Water Jet Cutting
We realise how important it is currently to supply the raw material to our customers in a form which is closest to their finished part form. (N.T.S. - Near Net Shape/Near to Size). No heat affected zone on cut profiles.
During May 1997, the first of our two T11 water-jet CNC machines was delivered. Since then, we have rapidly grown to understand and master water-jet cutting to the point where we are now recognised as one of the best cutters in the UK.
We have developed our skills and knowledge to create a database of cutting speeds and techniques over a large range of materials and sizes and we are now able to apply this information to on-going and future work. Our understanding of how the water-jet performs whilst cutting enables us to relay information to our customers during the profiling design stages, thereby ensuring the best cost-effective result.
Our confidence in ourselves and in the machinery we use is such that we have successfully undertaken work which other companies would not even consider, utilising the water-jet to the limit and accurately cutting titanium, steel and aluminium alloys up to and beyond 100mm thick. In addition, we have developed our programming and computer skills to maximise the capability of the machines. Profiles can be produced from a wide variety of media – including dimensional drawings. AutoCAD, DXF files and templates – and digitising facilities are used to create cutting programmes from piece parts. We have also developed the nesting capabilities of the computer and our own manual programming, which allows us to nest multiple profiles in single cycles and results in enhanced machine utilisation and a further reduction in costs.
The second water-jet machine was delivered in June 1998 and was in production by September. This is providing further processing flexibility, additional manufacturing capacity, and enables us to concentrate on new development programmes to meet the ever-changing needs of our customers.