Machine Shops Increase Productivity, Diversify Capabilities with Jet Edge 5-axis Waterjets

Machines shops can increase their productivity and take in new types of work by installing a Jet Edge waterjet cutting system.

Here is a wonderful Jet Edge success story from Gulf Machine Shop in Lake Charles, Louisiana:

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DRC Copper Mine Installs Jet Edge Water Jet Cutting Machine to Double Productivity

Waterjet manufacturer Jet Edge, Inc. and its Africa representative Jetstream Cutting Solutions CC announced today that operators of a remote copper mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are planning to double the mine’s productivity with the help of a new Jet Edge Edge X-5® 5-axis waterjet.

The DRC mine operation, which is at least a three week’s drive from Johannesburg, South Africa, plans to use the Jet Edge waterjet system to speed up the completion of a copper processing plant.  The Jet Edge machine is the mine’s second waterjet system.  In 2012, they installed a new Jetstream 3-axis waterjet, powered by a 90,000 psi (6200 bar) 50hp Jet Edge X-stream xP90-50 hydraulic intensifier pump.

             “They run their first machine 24/7,” said Jetstream Cutting Solutions Director Malcolm Cruickshank. “The Jet Edge X-Stream pump was key to the success of the first machine because they could utilize the higher pressure to increase productivity.”

           

For their second waterjet system, the mine operators selected Jet Edge’s premiere 90,000 psi (6200 bar) EDGE X-5 system with dual independently programmable 5-axis cutting heads and laser plate mapping system, Aquavision Di industrial PC controller, and 5-axis waterjet cutting software.

            Cruickshank noted that the mine officials chose a Jet Edge system for their second machine based on the reliability of their first Jet Edge pump, and Jet Edge’s ability to quickly supply spare parts when needed.

           

“Reliability is very important to them due to the remoteness of the mine,” he said. “They appreciate the speed with which Jet Edge can supply spares.”

            Jake Hall, a Jetstream subcontractor and director of Mobile Digital Solutions of Sylvania, Australia, oversaw the installation of the Jet Edge system and trained the mine’s waterjet operators how to use the new 5-axis machine.

          

  “The EDGE X-5 is a good system,” Hall noted.  “It’s intuitive and easy to operate.  I’ve seen lots of systems in my 11 years working with waterjets and it seems to do the job very well and is easy to teach.  The Aquavision Di controller is extremely reliable.  The software is great.  It solves a lot of the problems of other CAD/CAM software.  It’s been specifically designed with waterjetting in mind. Lead ins and outs are easy and it’s easy to nest multiple parts.  Most importantly, you’re not stuck to a certain order. With some software, if you miss one step, you have to start all over again.  Jet Edge’s software is flexible and it’s not labor intensive.  The library of materials is good and the speed control is good.”

            Hall added that he has been very impressed with Jet Edge’s X-Stream intensifier pumps, service and training.

            “The X-Stream pump is bullet-proof,” he said. “We feel comfortable that we have a good support network and that we can call Jet Edge any time, day or night.”

Find Out More

For information about Jetstream Cutting Solutions CC, visit www.jetstreamcutting.co.za or call (+27 11) 468 1093.

For information about Mobile Digital Solutions, visit www.mobiledigitalsolutions.com.au or call +61 (0) 401 582 610.

For information about Jet Edge, visit www.jetedge.com or call +1 763-497-8726.

About Jetstream Cutting Solutions CC

Based in Johannesburg, South Africa, Jetstream Cutting Solutions represents Jet Edge waterjets in several Southern African nations. Jetstream carries Jet Edge’s full line of waterjet cutting and surface preparation equipment, including waterjet cutting machines, waterjet intensifier pumps and portable waterjetting systems. The company also supplies Jet Edge waterjet parts and is authorized to service Jet Edge waterjet equipment.  In addition to Jet Edge waterjets, Jetstream sells, installs and services other 3-axis waterjet systems and UHP pumps.

About Jet Edge
Established in 1984, Jet Edge is a global designer and manufacturer of waterjet systems for precision cutting, surface preparation and coating removal. Jet Edge systems are used around the world in a broad range of industries, from the world's leading airlines to automotive, aerospace, industrial manufacturers, machine and job shops. Jet Edge waterjets are proudly made in U.S.A.

Michael Waltrip Endorses Jet Edge Waterjets in New Video

NASCAR legend Michael Waltrip injects his trademark humor and master pitchman skills into a new video endorsing Jet Edge precision waterjet cutting systems.  Watch the video on Jet Edge’s YouTube Channel at www.youtube.com/jetedgewaterjets.

In the video, Waltrip, a two-time Daytona 500 champion and co-owner of Michael Waltrip Racing credits Jet Edge for helping MWR become a major player in NASCAR’s highly competitive Sprint Cup Series.  

“Racing is a team sport and one of our most important team members is our Jet Edge waterjet,” Waltrip says.  “Thanks to Jet Edge, we’re able to take design improvements to the racetrack weeks faster, and that makes us a force to be reckoned with.”

Waltrip explains that the Jet Edge waterjet has been so critical to MWR’s success, they decided to add a second system.  MWR Chief Technical Officer Tom German joins Waltrip in the video, providing an overview of the NASCAR team’s new Jet Edge EDGE X-5 5-axis waterjet and the team’s plans for its use.

“Our engineering department is very excited to have this powerful new tool,” German says. “The Jet Edge EDGE X-5 is taking our fabricating capabilities to a whole new level.  In fact, we’ve already taken design improvements to the track and Victory Lane.”

MWR installed its first Jet Edge in 2008, when the new NASCAR team was struggling to get off the ground.  In 2013, MWR doubled the size of its water jet shop as part of a major capital improvement project and added the new 5-axis Jet Edge to complement its existing system.  MWR uses its Jet Edge waterjet systems to cut more than 1,000 parts for its three Sprint Cup teams, which include the #55 Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota Camry driven by Brian Vickers and Waltrip, the #56 NAPA AUTO PARTS Toyota Camry driven by Martin Truex Jr., and the #15 5-hour ENERGY Toyota Camry driven by Clint Bowyer. 

MWR values its waterjet systems so much, it has twice surprised the small family owned Minnesota company with Jet Edge decaled Sprint Cup cars.  Brian Vickers raced the #55 Jet Edge Toyota Camry to an 11^th place finish this spring at Martinsville Speedway and the #55 Jet Edge-Freightliner Toyota Camry to a ninth place finish last fall at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

Established in 1984, Jet Edge is a global designer and manufacturer of waterjet systems for precision cutting, surface preparation and coating removal. Jet Edge waterjets are used around the world in a broad range of industries, from the world's leading airlines to automotive, aerospace, industrial manufacturers, machine and job shops.

For more information about Jet Edge, visit www.jetedge.com, e-mail sales@jetedge.com or call 1-800-JET-EDGE (538-3343). Follow us on Twitter @jetedge.

MWR Installs Jet Edge 5-Axis Waterjet System

Jet Edge, Inc. is pleased to announce that Michael Waltrip Racing (MWR) has installed a second Jet Edge precision water jet cutting system at its fabrication shop in Cornelius, N.C.

For its second waterjet machine, MWR selected Jet Edge’s new EDGE X-5 5-axis waterjet cutting system, which is capable of cutting beveled and taper-free parts from virtually any material. The machine is powered by a 100hp Jet Edge iP55-100 hydraulic intensifier pump that pressurizes water to 55,000 psi and features IGEMS CAD/CAM/NESTING software.  This new multi-axis water jet system complements MWR’s existing 3-axis 90,000 psi 100 hp High Rail Gantry system, installed in 2008.

MWR uses its Jet Edge waterjets to cut more than 1,000 parts for each of its NASCAR Sprint Cup cars.  It builds about 56 cars per year, including the #55 Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota Camry driven by Michael Waltrip, Mark Martin and Brian Vickers, the #56 NAPA AUTO PARTS Toyota Camry driven by Martin Truex Jr., and the #15 5-hour ENERGY Toyota Camry driven by Clint Bowyer.

“Our engineering department is very excited to have this powerful new tool,” said Tom German, MWR chief technical officer. “The Jet Edge EDGE X-5 is taking our fabricating capabilities to a whole new level. In fact, we’ve already taken design improvements to the track and Victory Lane.”

Jet Edge President Jude Lague said Jet Edge is proud to install a second system at Michael Waltrip Racing.

“MWR has a lot at stake when it comes to the performance and reliability of its manufacturing equipment,” Lague said.  “We’re very proud that we’ve earned their confidence and that they chose Jet Edge for their second system.”   

For more information about Jet Edge, visit www.jetedge.com, call 1-800-JET-EDGE (538-3343) or e-mail sales@jetedge.com.  For more information about Michael Waltrip Racing, visit www.michaelwaltripracing.com.

About Jet Edge
Established in 1984, Jet Edge is a global designer and manufacturer of waterjet systems for precision cutting, surface preparation and coating removal. Jet Edge systems are used around the world in a broad range of industries, from the world's leading airlines to automotive, aerospace, industrial manufacturers, machine and job shops. Jet Edge waterjet systems are proudly made in the U.S.A. For more information about Jet Edge, visit www.jetedge.com, e-mail sales@jetedge.com or call +1-763-497-8700.  Follow us on Twitter @jetedge.

Jet Edge Awarded Patent for Water Jet Seal

Jet Edge, Inc. announced today that the United States Patent and Trademark Office has issued the waterjet manufacturer a patent for a high pressure fluid sealing mechanism designed by Jet Edge R&D Engineer Michael Wheeler.

Jet Edge’s proprietary high pressure fluid sealing mechanism (U.S. Patent 8,333,387) improves waterjet seal life by providing robust Metal-on-Metal sealing without the use of conventional plastic seals.  This technology uses two convex curved surfaces in single line contact with one another to seal ultra-high pressure (UHP) fluid at static pressures up to 130,000 psi. To view the patent, visit http://1.usa.gov/VuWMjM.

“Jet Edge’s revolutionary Metal-on-Metal sealing technology marks a tremendous breakthrough in waterjet technology,” said Jet Edge President Jude Lague. “With it, we are able to offer one of the longest seal lives in the industry, which translates into higher productivity and lower maintenance costs for our customers.”

Jet Edge initially developed the Metal-on-Metal seal to meet the increased performance demands of its X-Stream (XP) pressure intensifier pumps, which produce dynamic cutting pressures of 75,000 psi.  The technology has proven so successful that the waterjet manufacturer has expanded its use into additional product lines, including its ECO-JET direct drive pumps and several of its 60,000 psi intensifier pumps.

With its Metal-on-Metal sealing technology, Jet Edge has been able to eliminate static seals in its XP intensifiers and ECO-JET direct drive pumps, Wheeler noted.

“This has effectively cut the number of seals that can fail or need to be changed in half,” Wheeler said.  “I've assembled and disassembled these seals countless times and most of the time a quick cleaning of the surfaces with a Scotch-Brite® pad and a fresh coat of Blue Lube is all the maintenance that's ever needed.  The Metal-on-Metal seals that are part of the cylinders in our R&D ECO-JET have at least 40 million pressure cycles on them.”

Wheeler noted that it took a tremendous team effort to develop the technology and achieve the patent.

“I want to thank Jude Lague for funding the research, development, and legal work that lead to this patent, [Jet Edge Engineering Manager] Dave Lafavor for encouraging the research, [former Jet Edge employee] Reynold Sacquitne for his help in testing and troubleshooting the technology, [Jet Edge machinist] Brian Wallace for his excellent job machining the prototypes that lead to this technology, and [attorney] Paul Grunzweig for helping us find our way through the legal process of writing and obtaining the patent,” he said.

A waterjet industry leader since 1984, Jet Edge owns a variety of patents related to ultra-high pressure waterjet technology.  Jet Edge manufactures complete waterjet systems, including precision CNC waterjet gantries, waterjet pumps, accessories and parts.  It offers the widest range of waterjet pumps in the industry.

About Jet Edge
Established in 1984, Jet Edge is a global designer and manufacturer of waterjet systems for precision cutting, surface preparation and coating removal. Jet Edge systems are used around the world in a broad range of industries, from the world's leading airlines to automotive, aerospace, industrial manufacturers, machine and job shops. Jet Edge waterjet systems are proudly made in the U.S.A. For more information about Jet Edge, visit www.jetedge.com, e-mail sales@jetedge.com or call +1-763-497-8700.  Follow us on Twitter @jetedge.

5 Axis Water Jet Technology Introduced by Jet Edge

Water jet manufacturer Jet Edge, Inc., is now offering 5 axis water jet cutting technology with Intelligent Kerf Compensation (IKC).


Available on select Jet Edge 5 axis water jet cutting systems, the innovative IKC 5-Axis water jet cutting head is capable of making inclined cuts and controlling kerf to ensure optimal part quality. The IKC’s capabilities include 600º rotation, a maximum angle of +/- 60º, and dynamic precision from +/-0.2 to +/-0.5 mm/m, depending on the tilt of head.

For more information about Jet Edge waterjets, visit www.jetedge.com or call 1-800-JET-EDGE (538-3343).

About Jet Edge

Established in 1984, Jet Edge is a global designer and manufacturer of waterjet systems for precision cutting, surface preparation and coating removal. Jet Edge water jets are used around the world in a broad range of industries, from the world's leading airlines to automotive, aerospace, industrial manufacturers, machine and job shops. For more information about Jet Edge, visit www.jetedge.com, e-mail sales@jetedge.com or call 1-800-JET-EDGE (538-3343).