Waterjet
When it comes to applications for foam, the possibilities are truly endless. To create the foam products you know and love, we use several machines to achieve the flawless results you receive when you order. One of the most commonly used pieces of equipment we employ is a water jet foam cutting machine. Let's take a closer look at the waterjet foam cutter and its capabilities. Harnessing the power of highly-pressurized, abrasive-free water, and the precision of computer programming, our waterjet cutters are able to create products possessing a high degree of detail. Many people are surprised to find out that a waterjet foam cutter can offer the same if not better precision over blades. The key to how this machine works is the use of highly pressurized water streams to achieve the desired results. With a jet of water pressurized at 50,000 psi, traveling at three times the speed of sound, we are able to cut through foam products up to 4" thick. For perspective, the cutter is able to slice through a 1/2" piece of plywood on our standard foam-cutting settings with a jet only .005" in diameter. After a design is programmed, the foam is placed on a bed of 7" corrugated plastic that breaks up the jet's powerful stream. The nozzle moves over the sheet, tracing the form's outline with the water, cutting through the foam cleanly. The overall operation of this machine is designed to be streamlined and efficient with every use to ensure a great outcome.
While both the waterjet and the die cutter provide a high degree of precision, the waterjet cutter is geared toward lower-volume product runs. This is because the time it takes to trace every cut is measured in minutes, while a single pressing on the die cutter takes seconds, but because the water jet foam cutting machine only requires computer programming, it carries a shorter lead-time than the die cutter and doesn't require expensive press plates. Waterjet jobs are often limited-volume products like prototypes, specialized packaging forms, gaskets, and toys.
Examples of products fabricated by this machine:
