Article by: Siam Anankit Ltd., Part. And MEGA Tech
Manufacturers want to invest in technology that gives their business flexibility, and this is where waterjet shines. Waterjets are advancing to be faster, more accurate, and less expensive to operate. For most shops, faster cutting results in higher throughput; better accuracy means they can tackle applications with stricter requirements; and lower operating costs means a better return on investment.
Cut Quality and Accuracy
With waterjet cutting, stream lag and taper are inevitable, but with Flow’s decades of waterjet expertise and innovation, we’ve developed Dynamic Waterjet® which compensates for these inherent errors, allowing parts to be cut faster and more accurately. The ability to cut high-quality parts reduces waste, increases productivity, and leads to higher ROI for shops.
Recognizing the industry’s diversity, Flow offers a wide selection of waterjet cutting solutions. We introduced an affordable and simple-to-use 5-axis technology with the design of the Pivot+ Waterjet and made advancements to true 3D cutting capabilities with our Dynamic XD. We also developed tools for height sensing and contour following for Flow cutting heads to optimize the cutting experience.
User-friendly Software
Software is a critical component of waterjet cutting, contributing to cut part quality, accuracy, and overall productivity. FlowXpert software solutions are intuitive and comprehensive and we also offer true 3D CAD capabilities.
An essential aspect of waterjet evolution is software-based. Flow is employing modern software design principles, by developing a new, more intuitive user experience allowing a faster user ramp, less need for waterjet specific expertise, and significantly more flexibility for automation of workflow. This new foundation opens new possibilities for integrating waterjet technology into multi-process production environments bringing the value of the waterjet process to new markets.
The Future of Waterjet
The industry is also shifting away from break/fix to a more preventative maintenance model. Reliable and predictable maintenance supports maximum uptime, giving manufacturers what they need to increase overall system efficiency. Flow also sees significant growth in software and connectivity. Connected machines will supply data ranging from predictive maintenance intervals to optimized machine operation to continually improve the cutting process. Using a combination of sensors and algorithms to generate action-based alerts to the user enhances machine durability while ensuring the system continues to run optimally. The impact of having a connected system simplifies maintenance, operation, and communication with Flow by not only sensing a potential risk but also providing a clear action-based path to mitigate and resolve.
