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Overview
Features / Benefits
Specifications
Materials Cut
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Materials Cut

Materials and thickness

To date, the most profitable precision applications involve metals such as aluminum, tool steel, stainless steel, mild steel and titanium in thicknesses up to about 1" (2.5 cm). These materials are widely used and found in many engineering applications. They are also very straightforward to machine on a PC-controlled precision abrasivejet system, and part tolerances of ±0.005" (±0.1 mm) with good surface finishes are readily attained.

An abrasivejet can make almost any two-dimensional shape imaginable - quickly and accurately - in material less than 1" (25 mm) thick. The only limitation comes from the fact that the minimum inside radius in a corner is equal to 1/2 the diameter of the jet, or about 0.015" (0.4 mm) or 0.010" (0.25 mm) with the OMAX Mini-Jet nozzle.

Aluminum

Aluminum is a light weight but strong metal used in a wide variety of applications. Aluminum is a relatively soft metal and is easily machined on the OMAX JetMachining Center. Generally speaking, it machines at about twice the speed as mild steel, making it an especially profitable application for the OMAX.

Aluminum is difficult to machine on a laser in thicknesses over 1⁄4" (0.6 cm). Many precision abrasivejet machines are being purchased by laser shops specifically for machining aluminum. Aluminum is often called the "bread and butter" of the abrasivejet industry because it cuts so easily.

Ceramics

Ceramics are made by heating up minerals to a high temperature. Traditionally, ceramics have been made from clay, but modern ceramics are made from substances such as alumina and from synthetic materials. Ceramics are electrical insulators and resist corrosion.

Composites

Composites are similar to fiberglass and consist of layers of material. Abrasivejets can machine composites without leaving a burr or shredding the layers of material, while maintaining a better edge quality.

Copper

Machining copper can be challenging, but abrasivejet systems make cutting copper easy. Copper is impossible to cut on a laser due to reflection. It is also difficult to machine conventionally, because it tends to gum up conventional cutting tools. Abrasivejets are the clear choice for copper.

Exotic Alloys

OMAX JetMachining centers can machine many different materials with ease. This includes all sorts of exotic materials that might otherwise be quite difficult to machine such as Inconel®, Hastalloy, hardened tool steel, titanium, and many other materials.

Glass

Glass is a unique substance that was traditionally been difficult to machine. Although it has a great deal of structural strength, even small scratches on the surface can lead to breaking and shearing.

Hardened Tool Steel

Tool steel is difficult to machine conventionally, particularly once it's hardened, but is fairly easy to machine on an abrasivejet system. With an OMAX, you can harden the steel before or after cutting. Steel hardness has only a minor effect on the rate at which it can be machined with an abrasivejet.

Rubber

Rubber can be cut with a water-only nozzle for faster and cleaner cutting, though some very hard rubbers may require abrasive. Water-only cutting wastes little material, is quieter and increases the nozzle life. Water-only cutting also proceeds very quickly at speeds of 100 inches per minute or faster.

Stainless Steel

Stainless steel is steel mixed with various amounts of chromium, which adds rust and stain resistance to the steel. Stainless steel machines easily with the OMAX® without heat or distortion. All grades of stainless steel machine easily on the OMAX, even those such as 304 that are difficult to machine with other processes.

Steel

Steel is a very common material, is relatively easy to cut, and the OMAX® will cut all grades of steel.
One advantage of the OMAX is that you can cut steel after it has been hardened with minimal slow-down of cutting. The lack of heat affected zone from the abrasivejet means that you do not change the heat treatment of the steel as you cut it. The OMAX also produces a smooth cut on the edge without burn marks, cracking, excess burr, or other problems typically associated with heat-based cutting.

Stone

OMAX® JetMachining® Centers can also be used to create designs from stone such as marble and granite. This can be done faster, and with a greater level of detail than traditional methods of working with these materials.

Titanium

Titanium is a lightweight, strong metal that is corrosion resistant. Titanium is as strong as steel, but only 45% as heavy. It is also frequently used in combination with other metals.
Titanium is difficult to machine conventionally and susceptible to the Heat Affected Zone associated with laser and wire EDM. Titanium cuts very well using a precision abrasivejet.
Titanium cuts faster than steel on the OMAX. One of the huge advantages of cutting titanium with an OMAX is that you can save a lot of material. Typically, you can fit additional parts in a given piece of material, and the scrap that is left over is in chunks, instead of chips, meaning that it is still useful material. Since titanium is extremely expensive, this is a big advantage.

Wood

It's hard to beat a simple jigsaw, but some precision abrasivejet systems are being used to cut wood, typically for special intricate shapes and only after delivering a return on investment via metal parts production.