eHow: Waterjet Concrete Cutting Tools Waterjet Concrete Cutting Tools Waterjet Concrete Cutting Tools

Waterjet cutting can sometimes be useful in demolition.

The same toughness that makes concrete a valuable building material also makes it difficult to cut. One approach involves a stream of water that cuts into the concrete, usually in combination with an abrasive. This technique is called waterjet cutting. The requisite equipment depends to some extent on the type of machine you have, although most such devices share certain features.

Machine

• A waterjet machine pressurizes water to pressures between 20,000 and 60,000 lbs. per square inch, forcing the stream of water through an inlet leading into a tiny orifice called a jewel. The high-velocity beam of water that emerges from the jewel can erode and wear away at the targeted material. Pure water by itself, however, is typically only sufficient to cut softer materials, or materials with existing cracks.

Guard & Mixing Tube

• Waterjets for cutting concrete add several additional pieces of equipment to the machine. As it leaves the jewel, the water creates a vacuum that draws abrasive into the stream from an adjacent injector called the abrasive line. The mixed water and abrasive then feed into a mixing tube surrounded by a protective guard. The emerging stream of water and abrasive can chew into the concrete and gradually wear it away. Guard and mixing tube are collectively called an abrasive jet nozzle.

Components

• The waterjet cutter must be properly mounted -- usually on a steel base and carriage that enables the operator to adjust the aim and direct the beam at the appropriate target. The water entering the machine is filtered and in some cases is cooled by a chiller, and the machine itself contains high-pressure pumps and intensifiers. Waterjet cutters typically feature a programmable controller so the operator can adjust the intensity of the beam.

Features

• Different nozzles are available for waterjet cutters. Typically the size and shape of the orifice vary so that the operator can fine-tune the abrasive-water mix and depth of the cut. Because concrete is such a hard material, it generally requires both abrasive and high water pressure. You can also choose from a variety of abrasives. Silica glass and garnet are among the most common owing to their hardness and their relatively inexpensive price.

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