Waterjets Used in Testing Industry | Abrasive WaterJet Cutting Machine

Testing Industry

When proving that quality matters, choosing the right testing tools can be the determining factor in an accurate representation. Fast, safe, and easy-to-use, OMAX abrasive waterjets are ideal for all types of metallurgy and composite material testing. Efficiently produce testing coupons on your own schedule. OMAX machines are the quickest, least-intrusive method of sample cutting available.

Testing Process Improvement

By cutting coupons on a waterjet, some manufactures are seeing up to nine times faster preparation speed. One company previously used four CNC machines to produce dog bone coupons for ASTM E8 tensile testing. The company required seven coupons for every heat-treated lot, and the preparation process took more than 45 minutes per coupon. Delays in testing time impacted part shipments to customers or rework based on non-conforming product lots. The company switched preparation methods to abrasive waterjet where they were able to cut parts ready for testing in about five minutes. Similar applications for cutting coupons on a waterjet are ASTM E9-19 compression testing, destructive testing, and cast porosity verification.

Premium waterjet software typically comes with standard ASTM shapes for quick test prep

Waterjet Advantages in Testing

When cutting any type of metal coupon, traditional CNC machines impart heat and add oil or coolant as well as leave burrs. Cutting with laser, plasma, EDM, or traditional saws all impart some level of heat that will need to be dealt with in a secondary process in addition to leaving slag or chatter marks. ASTM standards require specimens for testing should be “free of cold work, notches, chatter marks, grooves, gouges, burrs, rough surfaces or edges, overheating or any other condition which can deleteriously affect the properties to be measured.” Using a waterjet does not impart any heat, meaning no additional processes needed. Cutting material on a waterjet with a slow speed can ensure a smooth finish for your testing specimen. Ultimately this means that the test sample will be truthful to the original material, eliminating doubt in the testing process.