Choosing the right waterjet cutting company is paramount when embarking on a project that requires precision cutting of various materials. Factors like experience, capabilities, customer service, quality, and turnaround time need careful consideration. With incredible versatility across industries, waterjet technology has many commercial and industrial applications.
However, not all waterjet companies are equal in their ability to deliver a professional, high-performance solution tailored to your specific needs. Fortunately, this guide will outline some key things you must evaluate to ensure you make an informed choice when selecting the right waterjet cutting services and feel confident your project will be completed efficiently and as specified.
Essential Considerations When Choosing a Waterjet Cutting Service
A waterjet cutting system utilizes a fine jet of water at extremely high pressure to accurately cut through materials often too hard or delicate for a laser. Unfortunately, not all waterjet cutting services near you produce the same consistency and quality. Therefore, it’s fundamental to consider some elements before settling for one.
That said, below are some vital considerations to help you choose the right waterjet cutting company:
Registered Quality System
Stringent industries, such as the aerospace and medical industries, need accurate and precise waterjet cutting services with superior quality control. As such, you must choose a waterjet cutting company that has a registered quality system and is certified to produce or deliver outstanding outcomes.
Examples of quality systems include:
AS9100D
ISO 9001:2015
ISO 13485:2016
The Number of Machines They Use
For large-volume orders, looking for a waterjet cutting service with multiple machines is best, as it gives clients peace of mind that they can efficiently handle your requirements. It also ensures a backup plan is available in case of any machine failure, minimizing downtime and delays.
Timely Quotes
You should consider working with a waterjet cutting company that can provide timely quotes to prevent delays in your project’s planning and execution. A reputable company can quickly offer quotes based on your specifications.
If a company fails to provide a quote within the day, it indicates poor time management and customer service. A professional company will ensure you have the quotes you need within the day – most companies can even give the quotes within an hour!
Material Versatility
A part of ensuring your project’s success is selecting a waterjet cutting service with experience working with a wide range of materials. This versatility indicates their knowledge and expertise in handling materials with varying properties, making them the ideal choice for your project. Furthermore, most companies should also source materials from certified and trusted suppliers, saving you time and effort to find top-grade and suitable materials for your application.
Give Professional Advice
Tolerance and edge finish are fundamental in any application, and a professional waterjet cutting company should be able to advise you on the best way to achieve it. If there is a more cost-effective or efficient method, they should inform and guide you through the process.
The importance of tolerance and finish:
Tolerance refers to the margin of error allowed in the cutting process. The tighter the tolerance, the more precise and accurate the cut.
Edge finish is how smooth or rough the edges are after the cutting process. It’s vital for applications that require a clean and polished finish.
Fast cutting speed can negatively impact the tolerance and finish of your part or component.
It’s also your job to ask their tolerance limits and the edge finish you can expect from them. Otherwise, you won’t determine if they can meet your specifications. Moreover, a professional company should also be able to provide samples of their previous work for you to judge their quality.
Only Choose Expert Waterjet Cutting Services from Pioneers
Have you been searching for professional waterjet cutting services near you? Take advantage of the abovementioned factors to find a reputable company that can improve your bottom line, such as South Shore Manufacturing. We’re leaders in precision waterjet cutting, offering exceptional quality and timely delivery. With our state-of-the-art technology and experienced team, we can handle projects, big or small.
Contact us today to learn more about our waterjet cutting services. You can also request a quote, and we’ll find a cost-effective solution tailored to your project’s needs!
Waterjet cutting is a manufacturing process where highly pressurized water is fired through a ruby or diamond nozzle into a mixing chamber. The pressure makes a vacuum and pulls garnet sand into the stream, which is then shot at the object being cut. The sand particles wear down, or cut, the material. Waterjet cutting is used globally for a range of applications, allowing machinists everywhere to cut many different materials with precision.
At South Shore Manufacturing, we offer waterjet cutting services for the production of parts from prototype to high volume. Since 1985, we have specialized in precision machining and have the experience and knowledge to handle your most technical and challenging jobs. Continue reading to learn more about waterjet cutting and how it works.
What Is a Waterjet Cutter?
A water jet cutter is an industrial machine that fires a high-pressure stream of water to erode a narrow line within a piece of material. Depending on the material’s density and compound, a granular abrasive is added to the waterjet to increase the cutting power. Listed below are some of the main components of a standard waterjet cutter.
Waterjet Nozzle: The cutting nozzle uses a mixing chamber and a tube to allow for the abrasive to carefully mix in with the high-pressure water so that efficient cutting can take place.
Water Pump: The pump provides an extremely measured control of pressure to provide water for the cutting process.
Catcher Tank: The catcher tank eliminates the pressure from the abrasive jet after it has passed through the material being cut.
Controller: This allows you to control the position and motion of the nozzle to ensure precision cuts.
Table: The table is a sturdy, ruggedized platform made of mild steel that is built to last and can often be replaced if needed.
How Does Waterjet Cutting Work?
As previously mentioned, water jet cutting is a manufacturing process where highly pressurized water and garnet sand is fired at a material to create precision edges. This is known as an accelerated erosion process. By firing a stream of and highly pressured water, the water jet cutter erodes the material into a desired shape.
Machinists use an ultra-high pressure pump to pressurize water to levels generally above 40,000 psi, producing enough energy to cut the material. The water is then focused through a small stone to create a highly pressurized stream of water.
What Are the Benefits of Waterjet Cutting?
Water jet cutting provides manufacturers with versatility and flexibility that is unmatched. The variety of benefits linked to water jet cutting is what sets this technology apart from competitors like laser and saw cutting.
Edge Quality
Water jet cutting delivers unmatched edge quality due to factors like water speed, pressure, nozzle size, and abrasive flow rate. This often eliminates the need for secondary finishing, saving time, cost, and enhancing production efficiency.
Efficient & Cost Effective
Water jet cutting stands out as a cost-effective option because it’s a cold cutting process. Unlike hot cutting techniques that risk warping parts, waterjet’s cold cutting minimizes material waste. The process also enhances workshop efficiency by requiring minimal edge treatment or secondary finishing, allowing you to move on to the next project while others refine their edges.
Accurate Internal Cut-outs
With cutting accuracy ranging from ±0.1 to ±0.2mm, waterjet cutting excels in internal cutouts. The water jet cutting process effortlessly produces artwork, custom patterns, unique designs, and logos, offering businesses the capacity to enhance customer service.
No Heat Affected Zones
Manufacturers grappled with heat distortion and hardened edges before the advent of water jet cutting. Previous cutting methods, generating high heat, posed substantial issues for workshops. Heat zones within materials caused structural changes, resulting in problems like warping, inaccurate cuts, or weak points. Water jet cutting, with its cold cutting process, now offers a solution, eliminating these issues for workshops.
Choose South Shore Manufacturing For Precision Waterjet Cutting Services
Patient lives and well-being depend on high-quality and reliable medical equipment. Advanced medical device manufacturers comply with high standards and have no margin for error when machining medical components. Manufacturers rely on medical machining, a type of CNC machining for medical devices that can produce micro-medical components and parts. However, small-scale and micro-machining can challenge medical manufacturers’ machining capabilities.
Micro medical components depend on agile development with multiple revisions, requiring a machining method that can create complex components in numerous small batches. Machine shops rely on FDA-approved medical manufacturing machines to manufacture medical devices. Understanding the benefits of wire EDM machining will help determine if wire EDM services are the right solution for your medical device manufacturing requirements.
Why Choose Wire Electrical Discharge Machining Services for Your Medical Solutions?
Medical device manufacturers rely on machining processes that provide speed and consistency, tight tolerances, a clean surface, and material compatibility. Wire EDM services offer several benefits to manufacturers that other machining methods cannot.
Surface Cleanliness
EDM cutting services provide a clean surface that offers the following benefits for medical manufacturing:
Wire EDM delivers surface cleanliness that is critical for surgical tools and implants.
Wire EDM minimizes pollution from back-plating wire-cutting material onto the surface.
Wire EDM Does not rely on oil and coolants like milling, reducing the cleaning process after manufacturing.
Material Capability
Wire EDM offers excellent material capability, providing the following advantages for medical device manufacturers:
Titanium and stainless steel, commonly used in medical components, are ideal for wire EDM services.
Wire EDM can cut materials with various hardnesses, including hardened materials that many machining processes cannot.
Wire EDM can cut any material that conducts electricity.
Tight Tolerances
Medical equipment relies on the tight tolerances provided by wire EDM and its benefits, including:
Manufacturers can use wire EDM cutting to produce micro parts for non-invasive surgical tools that grinding and milling cannot.
Twin-wire EDM allows manufacturers to quickly create micro parts without an operator’s attention by automatically switching between small and large-diameter wires.
Speed & Consistency
The speed and consistency of wire EDM-cutting services provide the following benefits to medical device manufacturers:
Wire EDM-manufactured components are naturally smooth with clean edges.
Secondary services, such as deburring, polishing, and tooling, are not required.
Wire EDM produces a consistent instrument, such as scalpels, so a surgeon feels no distinguishable difference between each instrument or batch.
The EDM wire continuously replenishes its cutting surface, providing part consistency that exceeds tolerance in every part produced.
Wire EDM cutting is precise every time. It does not rely on tools that eventually wear down and provide less precise cutting.
Consider Our Wire Electrical Discharge Machining Medical Solutions at South Shore Manufacturing
The medical industry depends on high-quality, replicable, and quickly produced small components and tools. Wire EDM cutting is an ideal option for manufacturing medical devices and equipment, especially small and micro-sized components. It provides a clean surface and tight tolerances without any secondary services. Wire EDM cutting has a wide range of material compatibility and produces components with high consistency and speed.
South Shore Manufacturing provides production wire EDM services with a broad range of capabilities. Our wired EDM services are a solution for various applications and industries, including producing medical devices. South Shore Machining has more than 36 years of experience providing manufacturing services with precision, skill, and accuracy. We maintain an ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 13485:2016 certification to produce quality medical devices and offer a fast turnaround and on-time delivery. Contact us or request a quote to learn more about our manufacturing services.
There are many techniques, technologies, and methods for cutting and shaping components during manufacturing, and many of these methods utilize similar functions to create components. These similarities can make it challenging to determine which technique is best suited for your particular application. For example, wire EDM cutting and laser cutting are very similar in that they use localized thermal technology to create highly precise cuts into workpieces for shaping and adding features.
Both EDM cutting and laser cutting machines offer fine-tuned control making them good choices for any project that requires tight tolerances, especially if the workpiece can’t be subjected to the stress caused by mechanical cutting tools. However, there are distinct differences in functionality that make each method better suited for different applications.
What are EDM Cutting and Laser Cutting?
Both EDM cutting and laser cutting allow for manually operated or CNC machining cutting processes that remove excess material from workpieces. While they can achieve similar results, the processes are different.
EDM Cutting
Electrical discharge machining (EDM) is a subtractive machining method that implements heat produced by an electrically charged cutting tool to cut the workpiece. An electrode made from a conductive material such as brass, copper, graphite, or tungsten — or alloys composed of these materials — is situated at the top of the tool and generates high-frequency electrical sparks that make contact with the substrate and disintegrate it in a localized path. This method is intended for use on electrically conductive substrates such as titanium, copper, and steel.
Laser Cutting
Rather than using direct electrical current, laser cutting tools generate a strong beam of light, the laser, that the operator or automated machine directs across the surface of the workpiece in a fixed pattern to cut the workpiece into the desired shape. It allows for the continuous removal of excess material while preserving the structural integrity of the remaining material, making it ideal for cutting brittle materials.
Advantages of EDM Cutting and Laser Cutting
Both laser cutting and EDM cutting processes have important advantages over water-based and mechanical cutting processes, such as their extreme precision. Both cutting methods also leave the cut edge free of burrs and sharp fragments, removing the need for additional finishing processes. However, EDM cutting and last cutting also have their unique advantages.
Advantages of EDM Cutting
EDM cutting is extremely precise, with the ability to meet specifications of +/- 0.0001, even when cutting highly intricate or thin-walled components. EDM processes won’t distort or bend the material like many mechanical tools because it’s a non-contact process that doesn’t put any pressure on the workpiece. This process is extremely versatile, and it can machine workpieces made from a wide range of materials, including Hastelloy, Nimonic, Nitralloy, Stellite, Tungsten Carbide, Waspalloy, and more.
Advantages of Laser Cutting
Laser cutting is also extremely versatile and can achieve excellent results with virtually any material. This cutting process is very energy-efficient. Because CNC machines and programmable laser tools can be entirely automated, this cutting process is also cost-effective and fast.
EDM Cutting and Laser Cutting Industries and Applications
Both cutting processes are used to create precision components for use in a wide array of industrial applications. EDM cutting is a popular choice for manufacturing products used in the following industries and applications:
Aerospace
Firearms
Medical devices
Prototype manufacturing
Laser cutting is commonly used to produce goods for the following industries:
Aerospace
Automotive
Electronics
Medical
Wire EDM and Laser Cutting Services From South Shore Manufacturing
Whether your project requires precision wire EDM cutting or precision laser cutting services, South Shore Manufacturing is here to complete the job. Our company is ISO 13485:2016, ISO 9001:2015, and AS9100D certified, and we maintain a federal firearm license for manufacturing firearm components. Contact us today to learn more about our cutting and manufacturing capabilities or request a quote to start your order.
Electrical discharge machining, or EDM, is a precision manufacturing technique that uses electricity to shape metal workpieces. This method uses brass wire to create sparks that vaporize the metal they contact. In wire EDM, the electrode is a length of thin single-strand wire that, when applied continuously, generates clean cuts with a smooth, high-quality surface finish.
Because it relies on electricity, wire EDM can only be used on conductive metals like titanium, steel, aluminum, and copper. This method is ideal for materials that are challenging to cut using conventional methods. These materials include components with intricate details such as tight slots or inside corners with small radii. Wire EDM is also the preferred method to machine high rockwell hardness metals, which are otherwise slow and expensive to process.
What Is Wire Electrical Discharge Machining Metal Cutting?
Wire EDM cutting is a subtype of electrical discharge machining that uses a fine metal wire to cut conductive metals. The process takes place in a specialized machine that keeps the wire and the workpiece submerged in deionized water. This fluid serves as insulation to prevent premature discharge, clear debris, and cool the wire and workpiece.
During cutting, the electrified, CNC-controlled wire approaches the workpiece until it generates a spark. These controlled sparks can produce temperatures between 8,000 and 12,000 °C, which vaporizes and disperse the material into the surrounding fluid. The discharge process repeats until the desired cuts are achieved. Since these sparks also slowly erode the wire, the EDM machine constantly unspools fresh wire during operation.
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Applications of Electrical Discharge Machining Wire Cutting
Wire EDM cutting only works with conductive materials such as steel and copper. (If the wire were to approach a non-conductive metal, there would be no electrical discharge to melt the material.) This process is highly versatile—it can be used to machine pieces ranging from small and delicate to large and very hard. EDM helps achieve manufacturing goals such as:
Parts requiring the best possible surface finish
Narrow slots or complicated features
Shaping hard, fragile, or expensive metals
Large or thick components with tight tolerance requirements down to ± 0.0001”
Wire EDM is well known for creating even, sometimes mirror-like surface finishes. These results are possible because the process involves eroding rather than cutting the metal.
With conventional cutting, hard materials generate so much friction that they require slow passes with special cutting tools. Similarly, brittle materials often lose material in uneven flakes that must later be smoothed with a grinder.
With wire EDM, sparks remove material without direct contact, friction, or directionality. This avoids creating a lay or warping the metal, and material hardness or brittleness does not affect the final results. By avoiding contact with the material, wire EDM can quickly and effectively achieve superior surface finishes regardless of the metal’s physical properties, thus reducing the need for secondary processing.
How Manufacturers Achieve an Ideal Surface Finish with Wire Electrical Discharge Machining
To achieve the most precise surface finish, manufacturers cut materials in multiple stages. The first rough cut uses a highly charged electrode to remove a large amount of material and establish the general shape of the component. Then, with each subsequent pass, the voltage is modified to remove less and less material, refining the surface to remove any imperfections from the initial passes. The amount removed depends on the wire’s thickness and charge, but the most precise passes can remove as little as 0.0001” of metal. Eroding the material in this progressive manner eliminates the irregularities associated with other cutting methods so that components are ready to ship without additional grinding, polishing, or deburring.
At South Shore Manufacturing, we use these techniques to achieve surface finishes as smooth as 8 μin. Metals we work with include stainless steel, titanium, Inconel®, Monel®, platinum, silver, gold, aluminum, and more.
Benefits of Wire EDM Metal Cutting
Surface finish is a critical concern for many manufacturers. Irregularities on a component’s surface generate unnecessary friction and make the component more prone to wear. A smooth surface finish not only looks better, but it also performs better while protecting nearby components from damage. Wire EDM is a cost-effective way to address these concerns, as it creates an optimal surface finish with little to no secondary processing.
Wire EDM has other advantages as well, including:
Efficiency: Unlike many manufacturing processes, wire EDM does not require molds, dies, or fixtures. It can also create components to specification without secondary processing and work around the clock with minimal manual readjustment.
Part quality: Wire EDM does not subject components to pressure or friction. This prevents damage to surfaces and edges, and it creates parts without distortion or directionality. Since they lack uneven stress patterns, wire EDM components are durable and wear evenly.
Versatility: Wire EDM can be used with any conductive material, including those that are too hard or too fragile to be easily machinable. The process can also create a wide range of features with a level of precision that exceeds even CNC laser or plasma cutting. Together, these capabilities allow EDM to produce delicate and intricate parts for precision applications.
Thanks to its efficiency, speed, and versatility, wire EDM can benefit many industries, especially those that require precise and durable parts. These sectors include the medical, firearms, and aerospace industries.
Wire EDM Metal Cutting at South Shore Manufacturing
South Shore Manufacturing has specialized in precision wire EDM manufacturing for nearly 40 years. Today, we are the largest EDM provider in New England, equipped with a 10,000-square-foot facility and 16 wire EDM machines. Our staff draws on cutting-edge equipment, advanced automation, and extensive industry knowledge to deliver components on time and to precise specifications.
South Shore Manufacturing is renowned for its high-quality computer numerical control (CNC) machining services and having the best close-tolerance metal parts. We use versatile CNC machining capabilities to manufacture various products and parts of different shapes, sizes, and materials. Even if you need the most complex, intricate design, our computer-aided controls, computer-aided design software, and CNC printing provide us with the ability to create your physical pieces with tight tolerances. We have the capabilities to produce a plethora of components with the most precise quality criteria.
With the vast development of stronger 3D printing materials, manufacturers are also exploring CNC machining versus 3D printing. The main difference between these two processes is that CNC manufacturing is a form of subtractive manufacturing, while 3D printing is additive. Read on for more insights.
CNC machining starts with a solid block of material and cuts away material to achieve the finished shape. To shape the pieces, manufacturers use spinning tools and cutters. This procedure is one of the most popular ways of manufacturing, used for small one-off jobs as well as medium to high-volume production. Moreover, CNC machining offers high accuracy, excellent repeatability, and a wide range of surface finishes.
3D Printing
3D printing or additive manufacturing involves creating parts layer by layer using materials like plastic filaments, resins, metal, or plastic powders. Mostly, 3D printing parts are from melted material, which is then layered and shaped into a preprogrammed specification. The layers of these materials are usually solidified using a source of energy, such as a heated or laser extruder, to form a finished part.
Materials & Benefits of CNC Machining & 3D Printing
Both 3D printing and CNC machining have different material capabilities because of their fundamental fabrication methods. Also, the two methods have different benefits, as highlighted below.
Materials: You can use CNC machining to create parts and components from several materials, including wood, glass, granite, acrylic, modeling foam, machining wax, thermoplastics, fiber in-layered composites, metals, and metal alloys.
Benefits: Some of the attributes that make CNC machining ideal are listed below.
Quality: CNC machining makes products of high quality and precision.
Cost: CNC milling costs are less expensive in most quantities than 3D printing. Even though the per-unit cost in 3D printing remains constant, it’s much cheaper when using CNC machining.
Strength: The parts made through CNC machining are strong enough to be used in airplanes and engines.
Consistency: Since this process makes products with high precision, you get parts the same way every time.
Variety: You can make a product with almost any material you want and of any size you desire using CNC machining.
Speed: CNC machining is a much faster production procedure, especially when you need higher-volume throughput.
Customization: CNC machining helps you achieve more specialized parts and components.
3D Printing
Materials: Most 3D printing utilizes resins, but technological developments have increased the material options for different printer types. Other materials used for 3D printing also include photopolymers, wood filaments, thermoplastics, metal filaments, and nylon.
Benefits: The following advantages of 3D printing are beneficial to manufacturers as well as customers and the environment.
Fast turnaround time: Since 3D printing involves little setup and custom programming, you can get a small batch of parts in around 2-3 working days.
Reduced waste: There is less material and energy waste in 3D printing because it’s an additive process.
Cleaner production: Generally, this process is a cleaner process than CNC machining.
CNC machining has been one of the most cost-effective ways of mass production, and 3D printing has also grown significantly in the past decade. While comparing CNC versus 3D printing, it’s also important to consider functionality, quantity, size, and purpose to know what makes the most sense for your application.
At South Shore Manufacturing, we avail high-quality CNC machining services for different industries and applications, from consumer goods, packaging, transportation, automotive, and food processing to construction, aerospace, defense, power generation, and automation. Contact South Shore Manufacturing today or request a quote for the different services we offer.
Water jet cutting is a fabrication process that relies on the principles of erosion. It involves pressurizing water—sometimes mixed with abrasive media (e.g., garnet)—to up to 392 MPa and projecting it from a small-bore nozzle. The result is a high-pressure, high-speed stream of water (i.e., water jet), which can be used to cut a wide range of materials for various industries and applications. Softer materials (e.g., foam and rubber) are generally cut using pure water jets, while harder materials (e.g., metal and stone) are typically cut using abrasive water jets.
Compared to other cutting methods, water jet cutting offers numerous advantages. That’s why it is used for many manufacturing projects. Below, we highlight three of the top reasons why you should consider using the water jet cutting process in your next metal fabrication project.
1. It accommodates many materials.
The water jet cutting process is suitable for cutting virtually any material. It is most commonly used in metal fabrication operations to cut metals such as:
Aluminum
Brass
Nickel
Steel
Titanium
2. It cuts without heat.
Unlike most other cutting methods, water jet cutting is considered a cold cutting process. Since only the water jet touches the workpiece during cutting operations, little to no heat is generated. As a result, there is no risk of thermal damage, such as warping or discoloration. This quality makes the process suitable for processing heat-sensitive materials and making components that cannot have thermal distortion. Additionally, it eliminates the need for secondary finishing operations to resolve any thermal damage on the component, which helps reduce production costs.
3. It can create complex shapes.
The water jet cutting process has the ability to cut basic to highly complex shapes. It can cut, drill, and slice a wide range of designs into flexible or rigid materials without causing damage. This versatility enables manufacturers to create a variety of elements, such as bevels, corners, and holes, and various components, both two-dimensional and three-dimensional. Plus, water jet cutting can also create near net shape components from plate material.
The equipment used in water jet cutting—i.e., water jet cutters—can be operated manually by human workers or automatically by computer software. The latter option is generally used for components that require a high degree of accuracy and precision.
Water Jet Cutting Services from South Shore Manufacturing
Water jet cutting is a highly versatile process. It can be used to cut basic or complex shapes into nearly any material to tight tolerances. For these reasons, among others, it finds application in the manufacturing projects of many industries, including aerospace, construction, food & beverage, medical, military, and more.
Looking for a partner for your next water jet cutting project? The experts at South Shore Manufacturing have got you covered. Throughout our decades in business, we’ve perfected our water jet cutting processes to ensure we can deliver on-time, cost-effective solutions to meet the cutting needs of any industry or application. Our team has the knowledge, skills, and equipment to create quality components from a broad selection of metal, plastic, and composite materials.
Our water jet cutting capabilities include:
Min to max thickness: 0.010 to 6.0 in.
Max cutting length: 12.0 ft
Max cutting width: 6.0 ft
Tolerance: ±0.005 in.
Kerf width:.015 to .030 in.
Production volume: prototype, low volume, high volume, blanket orders
Cutting is an important step in nearly every manufacturing project. It makes raw material easier to handle and helps it achieve the proper shape and size. There are many cutting methods available, each of which has distinct advantages and disadvantages that make it suitable for different applications. Two of the most commonly used processes to produce high-precision components are laser cutting and water jet cutting. Below, we discuss the differences between the two processes and highlight the advantages of each.
Differences Between Laser Cutting and Water Jet Cutting
Laser cutting and water jet cutting are considered non-conventional cutting processes, meaning they do not require direct contact between the tool and the workpiece. The laser cutting process uses a focused, high-powered beam of light (i.e., a laser) to cut the workpiece, while the water jet cutting process uses a high-pressure stream of water (i.e., a jet) to cut the workpiece. The difference in the equipment used results in each process being appropriate for different cutting needs. For example:
The laser cutting process can be used to cut a wide range of materials, including metal, plastics, wood, and glass. However, it is not recommended for cutting highly reflective materials since there is a risk of the laser bouncing off the workpiece toward the equipment or the operator. The water jet cutting process can be used to cut all types of materials, including reflective ones.
The laser cutting process can cut through thick materials (0.010–0.4 inches in thickness). The water jet cutting process can cut through thicker materials (0.010–4 inches in thickness).
The laser cutting process cannot accommodate 3D material cutting, while the water jet cutting process can accommodate 3D material cutting.
The laser cutting process can cut and engrave materials, while the water jet cutting process can only cut materials.
Advantages of Laser Cutting
Compared to other cutting methods, laser cutting offers the following advantages:
Higher cutting accuracy and precision. The laser cutting process can achieve cutting tolerances of ±0.002 inches. Additionally, since the laser cutters are commonly fitted with computer software and controls, they can consistently produce the same cuts between different workpieces.
Broader project versatility. Laser cutters can cut and/or engrave a variety of designs of varying complexity into a wide range of materials, making them suitable for various manufacturing projects.
Greater sheet utilization-to-waste ratio. The high-accuracy, high-precision cuts achieved by the laser cutting process help optimize material utilization; a single piece of material can produce more pieces and less waste.
Lower risk of damage and warping. Unlike traditional cutting methods, the laser cutting process does not require direct contact between the equipment and the workpiece. As a result, there is less risk of the workpiece experiencing mechanical distortion. Additionally, since the process produces a small heat-affected zone (HAZ), the risk of thermal distortion is low.
Operating costs. The operating and maintenance costs associated with laser cutting are much lower than other cutting processes. Laser cutters use less energy than cutting equipment like presses, while the laser components require less repair and replacement.
The laserjet cutting process is also exponentially quicker compared to the water jet cutting process.
Operating costs. The operating and maintenance costs associated with laser cutting are much lower than other cutting processes. Laser cutters use less energy than cutting equipment like presses, while the laser components require less repair and replacement.
For these reasons, among others, the laser cutting process finds application in the manufacturing operations of a wide range of industries, including the following:
Advertising
High Technology
Automotive
Lighting
Medical
Aerospace & Defense
Semiconductor
Advantages of Water Jet Cutting
Similar to laser cutting, water jet cutting offers a number of advantages over other cutting methods, such as:
Broader material versatility. The water jet cutting process can be used to cut virtually any material.
Lower risk of damage and warping.Water jet cutting is a non-contact cutting method that utilizes water at minimal heat. As a result, the water jet does not have to create a heat-effective zone during the cutting process that could change the cut edge hardness.
Cleaner cuts. Water jet cutting produces highly accurate cuts with clean edges, so workpieces generally do not have to undergo secondary finishing operations to clean up the cuts.
Better eco-friendliness. The water jet cutting process does produce hazardous waste (e.g., fumes or gases), which allows it to be considered more environmentally friendly than cutting processes that do produce it.
Some of the industries that use water jet cutting for their manufacturing projects include:
Aerospace
Automotive
Construction
Medical
Defense
Electronics & Semiconductor
Laser Cutting & Water Jet Cutting Services From South Shore Manufacturing
Want to learn more about laser cutting and water jet cutting? Ask the experts at South Shore Manufacturing! We offer extensive laser cutting and water jet cutting capabilities, so we can answer any questions or address any concerns you may have about the processes.
Interested in partnering with us for your cutting needs? We use the latest fiber optic laser technology to produce highly detailed components accurately, precisely, and quickly. We’ve also perfected our water jet cutting processes to ensure cost-effective, on-time solutions for projects across various industries and applications. Check out our laser cutting and New England water jet cutting service pages for more info on our capabilities. To get started on your order, contact us or request a quote today.
Wire electrical discharge machining, also known as wire EDM, is a contact-free machining method that uses a thin metal wire to conduct an electrical current. The current creates sparks, which are used to accurately cut a workpiece into the pre-programmed design. At South Shore Manufacturing, we offer high-quality wire EDM services to meet the needs of various applications. Our expertise combined with state-of-the-art machinery allows us to create extremely detailed and complex parts that adhere to strict tolerances.
What is Wire Electrical Discharge Machining?
Wire EDM uses a thin wire composed of copper or brass to conduct electrical current between an electrical source and an electrically conductive base material. The current creates sparks capable of cutting the substrate into pre-programmed designs. The material is submerged in deionized water to prevent overheating or warping, facilitating smooth and precise cuts. Wire EDM is especially valuable for the creation of extremely intricate shapes, complex designs, and geometric angles that are difficult or impossible to create using other manufacturing techniques.
How Does Wire Electrical Discharge Machining Work?
During the wire EDM process, the material is carved, shaved, and otherwise removed from the workpiece through a series of repetitive current discharges between a wire electrode and the conductive substrate. The electrode and workpiece are immersed in a dielectric fluid, such as deionized water, maintaining a gap between them.
Wire EDM uses potential difference, which is applied to the electrode and workpiece in pulse form. As this occurs, electrons from the negative electrode move towards the positive workpiece, colliding with the molecules of the deionized water. The electrons convert the molecules into ions, increasing the concentration of ions and electrons between the electrode and workpiece. The electrons move towards the electrode and the ions move towards the workpiece, which creates an electric current.
As the electric current moves between the electrode and workpiece, the temperature increases to approximately 10,000° C. The intense heat vaporizes and melts material away from the workpiece. Once the current stops, the molten material is carried or flushed away by circulating dielectric fluid.
The accuracy of the wire EDM process is heavily dependent on cutting parameters and speed. At higher speeds, the wire can slightly move or bend, affecting overall accuracy. To ensure the highest possible accuracy, it is best to maintain lower power and speed. With higher speeds, tolerances of +/- 0.001’’ are achievable, while tolerances of up to +/- 0.0002’’ are achievable with lower power and speed.
When compared to other methods of machining, such as CNC machining, milling/turning, and laser drilling, wire EDM offers a wide range of advantages. Although these alternative techniques offer certain benefits for specific applications, they also have numerous disadvantages.
Disadvantages of CNC Machining:
CNC machines are expensive and require a higher initial investment
Loss of manual machining skills
Increased automation results in the need for less manpower, which could result in increased unemployment levels
Disadvantages of Milling/Turning:
High machinery and setup costs
Milling machine operators require specialized training
Designing and programming takes a lot of time, making it unsuitable for small projects
Disadvantages of Laser Drilling/Cutting:
Requires high power consumption
High capital investment
Lasers are delicate to handle, meaning a slight mistake during adjustments can result in discoloration and other issues
Wire EDM is one of the most efficient and cost-effective ways to machine electrically conductive and hard materials with extreme accuracy. This method is capable of quickly and easily cutting complex shapes while achieving very high tolerances. It is also a no impact cutting method, meaning it can machine fragile, brittle, and hard materials without the risk of distortion.
Advantages of Wire Electrical Discharge Machining
Wire EDM offers a wide range of advantages over alternative manufacturing techniques. These advantages include:
Cost-effective. Wire EDM cuts workpieces directly, eliminating the need for costly tools and molds. It can quickly and accurately cut both hard and delicate materials with quick turnaround times and significantly less labor compared to other manufacturing methods. Wire EDM also produces less waste, saving on material costs.
Minimal distortion. Wire EDM can cut through a variety of materials, both hard and fragile, without damaging the cutting equipment and without distorting the surface or edges of the material.
High production speed. Wire EDM machinery can be set up and programmed quickly. Since finished components have clean edges and smooth surfaces, it eliminates the need for additional tooling and finishing processes, which significantly reduces lead times.
Extreme accuracy. Since wire EDM uses an extremely fine wire, it provides extremely precise cuts on even the most complex shapes and designs while adhering to strict tolerances.
Part complexity. Wire EDM is ideal for producing small, intricate, and detailed components. This makes it an extremely popular manufacturing option for industries such as medical and aerospace that require extremely complex and accurate parts.
Applications that Utilize Wire Electrical Discharge Machining
The inherent properties of the wire EDM process make it ideal for extremely intricate designs, complex shapes, and components that require geometric angles that are impossible to achieve using other manufacturing methods. Common applications of wire EDM include:
Mold and die manufacturing
Punch tools
Small, highly detailed components
Precision machine parts such as gears and splines
Medical devices and surgical instruments
Small hand tools
Prototype manufacturing
Wire Electrical Discharge Machining Services at South Shore Manufacturing
Wire EDM machining is a highly cost-effective manufacturing method that offers minimal distortion, quick production speeds, and high levels of accuracy even for extremely complex parts. These benefits make wire EDM popular for a wide range of applications from aerospace and medical to firearms and prototype manufacturing.
At South Shore Manufacturing, we are dedicated to producing the highest quality wire EDM precision parts in the industry. With a wide range of material options and an extensive fleet of state-of-the-art EDM machinery, we can produce parts with extreme precision and repeatability. From prototype to high production volumes, we ensure quick turnaround times and on-time delivery. To learn more about ourwire EDM services,contact us today, orrequest a quoteto start your next project.
Jack’s Machine Company is now doing business as South Shore Manufacturing. As of the past few years, Jack’s Machine Company is under new leadership and has expanded its manufacturing capabilities and capacity beyond the core competence of Wire EDM. The company’s focus is still on Wire EDM and the company has also expanded its in-house capabilities to move from a 2 and 3 tier supplier to the major manufacturers, to a tier 1 supplier/contract manufacturing partner.
In the past 5 years, our Wire EDM capacity has tripled and water jet cutting has doubled. In-house capabilities that have been added include:
CNC Milling
Laser Cutting
Conventional Machining
These new services were introduced in an ongoing effort to keep critical machining operations in house, control quality, lower cost, and reduce lead times. The transition from Jack’s Machine Company to South Shore Manufacturing has been an evolution while ensuring that the company has not lost its original focus of Wire EDM.
About the Company:
South Shore Manufacturing is an industry leader in Precision Wire EDM, CNC Machining, Laser Cutting, and a variety of other manufacturing processes. Located in Hanson, MA, South Shore Manufacturing uses a multitude of high-performance metals, including stainless steel, titanium and many others. Design engineers and project managers regularly turn to South Shore Manufacturing for the most technical and challenging jobs.
Certifications:
South Shore Manufacturing is proud to hold a number of certifications from numerous organizations to ensure the highest standard of production. These certifications include AS9100D, ISO 9001:2015, and ISO 13485:2016. We are also a Federal Firearms Licensed machining company and our staff has decades of experience working with projects that have firearms and military specifications.
Since 1985, South Shore Manufacturing has provided state-of-the-art machining work for an assortment of industries all across the country. Our skilled and experienced staff work directly with customers to guarantee absolute precision and accuracy on each project we take part in. To learn more about our services and capabilities, feel free to contact us today for more information.
The result is a high-pressure, high-speed stream of water (i.e., water jet), which can be used to cut a wide range of materials for various industries and applications. Softer materials (e.g., foam and rubber) are generally cut using pure water jets, while harder materials (e.g., metal and stone) are typically cut using abrasive 
range of designs into flexible or rigid materials without causing damage. This versatility enables manufacturers to create a variety of elements, such as bevels, corners, and holes, and various components, both two-dimensional and three-dimensional. Plus, 
