...
  1. ホーム
  2. »
  3. Service
  4. »
  5. CNC Milling

Waterjet Cutting

Waterjet cutting delivers precise, cold-cut results on almost any material, from metals to composites, without creating heat-affected zones. Ideal for intricate shapes and clean edges, this versatile process ensures accuracy, preserves material integrity, and supports both industrial projects and custom manufacturing needs.

Waterjet Cutting Machine
Waterjet Cutting in Action

What is Waterjet Cutting?

Waterjet cutting harnesses a powerful stream of water, often blended with fine abrasives, to slice through diverse materials with exceptional precision without causing heat distortion. This process produces smooth, accurate edges, making it ideal for metals, composites, stone, and materials that are sensitive to heat.

Tolerance Table for Waterjet Cutting

Parameter Specification
Dimensional Tolerance ±0.13 mm to ±0.25 mm
Minimum Feature Size 0.8 mm to 1.0 mm
Material Thickness Range 1 mm up to 150 mm
Edge Quality Smooth, minimal heat-affected zone
Kerf Width 0.8 mm to 1.3 mm
Straightness ≤ 0.5 mm per 1000 mm

Versatile Waterjet Cutting for Thick and Delicate Materials

High-pressure water, with or without abrasives, powers our waterjet cutting to handle metals, composites, glass, and stone without heat damage. Perfect for thick or delicate materials, it delivers precise, burr-free results while preserving integrity. Ideal for custom components, architectural elements, and demanding industrial applications.

Waterjet Cutting Process

Materials for Waterjet Cutting

Engineers and leading manufacturers trust Yicen Precision for fast iterations and durable, high-performance parts. Whether for prototyping or full-scale production, our extensive material selection ensures precision, strength, and reliability for any CNC machining project.

Titanium Grade 2 and 5
Nickel Alloy

ABS
Acetal (POM, Delrin)
PETG
PC
PP
PTFE
PVC
UHMW

Clear and Colored Acrylic (Plexiglass)

EVA Foam
Polyurethane Foam (PU)
Silicone Foam

Buna-N Rubber Blends
EPDM
Silicone Rubber
Paper Fiber

Cherry
Hardboard
MDF
Poplar
Red Oak
Wood Laminate (Plywood)

Carbon Fiber Composites
Fiberglass
Glass-filled Nylon

Surface Finishing for Waterjet Cutting

Yicen Precision offers a variety of finishing services designed to meet your project’s specific needs.

Deburring
untitled design (10)

Removes sharp edges and burrs created during cutting to improve safety and provide a clean, finished look.

Bead Blasting
cnc aluminum anodizing

 Uses high-pressure blasting with fine media to create a smooth, matte surface. Ideal for achieving a uniform finish and removing minor imperfections.

Chemical Cleaning (Pickling)
pf 0812 partscleaning ultrasoniccleaning ultrasoniccleaningfor d

Removes oxidation, scale, and surface contaminants to restore and prepare metal surfaces after cutting.

Brushing
untitled design (12)

 Applies a uniform, subtle texture using abrasive brushes for an attractive and tactile surface.

Polishing
untitled design (14)

Mechanically smooths surfaces to achieve a high-gloss, reflective finish—ideal for decorative or consumer-facing parts.

Tumbling
untitled design (15)

Smooths and rounds edges of small parts by vibrating them with abrasive media, improving finish and handling safety.

Powder Coating
untitled design (13)

Applies a durable, protective coating that improves corrosion resistance and allows for various color options. Perfect for functional and aesthetic applications.

Anodizing
image no 2 1

 Adds a corrosion-resistant oxide layer to aluminum parts and enables a range of color options for both protection and aesthetics.

Connect With Us

Transform Concepts into Precision Parts

We specialize in converting your ideas into high-quality, functional components with unparalleled speed and accuracy. With advanced technology and expert craftsmanship, we create parts that meet the most complex specifications.

Get In Touch With Us!
Prompt response guaranteed within 12 hours
🔐 All uploads are secure and confidential

What Technologies Are Used in Waterjet Cutting?

Modern waterjet cutting relies on advanced systems that combine mechanical force, digital control, and material science for consistent, high-quality results. 

Here’re the key technologies include:

Pure Waterjet Technology

Pure waterjet cutting uses only a pressurized stream of water, making it perfect for softer materials like rubber, foam, textiles, and plastics. With pressures reaching up to 60,000 PSI, it offers precision without material warping.

Abrasive Waterjet Technology

For harder materials such as metals, ceramics, composites, and stone-abrasive waterjet technology is used. Fine garnet particles are mixed with the water stream, enabling the cut to penetrate materials over 200 mm thick while maintaining excellent edge quality.

CNC-Controlled Waterjet Systems

State-of-the-art CNC (Computer Numerical Control) technology drives the cutting head with micron-level accuracy. This ensures consistent shapes, intricate detailing, and repeatability critical for industries like aerospace, automotive, and architectural fabrication.

Multi-Head Cutting Systems

For high-volume orders, multi-head waterjet machines allow simultaneous cutting of identical parts, dramatically reducing production time while maintaining uniform quality.

Dynamic Waterjet Technology

Dynamic waterjet systems adjust for stream lag and taper, achieving sharp, vertical edges in thick materials and reducing the need for additional finishing.

What Are The Perks of Using Waterjet Cutting?

From flawless edges to unmatched material versatility, waterjet cutting offers precision and performance that elevate every project.

No Heat-Affected Zones (HAZ)

Unlike laser or plasma cutting, waterjet cutting is a cold-cutting process. It prevents heat distortion, making it ideal for temperature-sensitive materials such as aluminum alloys, tempered glass, and specialty plastics.

Works with Virtually Any Material

From delicate fabrics to reinforced steel, waterjet cutting can handle over 1,200 different materials, including composites, ceramics, titanium, and marble. This makes it one of the most versatile cutting technologies available today.

Exceptional Precision and Edge Quality

With tolerances as tight as ±0.1 mm, waterjet cutting delivers smooth, burr-free edges, reducing or eliminating the need for secondary machining. This saves both time and money.

Eco-Friendly and Material-Efficient

Waterjet cutting produces no hazardous fumes, reduces scrap waste, and allows nesting of parts to maximize raw material usage—often achieving up to 30% material savings compared to traditional cutting methods.

Cost-Effective for Prototyping and Production

If you need a single prototype or thousands of identical parts, waterjet cutting adapts seamlessly. Its quick setup and minimal tooling requirements make it ideal for rapid iterations and urgent production runs.

Yicen Machining Solutions

Whether you’re creating a small batch of custom parts or scaling up for high-volume production, Yicen machining services offer the flexibility you need.
CNC Milling
Rapid Prototyping

CNC rapid prototype machining is perfect for creating engineering or production prototypes that closely resemble the final product in both appearance and functionality. At Yicen, we offer instant quotes and fast delivery, providing you with precise, high-quality CNC machined prototypes for your needs.

CNC Milling
Low Volume Manufacturing

Low volume CNC machining often acts as a bridge between prototyping and mass production for new and emerging production. With Yicen, this process becomes easier, more efficient, and cost-effective, allowing you to scale production quickly while maintaining high-quality standards.

CNC Milling
End-use Production

CNC production machining is the best solution for producing a thousand parts or more efficiently. Leveraging a diverse selection of materials and automation and multi-axis capabilities, Yicen delivers high-volume production with tight tolerances, superior dimensional accuracy, high reliability and fast turnaround times.

Insights & Articles

Explore Machining services blog for expert insights on CNC machining, industry trends, manufacturing tips, and technology updates—designed to keep you informed, inspired, and ahead in precision engineering.

Frequently Asked Questions

Waterjet Cutting

  • How do I get a quote for water jet cutting at Yicen Precision?

    To receive a quote for water jet cutting, simply upload your design files, such as STL or DXF formats, along with material preferences, thicknesses, and part quantities. Our team will assess your design and provide a detailed quote based on your project requirements. We ensure transparent pricing and offer tailored solutions for your specific needs, making sure to meet both your budget and timeline.
     

  • What are the limitations of water jet cutting?

    While water jet cutting is highly versatile, it does have some limitations. It is generally slower than methods like laser cutting, especially for thinner materials. Additionally, the precision may decrease slightly when cutting very thin or intricate parts due to the jet stream’s width. Water jet cutting also requires careful management of material thickness to avoid over-cutting or under-cutting, and abrasive materials can increase wear on the cutting nozzles over time.
     

  • What is the maximum size of parts that can be cut with a water jet?

    At Yicen Precision, our water jet cutting equipment can accommodate large sheets of material, with a cutting bed size of up to 12 feet by 6 feet (3.7 meters by 1.8 meters). This large cutting area allows us to handle both small and large parts, ensuring that we can meet a wide variety of production needs, from custom prototypes to large-scale manufacturing runs.
     

  • What are the environmental benefits of water jet cutting?

    Water jet cutting is an environmentally friendly process as it uses water to cut materials, generating minimal waste and no hazardous fumes or gases. It also eliminates the need for harmful chemicals or coolants, making it a safe and sustainable option. The process is efficient in terms of material usage, as it can produce parts with minimal material waste, which reduces the overall environmental impact of production.
     

  • What is the edge quality of parts produced by water jet cutting?

    Water jet cutting produces a smooth, clean edge with minimal burr formation, which is ideal for applications where a high-quality finish is required. The absence of heat distortion ensures that the material properties remain unchanged, providing excellent results for parts that require tight tolerances and high-quality surfaces. Additionally, water jet cutting can eliminate the need for secondary finishing processes.
     

  • Can water jet cutting be used for intricate designs?

    Yes, water jet cutting is ideal for producing intricate and detailed designs. The fine stream of water can cut complex shapes and patterns with high precision. Whether your project requires small, delicate features or larger, more detailed designs, water jet cutting offers the flexibility to handle both, making it an excellent choice for prototypes, custom parts, and artistic projects.
     

  • What is the maximum thickness of material you can cut with a water jet?

    The maximum thickness we can cut with a water jet depends on the material being used. For metals, we can cut up to 6 inches (150 mm) thick, while for softer materials such as foam or rubber, we can handle even greater thicknesses. The versatility of water jet cutting allows us to cater to projects requiring both thin and thick material cuts with high precision.
     

  • What is the accuracy of water jet cutting at Yicen Precision?

    At Yicen Precision, our water jet cutting service is capable of achieving high precision, with tolerances as tight as ±0.003 inches (0.076 mm). This level of accuracy makes it ideal for complex and detailed cuts, ensuring your parts meet exact specifications. Water jet cutting also produces smooth, burr-free edges, which is essential for applications requiring high-quality finishes.
     

  • How fast is the water jet cutting process?

    The speed of water jet cutting depends on factors such as material thickness, part complexity, and the required precision. Generally, water jet cutting is faster than traditional methods like machining, but may be slower than laser cutting, especially for thin materials. However, the process does not require post-processing, such as deburring, which can save time in the overall production process.
     

en_USEnglish
Get In Touch With Us!
Prompt response guaranteed within 12 hours
🔐 All uploads are secure and confidential