Water Jet Cutter easily selfmade

[empe]

Hello,

I'm collecting information on how to easily build a water jet cutter on my own. I've searched the web but not found anyone who has already accomplished such a project.

I do a lot of model engineering in my free time and need it to cut 2 mm brass and wood up to about 10mm.

Does anybody of you know of websites describing technical details of water jet cutters, especially the high pressure pump or any persons who made such a thing on their own?

Any hints and answers are greatly appreciated.

TIA,

~empe

 

[pablo02]

The person I know who designed a water-cutter on their own sold out a long time ago to Ingersol-Rand who now operates the facility near Joplin, Missouri -- it's become a BIG business... see:

http://www.waterjets.org/index.html

 

[unclesyd]

The website give by pablo2 is a good one. I haven't gone completely through it and don't know whether there is much mention of safety or not. Safety should be the primary concern in design and operation of a high pressure water jet system no matter it's end use.
I've seen 6 accidents with high pressure cleaning and cutting systems though no deaths they were all debilitating injuries. One person lost his arm due the injection of oil from an intensifier hydraulic hose. The others were injection of water into an arm or leg. Four of these were operator problems and fifth was a hose failure.

No matter what you design or build in the way of a high pressure water system always consider safety, both your and the operators.

 

[automationbabe]

You're not going to find much about this subject. Waterjet is highly competative and tight lipped. Used to work for one manufacturer of them. Excellant technology.

Safety is an issue that should be warrented though. It took years to develop, and to get the materials you need to make your own...you may as well go buy one.

You could also look to jobshops with waterjets and send batch jobs there. The material you mentioned is quick to jet and wouldn't take much time.

Check out

http://www.omax.com

and

http://www.flowcorp.com.

2 largest competitors I know of, and the samples are impressive. They also list local shops. They also have a number of other useful links.

I don't recommend building your own however. It will cause all the damage as previously mentioned, not to mention a lot more if your matierial and construction is not up to par.

 

[Executnr]

You would be better off finding one used for sale. It is unlikely you can economicly make nozzles and orifaces, and the intensifier is simple but would still need quite a bit of work to make (cylinders, hydraulics, controls, and check valves). You could build the robot easily enough but I think you can buy what you are looking for cheaper than you can build it yourself.

Take a look at

http://www.advancedcuttingtech.com

if you need some work done. (I have done work for him in the past but am no longer doing regular contract work right now) Also, he has one of the few (if not the only) 5-axis machines between Minnesota and Utah.

Good Luck
Wayne Soule
KS Desgin llc

http://www.ksdesignllc.com