Re: Water jet sheet foam cutting

Sounds very interesting and you are correct that you do not need the
high pressures as you would for steel.

The thing that made me take water out of considderatin for cutting
1/8 thick aluminum (besides cost) was the cost.

up front cost was high, but running the pump was also extreemly high.
IIRC it was 50 hp motor to run the pump.

Dave





--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, "Graham Stabler" <eexgs@n...>
wrote:

> I use a material called depron for making model aircraft. It is
> similar but not quite the same as meat tray foam or burger box foam.
>
> A friend mentioned that it might be possible to water jet cut it

and

> it struck me that this might be one application that water jet
> cutting could be applied to in the home workshop.
>
> I'm sure it wouldn't take all that much pressure to cut through 2,3
> and 6mm sheet and the jet might be made quite small.
>
> I was just wondering what people thought of the concept and what
> would be required as far as a pump goes. Also what kind of nozzle
> keeps the water firing in a nice narrow jet and perhaps more to the
> point how do you protect your rails etc from all that water.
>
> I'm guessing a belt drive system would make sense because of the

low

> cutting forces (X and Y at least) and the fact that belts don't

rust.

>
> Thoughts?
>
> Graham