Vloeistofstralen

Vloeistofstralen, also known as waterjet cutting, is an industrial process that uses a high-pressure jet of water to cut a wide variety of materials. The water is pressurized to extremely high levels, typically between 30,000 and 60,000 psi, and then forced through a tiny nozzle, often made of diamond or sapphire. This creates a thin, high-velocity stream of water capable of cutting through materials such as metal, stone, glass, plastic, and composites.

There are two main types of vloeistofstralen: pure waterjet cutting and abrasive waterjet cutting. Pure waterjet cutting is best suited for soft materials like rubber, foam, and certain plastics, as the high-pressure water alone is sufficient to erode and cut them. For harder materials, an abrasive substance, usually sand or aluminum oxide, is mixed with the water jet. This abrasive slurry significantly increases the cutting power, allowing for the precise and efficient machining of even the toughest materials.

The advantages of vloeistofstralen include its ability to cut complex shapes with high precision, its lack of heat-affected zones (meaning the material's properties are not altered by heat), and its environmentally friendly nature as it uses water as the primary cutting medium. It is widely used in industries such as aerospace, automotive, manufacturing, and stone fabrication for applications ranging from intricate part manufacturing to creating decorative designs. The process is also known for its relatively quiet operation compared to other cutting methods.