Hi

Yes they could do that and more , this is mid seventies tec , i worked at the place where this technology was being developed in this country , American owned company .

They didnt care much about Jim Callaghan and the three day week they just shipped a load of really massive generators , enough to run all the works .

I was not in the R&D , just a shop floor grunt, they could go to pressures over 100,000 psi, making the nozzles last quite a problem for awhile

Most metal cutting was done at around 75,000 psi with a water / fine grit mix

Hi Micheal G yes….. VERY DANGEROUS………….b

Yes grit can be taken to mean any suitable medium..in solution ……..

Edited By bodge on 28/12/2016 21:10:30

Edited By bodge on 28/12/2016 21:13:43

So it cuts through a camera ……..WHY ?

Norman

No idea Norman.

But it does give a unique view of that type of camera.

I've used watercut cutting for optical lens sectioning/inserting since mid 1990's with a local vendor being the best I've seen. We have done many jobs on unique materials. He cuts a lot of 4" to 9" thick steel for auto body die components and also a lot of stone for local builders, countertops, mantels, signs, number plates etc.

For lenses there are a few techniques to be used for cleanest  edges and accurate results. Mounting the lenses firmly between two pieces of sacrificial 5 ply birch plywood, with thin rubber mats closely fitting the lens glass/PC on both sides, and very fine garnet in the water, give excellent results.

Here's a link to another seasonal / unique application for waterjet cutting.

I hope he turned off the garnet feed…

JD

Edited By Jeff Dayman on 28/12/2016 21:42:01

Gentlemen,

When I worked for ABB Robotics we had waterjet cutting systems in the Automotive factories that were used to cut the various holes in vehicle dashboards and other vehicle interior parts.

It's a shame they didn't do it with clearance under the job, the result might have been cleaner if it hadn't sat in a puddle of mud for multiple passes.

I was a bit surprised to hear one of the operatives asking "is that a giant block of glass in there" when he spotted the penta-prism, the key component allowing an SLR, including digital ones, to present an optical view through the lens to the photographer.

I guess we're now in an age where "Technology of which you have insufficient knowledge looks like Magic" and increasing numbers of people see Magic everywhere they look.

– Nick

I think we should remember that water jet cutting is not always just water at high pressure, to cut harder materials it is loaded with an abrasive, Jeff mentions garnet but other materials are used. Pure water will easily cut softer materials at those sort of pressures. If you want a painful experience run you pressure washer over your finger, I can tell you it hurts! And that is a tiny fraction of the pressure used in jet cutters. High pressure super heated steam is very dangerous as if you have a leak you cannot see or hear it. I believe plant that uses steam at these temps and pressures has ultrasonic leak detectors to warn personnel of the danger. It is amazing what objects will do if they are accelerated to a high enough speed. I saw a wax candle fired out of a shotgun which penetrated a thick sheet of plywood on the TV, my expectation was it would just splat but how wrong can you be?

Mike

Crikey Mike,

There's a good chance of a "Fluid Injection" injury if you do that with a decent pressure washer at close range.