Waterjet Cutting Services
XC Machining provides abrasive waterjet cutting for US product teams. A 60,000 to 90,000 PSI water and garnet stream cuts steel to 150 mm, aluminum to 100 mm and titanium to 80 mm. It also cuts stone to 200 mm, glass, composites and rubber. There is no heat-affected zone. Standard tolerance is ±0.1 mm and parts ship in 3 to 5 business days.
All uploads are secure and confidential.
- All uploads are secure and confidential
What Is Abrasive Waterjet Cutting?
Abrasive waterjet cutting forces water at 60,000 to 90,000 PSI through a sapphire or diamond orifice of 0.25 to 0.35 mm. The stream picks up 80 mesh garnet at 0.5 to 1.5 lb per minute in a mixing tube. It then erodes the workpiece along a CNC-programmed path, with no heat.
XC Machining runs two modes. Pure waterjet uses water alone at 20,000 to 60,000 PSI. It cuts rubber, foam, gaskets, textiles and thin plastics fast, with a kerf as narrow as 0.1 to 0.3 mm. Abrasive waterjet adds garnet for steel, aluminum, titanium, stone, glass and composites, with a 0.76 to 1.0 mm kerf.
The process is cold, so the part keeps its microstructure, hardness and fatigue life. There is no work hardening and no residual thermal stress. That matters for titanium alloys, hardened tool steels, carbon fiber composites and tempered glass, where laser cutting or plasma cutting would alter the material.
Custom Waterjet Cut Parts for Any Industry
We cut prototypes and end-use parts to your drawing, from intricate profiles to simple blanks. Engineers work with you on each file, so the finished part fits its job and its look.
For fast-turnaround programs, we run waterjet production batches without a drop in quality. Cut parts can move straight on to metal bending or other forming in the same shop.
Why Choose XC for Waterjet Cutting
XC Machining waterjet cutting leaves no heat-affected zone on steel to 150 mm, aluminum to 100 mm and titanium to 80 mm. Standard tolerance is ±0.1 mm with 80 mesh garnet at 60,000 to 90,000 PSI. DFM review takes 12 hours and operations follow ISO 9001:2015 procedures.
Because the cut is cold, nothing warps and nothing changes in the metal. Tensile strength, hardness and fatigue resistance match the raw sheet. This protects titanium Grade 5 aerospace brackets, 304 stainless medical housings, hardened tool steel (D2, H13) and carbon fiber composites. Heat-based methods cause rework on those materials.
One machine cuts steel to 150 mm, aluminum to 100 mm and titanium to 80 mm. Stone and granite reach 200 mm and tempered glass 50 mm. CFRP composites cut to 30 mm, and rubber and foam to 100 mm. No tool change is needed between materials.
The 5-axis cutting head tilts to cancel jet taper on material thicker than 25 mm. Walls come out perpendicular (0° taper) on thick steel and aluminum plate. That removes the secondary machining step on precision structural parts and mold components.
Upload a DXF or STEP file. Engineers return a DFM review within 12 hours. It covers minimum hole size, internal corner radius and taper risk by thickness. It also covers material certification needs and the cut quality grade for your finish target.
Waterjet Cutting Tolerances
| Specification | Value | Note |
| General tolerance | ±0.076 to ±0.254 mm (±0.003 to ±0.010 in) | Tighter with fine abrasive and slow speeds |
| Kerf taper | ±1° or better | Grows on thick material, reduced with taper control |
| Minimum hole size | At least the material thickness | Smaller holes may be inaccurate or incomplete |
| Minimum feature size | 0.5 to 1.0 mm | Thin walls, sharp corners and narrow slots need care |
| Kerf width | About 0.8 to 1.2 mm (0.032 to 0.047 in) | Set by nozzle size and abrasive type |
| Repeatability | ±0.025 mm (±0.001 in) | Under controlled conditions |
| Edge quality | Q1 to Q5 | Q1 is roughest and fastest, Q5 is smoothest and slowest |
| Material thickness | Up to 300 mm+ (12 in+) | Thick and layered stock cuts without distortion |
| Heat-affected zone | None | Safe for titanium and composites |
| Flatness of cut parts | Maintained | No heat is applied, so flatness holds unless the sheet carries stress |
Which Edge Quality Grade Do You Need?
Edge grade sets both the surface and the cutting time. The Ra figures below come from XC’s cut data.
| Grade | Edge roughness | Best for | Secondary work |
| Q1 to Q2 | Ra 6.3 to 12.5 μm | Rough blanks, fast jobs | Deburring or grinding before assembly |
| Q3 | Between the two ranges | General parts | Deburring before assembly |
| Q4 to Q5 | Ra 1.6 to 3.2 μm | Most functional parts | None needed for most uses |
A higher grade cuts more slowly, so it costs more machine time. Choose the lowest grade that meets your surface need. Heat tint and oxide layers do not form on any grade.
Metals We Cut With Waterjet
The six metals below cover most waterjet orders. Thickness limits come from XC’s cut data, and strength values come from the live material tabs.
Aluminum cuts to 100 mm without heat damage, which keeps temper and flatness. It suits housings, brackets and enclosures for aerospace, automotive and industrial use. Color is silver. Yield strength runs 230 to 570 MPa. Cut grades are 5052 and 6061.
Carbon steel is the thickest metal we cut, up to 150 mm. It goes into machine parts, mounting brackets, tooling and structural plate. Color is reddish brown. Yield strength runs 200 to 900 MPa and tensile strength 350 to 1,100 MPa.
Stainless steel cuts to 100 mm with no discoloration, so corrosion resistance stays intact. Uses include medical equipment, food processing machinery and marine fittings. Color is silver gray. Yield strength runs 170 to 1,170 MPa and tensile strength 485 to 1,310 MPa. Grades are 304 and 316L.
Titanium cuts to 80 mm with no alpha case or heat tint, the usual problems of thermal cutting. It serves aerospace and medical parts. Yield strength runs 170 to 900 MPa and tensile strength 240 to 1,000 MPa. Grades are 2 and 5 (Ti-6Al-4V).
Brass cuts to 80 mm. It suits valve bodies, electrical connectors, mounting plates and decorative parts. Color is golden yellow. Yield strength runs 75 to 450 MPa and tensile strength 300 to 600 MPa. Waterjet avoids the zinc fuming that heat processes can cause.
Materials We Waterjet Cut
Waterjet is the one cutting method that handles metals, plastics, composites and stone in the same job. Our CNC machining team can finish any cut blank that needs milled features.
Aluminum (5052, 6061, 7075), Stainless Steel (304, 316, 430), Mild/Carbon Steel (A36, 1018, 1045), Copper (C110, C101), Brass (C260, C464), Titanium (Grade 2, Grade 5 – Ti-6Al-4V), Tool Steel (D2, A2, O1, H13), Inconel (625, 718), Hastelloy, Monel
Acrylic (PMMA), Delrin (POM/Acetal), Nylon (PA6, PA66), Polycarbonate (PC), UHMW, HDPE, LDPE PVC (Rigid), PTFE (Teflon),
Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP), Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer (GFRP), Phenolic Resin Sheets
Granite, Marble, Slate, Ceramic Tile, Porcelain, Glass (Tempered, Laminated, Annealed)
Finishes for Waterjet-Cut Parts
XC Machining finishes waterjet-cut aluminum, steel, stainless steel and titanium parts after cutting. The options run from deburring to powder coating, and the surface finishing page covers each in depth.
Q3 to Q5 cuts need no heat treatment or oxide removal. Q4 to Q5 edges reach Ra 1.6 to 3.2 μm, enough for most functional parts. Q1 to Q2 edges are Ra 6.3 to 12.5 μm.
Vibratory or hand deburring removes burrs and sharp edges, leaving Ra 1.6 to 3.2 μm. It is applied to Q1 to Q3 parts before assembly.
Directional abrasive brushing gives a satin grain at Ra 0.4 to 0.8 μm on aluminum, stainless steel and titanium. It suits electronics enclosures, architectural panels and medical housings.
Mechanical polishing reaches semi-mirror (Ra 0.1 to 0.4 μm) or mirror (Ra 0.1 μm or less) on stainless steel and aluminum. It serves food equipment, medical parts and decorative panels.
Type II gives a 5 to 25 μm film and 200 to 300 HV hardness. Type III hardcoat gives 25 to 50 μm and 400 to 600 HV. Colors are clear, black, blue, red and gold. Salt spray runs 336 hours for Type II and 1,000+ hours for Type III.
A polyester powder is applied electrostatically and cured at 180 to 200°C to 60 to 120 μm. Colors match RAL or Pantone. Salt spray resistance runs 500 to 1,000 hours.
A primer and topcoat in RAL or Pantone colors.
A uniform matte texture that removes visible marks and prepares the surface for coating.
Nickel, chrome, zinc or gold layers for corrosion resistance, conductivity or wear.
Our Waterjet Cutting Prototype Manufacturing Capabilities
Provides injection molding for prototypes and custom parts, emphasizing expert support, competitive pricing, and faster production cycles.
Get reliable vacuum casting services for high-quality prototypes and production parts at competitive prices. XC Machining offers highly detailed casting parts with consistent quality.
Uses cutting, bending, and forming techniques to produce precision metal components suited for industrial, commercial, and manufacturing applications.
Specialist Industries
Bring Your Designs to Life with XC Machining
Experience precision engineering with XC Machining. From detailed prototypes to high-volume production, we’re here to turn your concepts into reality. Contact us today to discuss your project needs!
- 50+ CNC machines in-house
- 60+ materials in stock
- 120+ countries shipped
- 15+ DFM engineers on staff
- All uploads are secure and confidential
Waterjet Cutting FAQs
What materials can XC Machining cut with abrasive waterjet?
Maximum thickness is 150 mm for carbon steel and 100 mm for stainless steel (304, 316L) and aluminum (5052, 6061). Titanium Grade 2 and 5 and brass reach 80 mm, and copper 60 mm. We also cut tool steel D2 and H13 to 80 mm and stone to 200 mm. Tempered glass and acrylic reach 50 mm, and CFRP 30 mm.
What tolerance does XC Machining hold on waterjet-cut parts?
Standard positional tolerance is ±0.1 mm on material up to 25 mm thick. Tight tolerance of ±0.05 mm is available on parts up to 500 × 500 mm at Q4 to Q5 quality. Precision tolerance of ±0.025 mm suits small parts under 200 × 200 mm and 10 mm thick. Nesting software compensates kerf, so your DXF needs no offset.
What is the difference between pure and abrasive waterjet?
Pure waterjet uses water alone at 20,000 to 60,000 PSI. It cuts soft materials such as rubber, foam, gaskets and textiles quickly, with a 0.1 to 0.3 mm kerf. Abrasive waterjet adds garnet at 60,000 to 90,000 PSI and cuts steel, aluminum, titanium, glass and stone up to 150 mm. We run both and pick the mode by material.
Does waterjet cutting leave a heat-affected zone?
No. Cutting is cold, and water temperature rises less than 5°C at the cut zone. There is no heat-affected zone, no work hardening, no thermal stress and no discoloration. Tensile strength, hardness and fatigue resistance match the raw material. That is why waterjet is the required method for titanium alloys, CFRP composites, tempered glass and hardened steels.
What is the maximum waterjet cutting thickness?
Carbon steel cuts to 150 mm. Stainless steel and aluminum reach 100 mm. Titanium, tool steel and brass reach 80 mm, and copper 60 mm. Stone reaches 200 mm, tempered glass 50 mm, CFRP 30 mm and acrylic 50 mm. Rubber and foam cut to 100 mm or more. Sections above 50 mm need 5-axis taper compensation.
What is the lead time for waterjet-cut parts?
Standard lead time is 3 to 5 business days. That covers a 1-day DFM review, 1 day of nesting, 1 to 2 days of cutting, and 1 day of deburring and packing. Rush delivery takes 2 to 3 days for simple flat profiles in stocked steel, 304 stainless or 5052 aluminum. Anodizing, powder coating or painting adds 2 to 5 days.
When should I choose waterjet instead of laser cutting?
Choose waterjet for heat-sensitive materials such as titanium, CFRP, hardened steel and tempered glass. Choose it when steel is thicker than 25 mm or aluminum thicker than 15 mm, or for non-conductive stone, glass and rubber. It also suits mixed-material nesting. Choose laser for thin metal up to 15 mm where speed and edge smoothness matter most.
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