04 October 2010
Innovative CNC-based water jet cutting with one micron accuracy
Precision machine building company MDC Max Daetwyler AG and specialist water jet company Waterjet AG, in collaboration with NUM, have developed an innovative CNC-based water jet cutting machine capable of cutting materials to within ±1 micron which is 20 times more accurate than competitive machines.
The WOMAJET/microWATERJET machine provides a stable, precise and repeatable manufacturing process capable of creating complex contours, coping with land widths as narrow as 0.02 mm. The machine uses a very high precision water jet, with a diameter of less than 0.30 mm, and can cut materials at a rate of up to 4,000 mm per minute.
All three of the machine's axes are driven by NUMDrive C servos; these have a high power density, which helps minimise the size of the control cabinet. Overall control of the machine is handled by a NUM Flexium CNC system, equipped with a NUM FS152i HMI for operator input commands.
The WOMAJET/microWATERJET cutting machine can accommodate a diverse range of materials from biocompatible materials for medical applications; Kevlar, carbon- and glass-fibre materials such as those used in the automotive industry; and the type of specialised materials and laminates used in aerospace. In each case, all cutting operations are performed with no degradation to the materials' characteristics or properties.
One unusual application that is already generating considerable interest is for cutting precision components for the watch-making industry with mechanical watches from prestigious Swiss manufacturers currently enjoying a renaissance.
Author
Michael Richards
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NUM (UK) Ltd