How to Use a Waterjet Machine to Cut through Glass
If you have a building project that calls for several irregularly sized panes of glass, then you know that you cannot buy these windows off the shelf. Instead, you have to cut them to size using larger pieces of glass, and due to the intricate nature of the result, you have to be very precise. In this case, you can rely on a process that uses high-pressure water mixed with an abrasive, but how does this work?
Pressurised Pump
A waterjet cutting process like this relies on a hydraulic pump that can significantly increase the intensity of the water forced through a tiny jet. Water is pulled into the system and then moves through a special component known as an intensifier. This piece connects to a hydraulic pumping system that can force liquid from a larger cylinder into a smaller one, and the difference between the size of these two cylinders determines the output pressure. Typically, you will choose a gun with a higher ratio for glass due to the strength of the material and the precision required.
Flow Regulation
After the operator has pressurised the water, it will flow into a separate chamber designed to balance the liquid and make sure that it is always optimal at the cutting head. In other words, this chamber will help to get rid of any ripples or unwanted inconsistency before you switch on the output valve.
Abrasive Chamber
However, even though this water is highly pressurised and is capable of cutting through certain types of material without issue, it must be further mixed with a special abrasive when working with glass. You add this abrasive to a separate mixing chamber, and you can adjust the volume of the material through a separate metering system before work begins.
Cutting Head
Typically, designers will equip this type of equipment with a cutting head that is made from sapphire or diamond so that it can cope with the pressure and abrasion levels. You will be able to choose from a wide variety of cutting heads that are designed for different applications, and you may need to change these parts as work continues.
Careful Work
With the right type of equipment, you will be able to cut each pane of glass with very high levels of precision. Make sure that you always get your gear from a trusted source, however, and hand over the work to a skilled technician for a better result. Contact a company that offers waterjet cutting services for more information.
