b'There is a specialized laser type for virtually any cutting requirement.Waterjet can give a high-qualityceramics and thicker metals, whichmaterials, making waterjet an effi-cut, Naeem said, but this has as- are more difficult to process by lasercient, productive method.sociated problems of causing de- cutting or other methods. UnlikeComposites machine differently lamination and requires a pilot holeother material removal processes,from metals and therefore can be to be drilled mechanically if the cut- waterjet systems can cut extremelychallenging to cut. Although shops ting process starts anywhere otherhard, reflective and nonconductivehave applied traditional cutting than at the edge of the sheet.Waterjet cutting is a subtrac-tive manufacturing technique, but it uses pressurized water focused in a very small point to cut the material, said Alexei Markevitch, market de-velopment manager at IPG Photon-ics Corp., Oxford, Massachusetts.The pressure can be as high as 27,216 kg per square inch (60,000 psi). Water may be mixed with an abrasive, such as garnet, which in-creases cutting possibilities by al-lowing more materials or closer tol-erances.Waterjet cutting is ideal for stone, MAXIMIZE UPTIMEModular xturing thats designed for faster changeover and higher prots.Bluco modular xturing helps you get your CNC machines up and running in half the tine it would take to do a manual setup. Custom solutions include baseplates with quick release mounting and compatiblity with over 400 precision modular components built for fast and accurate assembly. Just show us your part, and well help you make it better. CoherentCall 800.535.0135 for solutions BLUCO.COMctemag.com/cteguide.com43LaserMachining.indd 43 6/16/20 11:12 AM'