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.

Precision Waterjet Concepts Installs Second Jet Edge Waterjet Cutting System

Jet Edge Inc. is pleased to announce that Precision Waterjet Concepts Inc. has installed a Jet Edge Mid Rail Gantry water jet cutting system at its full-service 5-axis and 2-axis waterjet cutting facility in Northern Minnesota. The Mid Rail Gantry is the company’s second Jet Edge system. They also have two 5-axis waterjets.

With their new Jet Edge Mid Rail Gantry system, Precision Waterjet Concepts can now cut large parts twice as fast thanks to the system’s dual abrasivejet cutting heads with mirroring capabilities. Powered by a 60KSI, 150hp Jet Edge iP60-150 waterjet intensifier pump, the Mid Rail Gantry is capable of processing materials up to 8’x13’. The system complements the company’s existing 5-axis waterjets which process materials up to 144" x 96" x 36”, and its workhorse Jet Edge High Rail Gantry System which features four abrasivejet cutting heads for high-volume cutting of materials up to 9’x13’. The High Rail Gantry also is powered by a Jet Edge iP60-150 pump.

An ISO9001:2008-certified company, Precision Waterjet Concepts serves a wide variety of customers nationwide and cuts virtually any material, specializing in AR Plating and titanium.

Precision Waterjet Concepts has grown an average of 20-30% each year since opening in 2002 and has had to relocate three times to accommodate its growth, said Joe Quaal, company president. In 2008, the company built a state-of-the-art 19,000 square foot headquarters in Pequot Lakes, Minn., designing it especially for the waterjet cutting process and for future growth.

Quaal attributes his company’s success to an overall increase in awareness about waterjet technology as well as to his company’s commitment to quality and its full-service solutions approach that includes CNC programming, intricate 3D cutting, high-volume 2D cutting, CMM inspection, final machining and welding. The company even machines its own 5-axis fixtures on a vertical machining center to ensure parts are cut to customer specification.

Precision Waterjet Concepts originally started as a 5-axis only shop, but added its first Jet Edge system in 2006 after determining that many customers also needed high-volume parts cutting services that were impractical on a 5-axis system.

“We chose Jet Edge for our 2-axis systems because they are easier to run and maintain than the competitor systems that we looked at, plus we were looking for a manufacturer in Minnesota that could get someone in here quick if there was a problem,” Quaal said. “We went with a Mid Rail Gantry for our second system because of the mirroring system and programmable head spacing. We cut a lot of extremely large parts and we can save a lot of time and money by mirroring. Fifty percent of the time, we are mirroring. The programmable head spacing also saves us 10-15 minutes per job on set up time.”

Quaal noted that Jet Edge’s mirroring system holds much tighter tolerances than competitor systems that he had considered.

“When we bought the second system, I got quotes from four companies and visited them all,” he said. “The Jet Edge’s tolerance was impressive. It met our specifications. The other machines that do mirroring don’t come back into spec. Some of them are off by .030” to .040”. You can’t have a step like that on a part. Their head spacing tolerance had too much slop.”

Quaal also noted that his Jet Edge intensifier pumps have been much less expensive to maintain than a competitor pump that powers his 5-axis systems.

“Our Jet Edge pumps cost 20% less to maintain than our other pump because the Jet Edge seals are less expensive. The seal life is similar, but we save $8,000 to $9,000 a year. The Jet Edge iP60-150s are the best thing on the market. I will keep putting them in.”

More Information

For more information about Precision Waterjet Concepts, visit http://www.waterjetconcepts.com/ or call 218-568-5052.

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

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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 1-800-JET-EDGE (538-3343).

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).