowMaster control system, all you do is draw, import, or scan in your part; specify the material type, thickness and edge finish; and then point-n-click on "Start" to cut. FlowMaster's Windows-based software is so easy to run that if you know Windows you can be Trained in a Day, Proficient in a Week on FlowMaster. See what our customers have to say and how Flow Waterjets have changed their businesses.