By David Arthur
Jet Edge, Inc.
Jet Edge, Inc.
Weld preparation can be a difficult and time consuming
operation on thick or exotic materials.
Weld preparation on arcs or angular contours can present even more of a
labor and capital intensive issue.
Prep angles produced by thermal cutting processes require a
secondary operation such as grinding or machining to remove slag and / or the
Heat Affected Zone ( HAZ ) before welding.
Each of these operations require material handling time, which is
sometimes a large variable in the cost of
production, ultimately increasing turnaround time while decreasing efficiency
and profit.
 |
| Fig. 1 Cuts can easily be defined to create different bevel profiles via parametric data added to 2D geometry. |
All of these issues can be alleviated with the addition of
Jet Edge’s X-5 five
axis water jet system. The X-5 is
capable of producing +/- 50 degree bevels in a multitude of configurations (See
Fig 1.) on virtually any geometry.
Since the water
jet cut is a “cold” supersonic grinding process it produces no slag or HAZ
resulting in a fully prepped, finished part in one operation. In addition, the cold cutting process does
not produce any micro-cracking, recast layer or any change whatsoever in the
material characteristics.
No
smoke or fumes are produced during the process, including chromium smoke from
stainless steel, making OSHA compliance
a much easier task.
Finished part tolerances are such that fitting operations
become significantly more repeatable and consistent , which ultimately results
in additional labor savings.
With a 12” Z axis travel, thick materials can be processed
in one setup saving significant time and production cost. Laser material mapping and contact surface
sensing features are available to accommodate uneven material and the relieving
of the material during the cutting process.
The IGEMS CAD/CAM software makes adding bevel features quick and
simple.
In addition to beveling, the EDGE X-5 5-axis
waterjet system can produce virtually taper free cuts utilizing the Taper
Angle Control (TAC) function. Thanks to
the extensive tech table contained in the IGEMS CAD/CAM software, the EDGE X-5
can compensate for the inherent taper created by the water
jet cutting process. This allows the
end user to choose any edge quality and create taper free parts. The tech table is user definable giving the
operator / programmer the ability to change the characteristics of the TAC data
for any material as well as create and edit new materials based on individual
need. The new IGEMS TubeCut module adds the
capability for cutting features into pipe / tube making the X-5 a powerful tool
for any fabrication facility.
The X-5 offers the same rigid, fully supported gantry design
as other Jet Edge waterjet
motion systems. It is entirely ball screw driven with
top quality motion components, Rexroth AC servo motors and
drives, all controlled with a rugged industrial PC designed to withstand
any demanding production schedule. A
standard handheld pendant allows the operator the freedom to control the system
from any point around the machine.
With sheet metal enclosures and filtered blowers on each
axis to ensure that no environmental contaminants reach the ball screws or
ways, the EDGE X-5 is configured for longevity, reliability and low total cost
of ownership.
To complement the EDGE X-5 waterjet system, Jet Edge offers a full line of UHP
intensifier pumps from 30 horsepower to 200 horsepower, 60,000 or 75,000 PSI. All
tie-rod intensifier construction and a patented seal design assure minimal
maintenance and maximum up time.
Contact us today and let a Jet Edge Sales Representative
tailor a solution for your business to increase your efficiency and profits
while decreasing your turnaround time.
About the Author
Based in Atlanta,
David Arthur is Jet Edge’s Southeast and South Central regional manager. 
Posts
