How to Cut Composites on an OMAX Waterjet
Composite materials have become increasingly common across manufacturing, aerospace, electrical, marine, and industrial applications. Materials such as G10, Glastic, and phenolic offer excellent strength, durability, and insulating properties, making them valuable for a wide range of applications. However, they can also present challenges when it comes to fabrication.
Many traditional cutting methods require specialized tooling, material-specific setups, or additional machine adjustments to process composites effectively. That can increase setup time, create workflow disruptions, and make it more difficult to move efficiently between jobs.
An OMAX waterjet offers a simpler approach.
Because abrasive waterjet technology can cut virtually any material, operators can move from metals and plastics to composites and laminates without changing cutting heads or reconfiguring the machine. This flexibility makes waterjet technology an ideal solution for manufacturers that regularly process multiple material types throughout the day.
Why Composites Can Be Challenging to Cut
Composite and laminate materials are designed to provide unique performance characteristics, but those same characteristics can create challenges during fabrication.
Manufacturers often need to process materials such as G10, Glastic, and phenolic into precise shapes while maintaining dimensional accuracy and consistent quality. Depending on the cutting method being used, this may require special tooling, additional setup procedures, or machine adjustments specific to the material.
When shops process multiple material types, constantly changing tooling or machine configurations can reduce productivity and increase complexity.
That is where waterjet technology offers a significant advantage.
Load the Material and Start Cutting
One of the biggest benefits of an OMAX waterjet is its simplicity.
Instead of changing tooling to match specific materials, operators can load the composite material onto the cutting table, select the appropriate cutting parameters, and begin production. The same cutting head used to process steel, aluminum, plastics, rubber, and other materials can also cut composites and laminates.
This eliminates many of the setup steps that are traditionally associated with material changes.
For manufacturers processing a variety of jobs throughout the day, reducing setup time helps keep production moving and improves overall machine utilization.
Cut G10, Glastic, and Phenolic with the Same Machine
Many shops work with multiple composite materials, each requiring different finished parts and applications.
G10 is commonly used for electrical insulation and structural applications. Glastic is frequently selected for demanding industrial environments. Phenolic materials are widely used where durability and insulating properties are required.
With an OMAX waterjet, operators do not need separate machines or cutting systems to process these materials. The same waterjet can handle a wide variety of composites and laminates using a consistent workflow.
This simplifies training, standardizes operation, and makes it easier to move between jobs without unnecessary interruptions.
Reduce Setup Time and Improve Productivity
Every setup change has an impact on productivity.
When a machine requires different tooling, extensive adjustments, or specialized configurations, valuable production time is lost. By eliminating many of those requirements, waterjet technology helps simplify the cutting process.
Instead of focusing on tooling changes, operators can focus on processing parts. The ability to quickly transition between metals, plastics, composites, and laminates creates a more flexible manufacturing environment and helps maximize machine utilization.
For job shops and manufacturers that process a variety of materials, this flexibility can become a major competitive advantage.
Achieve Clean, Consistent Results
Manufacturers need more than convenience. They also need reliable results.
OMAX waterjets provide a consistent process for cutting composites and laminates while simplifying operation. Operators can use the same cutting system across multiple material types without sacrificing accuracy or productivity.
The result is a cutting solution that helps manufacturers reduce setup time, simplify material transitions, and maintain a more efficient workflow.
If your operation regularly processes G10, Glastic, phenolic, or other composite materials, an OMAX waterjet can help streamline production while delivering the clean and consistent results manufacturers depend on.