Waterjet Cutting vs. Laser Cutting

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At Harvan Manufacturing, we offer both laser cutting and waterjet cutting services. You may be wondering, just what are the differences between the two? While both methods can be used for applications in a wide range of industries, like aerospace, transportation, and energy, they differ in a few key ways.

 

The Difference Between Laser Cutting Materials and Waterjet Cutting MaterialsLaser Cutting

Waterjet cutting is the use of a high pressure stream of water and sand, and, while the procedure may be slower than laser cutting, it’s more suited for cutting thicker material. Additionally, it can handle some applications that laser cutting cannot.

Our laser cutting machines are used only for metal materials, with the exception of aluminum—which can be more difficult to cut on a laser. We use waterjet cutting for aluminum and non-metallic materials, like plastics, wood, and even stone.

While new advancements in laser cutting technology have increased the power of the equipment and have allowed lasers to make deeper cuts in thick materials like steel, waterjets are still the ideal way to cut through much thicker materials.

 

Choose Harvan Manufacturing for Industrial Cutting Services

We recommend using laser cutting because it’s a bit faster, but you can see that the material used, plus the thickness of said materials are the main considerations when deciding between the two. No matter the method, we pride ourselves on the ability to deliver high-quality components on time, whether it’s just a prototype or a small to mid-sized order of parts.

Contact us today to request a quote or for more info!