Laser Cutting vs. Water Jet Cutting – What’s Right For Your Next Project?
At BenCo, we’re a PA water jet cutting shop as well as a PA laser cutting shop. What are the differences between these two processes, and which one is right for your next project? Read on to find out!
Laser cutting uses a high intensity beam of light to cut metal, similar to a scene right out of Star Wars. Water jet cutting uses water and sand to cut through all sorts of materials – the same way the Colorado River created the Grand Canyon. Here are a couple of interesting comparisons that will help you learn more about the technology we use to make parts for our customers’ products.
Flat Sheets vs. Round, Channel and Open Profile
Water jet technology can only be used to cut flat sheet goods. Although it can cut all sorts of materials (including metal, glass and stone), it will only cut flat materials. Our laser cutting technology, on the other hand, can be used to cut flat metal as well as tube, square, channel, flat bar and other open profile stock.
Thin vs. Thick
Laser cutting equipment can cut metal up to 1” thick. Our water jet, however, can cut all sorts of materials up to 6” thick. It can even cut stacks of materials up to 8” high. This means that if you need to make parts out of thicker materials, you’re in luck! Our water jet will do the trick.
Metal vs. Other Materials
Our flat sheet and tube laser cutting shop can cut all sorts of metal: from steel and aluminum to bronze, titanium and other alloys. Our water jet shop can cut granite, glass, paper, tile, plastic, foam and many other materials including all types of metal. This can be handy if you need parts made out of an organic material.
Heat vs. No Heat
When a flat sheet laser or 3D tube laser cuts a piece of metal, the beam heats the metal in order to cut it. This type of cutting has many benefits, but one of the concerns is that the metal itself can become heated during the cutting process. Our water jet cuts materials without creating any heat, which can be important on some materials and in certain applications.
We hope this article helped you to better understand these two types of cutting processes. But if you’ve got more questions about laser cutting vs. water jet cutting, please contact us today. Our design team is standing by to discuss your next project and help determine what cutting technology is the best fit for your particular situation.
