Octal provides customize waterjet cutting services according client requirements.

Things you should know about waterjet cutting and advantages

Here are a few things about the waterjet process worth noting:

• This process delivers precise cuttings, according to a person’s needs and specifications. In short, it can deliver high tolerance parts because of its narrow kerf width.
• It is slow when compared to other metal fabrication methods.
• It is one of the most expensive techniques in the market. This mostly applies when combined with plasma.
• CNC technology integrated in, fast program, fast layouts, CAD in.
• Cold cutting, no hot transformations
• No pollution, no harmful air and dust generated
• The only way to cut compound materials
• Edge smooth, no second cutting required
• One time process of perforation, cutting and profiling
• Lower cutting cost
• High Auto controlled
• 24 hours continuously working
• No need to change cutting torch
• Less cutting blurs.
• No cutting direction limits. Different profile different degree cutting.

2 cutting types by waterjet

Generally, there are two water cutting process, namely the pure water cutting technique and abrasive waterjet cutting process.

Pure water cutting

The pure water cutting technology is meant for soft materials such as food, rubber, textiles and leather. During this technique, water is pressurized into high levels then forced out through a small sapphire or ruby, releasing an intense cutting steam. The steam jet is believed to move 2.5 times the speed of the sound. This is the reason the pure water cutting technology cuts at a high rate, giving out powerful and precise cuttings.

Abrasive waterjet

On the other hand, the abrasive waterjet cutting technology is meant for hard materials that the pure water technology cannot cut through. As the name suggests, the water nozzle is replaced with an abrasive cutting head. The water steam creates a vacuum thus drawing the abrasive into a chamber facilitating the production of powerful abrasive jet steam.

This is the commonly known waterjet cutting steel process. The abrasive process cuts through nay material such as slab, glass, sheetmetal and aluminum, among others.

How does the waterjet cut intensifier pump works?

As we all know, the waterjet process operates on ultra high pressure to cut through materials. This process starts off with an intensifier pump. This pump creates the ultra high pressure needed to perform various tasks. The intensifier pump is fitted with a large horsepower motor.

Additionally, it uses a hydraulic pressure. This is how the hydraulic pressure is created and powers piston in a cylinder. Here is a list of other requirements used in this process:
A low pressure water inlet
Water off valve
Boost pump
Accumulator
Inlet check valves
Water filler
An intensified piston
Abrasive metering system and a cutting head.

Key point in waterjet cutting systems

The key point to make waterjet cutting is the clean water system is connected to the low pressure inlet. The water is then forced into the inlet filter through the inlet check valves until it reaches the hydraulic pump. This is the stage where water is pressurized. During this stage, the water pressurizes the hydraulic fluid in the hydraulic pump. The pressure then forces water out of the intensifier and finally into the accumulator. The water then flows into the high pressure tubing into the cutting head. The water flow is controlled by the off valve. This valve allows people to achieve their desired cuttings while using the waterjet cutting process. The abrasive is mixed with high water pressure in the mixing chamber.

How does the intensifier work in waterjet cutting services?

People are always asking how the intensifier is able to create the ultra high water pressure. The larger hydraulic cylinder pushes the small piston in a cylinder full of water. This is how the ultra high water pressure is created. High water pressure enhances the cutting process.

How is waterjet cutting head working

Let us shift our gears and look at how the waterjet cutting head works. The high pressure water can be delivered into the cutting head in two ways. It can be through the hose or the high pressure tubing. The water is then applied to an orifice to help resist abrasion of high pressure water. It is mostly made of sapphire and diamond. The orifice is entitled the task of creating the water stream. Not all materials can be cut by the water stream. There are cases where a person will be required to add an abrasive to the water stream to cut through hard materials such as stone, plastic, aluminum and steel, among others.

The abrasive is the one that does the actual cutting. It is made up of crushed garnet. Consequently, there are other materials a person can use for special applications. Lastly, machines can be cut to meet a person’s exact needs.

Materials that could be used for waterjet cut

Waterjet cutting services could be applied for different materials, metals as carbon, alloy, aluminum, stainless steels, also the brass, copper. Other materials like carbon fiber, plastics, glass.

Octal provide waterjet cut services only for steels as below:

Mild/Carbon Steels

ASTM A36
ASTM A516
ASTM A572
ASTM A573

For carbon steel, waterjet cutting could do upto thickness 40 mm.

Stainless Steels

SS304L
SS316L
SS310
Duplex Stainless Steel

Aluminium and alloy steels

1050A
1200
5083
5251
6061
6082

Waterjet cutting tolerances

Waterjet cutting tolerances usually at +/- 0.25mm generally, for the steel thickness under 30 mm.

If you need customize waterjet cutting, just contact us.

Therefore, how come it gets so popular in different industries? Why there were so many people buying this material?

So today we are going to introduce this magic material – ASTM A36 Steel plate.

For your better understanding, we will explain from different aspects as followings:

What is A36 Steel
Applications
What kind of products could be made with A36 steel and plates
Referred standards for making this steel
Material Specification
Chemical Composition
Mechanical properties (Tensile strength and yield strength)
Equivalent materials
Advantages and performances

What is ASTM A36

The A36 steel developed by ASTM international is one of the popular and widely used carbon structural steels which is mild and hot rolled. ASTM A36 has ultimate welding properties and it is perfectly suitable for punching, grinding, drilling, tapping and machining processes. Unlike higher-performance alloys, these structural steel plate properties allow the steel to be used in many applications.

Why A36 steel plate is the top rated material in constructions

As we know, it is kind of carbon steel plate, so it’s not a expensive material which have very good performance and strengths to bear the various kind of system pressure. With high durability and even over period it could be recycled totally. Back to furnace and to make fresh steel products.

So, A36 steel plate is the base material for all the constructions and structural, it has the wide range of applications and could be used for many purposes based on the thickness and corrosion resistance of the alloy.

As a matter of fact, a lot of the manufactured products that use this A36 steel plate include warehouses, industrial and commercial structures, buildings (including pre-fabricated buildings), pipes, tubings, cabinets, enclosures, and housings.

Moreover, A36 steel could be made to various base construction materials.

ASTM A36 steel is generally available in the many forms i.e. it is available in rectangle bar, square bar, circular bar and also steel shapes like angles, H-beams, I-beams, and channels. This steel plate is also known as mild steel in South East Asian Region.

And below materials are listed in ASTM A36 standard specification that could be made in this kind of carbon steel material.

Steel Rivets, referred ASTM A502 Grade 1
Steel nuts, ASTM A563/M
Bolts, ASTM A370 Grade A or F 568M
High strength bolts, ASTM A325/M
Anchor bolts F1554
Cast steel, ASTM A27/M Grade 65-35 (450-240)
Carbib steel forgings, in ASTM A668 CLASS D
Cold-formed tubing ASTM A500 Grade B
Hot formed tubing ASTM A501
Hot rolled steel plate, coil and strip, ASTM A570/M, Grade 36

Material Properties/Specifications

We shall explain material specifications from chemicals and mechanical properties. Although, contact us for ASTM A36 standard specification in PDF, we shall send you immediately.

Chemical composition of A36 steel plate

It consists of carbon (C) content 0.25 – 0.29%, Copper (Cu) content 0.20%, Iron (Fe) content 98.0 percentage, Manganese (Mn) content 1.03 percentage, Phosphorus (P) content 0.04 percentage, Silicon (Si) content 0.280 percentage and Sulfur (S) content 0.050 percentage. With excellent properties, this steel plate can be bolted, riveted and welded in the construction of buildings, bridges, and buildings and for any general structural purposes.

A36 Steel Equivalent materials

ASTM A36 is said to be same as EN S275 steel plate. A36 steel is a very low carbon steel that blends great strength with form ability. It can be safely welded with minimum caution. This structural steel plate can be galvanized to give enhanced corrosion resistance which ensures superior quality.

Yield Strength and Tensile Strength

Its mechanical properties include tensile Strength ksi of 58-80 (400-550 Mpa) and minimum Yield strength 36 ksi (250 Mpa).
Elongation in 8 in min 20%, in 2 inch min 23% for steel plates and bars. For shapes and parts is 20% and 21% correspondingly.

The mechanical properties of this steel can be changed or altered through different heating treatments. The results obtained from this various heat treatments show you improvement in mechanical properties of the ASTM steel. The yield strength of this steel plate is

Referred standards for making ASTM A36 carbon structural steel

a. A6/M specification for rolled structural steel bars, beams, plates, shapes, and sheet piling (pile sheet).
b. ASTM A27/M spec for steel castings, carbon for general application
c. ASTM A307, specification for carbon steel bolts and studs, with tensile strength in 60000 psi (415 Mpa).
d. ASTM A325 for structural bolts, steel, heat treated, with minimum tensile strength 105 or 120 ksi.
e, A325M for high strength bolts and joints.
g, A500, A501, A502, A563 A570, A668 and F568 referring other steel products and materials.

A36 low carbon (mild) steel plate advantages and usage

ASTM A36 low carbon and structural steel plate is highly used in construction of oil rigs and in forming bins, tanks, bearing plates, rings, jigs, cams, forgings, templates, gears, base plates, stakes, fixtures, sprockets, forgings, brackets, ornamental works, stakes, agricultural equipment, automotive equipment, machinery parts and frames. This steel plate is also used for various parts that are produced by flame cutting. The parts include walkways, boat landing ramps, parking garages, and trenches. The ductility of this steel plate allows the alloy to be used neither as cable nor as reinforcing bar. This steel is strictly regulated by ASTM that is by American Society for Testing and Lindenhurst health and fitness center Materials.

Good machinability and weldability

The machinability rate of this steel plate is approximately 72 percent, and the average surface cutting feed of this A36 is 120 feet per min. This ASTM steel plate is an easy steel to weld and it can be welded by using any type of welding methods and also the welds and joints that are formed are of top-notch quality. Coming to the heating treatment, any standard carburizing and the hardening methods of AISI 1018 steel is perfect for this steel plate.

Heat treatment methods and performances for A36 steel plate

ASTM A36 steel plate is subjected to the normalization treatment at 899°C to 954°C that is at 1650°F to 1750°F, to annealing treatment at 843°C to 871°C that is at 1550°F to 1600°F, to stress relieving process at 677°C to 927°C that is at 1250°F to 1700°F, to carburizing process at 899°C to 927°C that is 1650°F to 1700°F and to hardening process at 788°C to 816°C that is 1450°F to 1500°F. Hardening process is strongly required when hardness and strength are the desired prime properties in design. Normalization treatment is done as the final treatment after the manufacturing process.

The properties of this steel plate allow it to deform steadily as the stress is increased beyond its yield strength in order to allow the bridges, buildings and any other constructions to stand long enough by allowing the inhabitants to exit safely before any collapse takes place. This steel plate has very good yield strength that is it has yield strength of 36,000 psi and it also has a high allowable bending stress of 22,000 psi.