Intensifier and an abrasive management system retrofitted to a waterjet cutting table has provided highly reliable operation, improved cutting speed and a consistent quality of cut.

A Streamline SL-V 50 HP intensifier and an AMS I Abrasive Management System manufactured by KMT Waterjet Systems have been retrofitted to a waterjet cutting table at AquaCut. The Knutsford, UK-based company has been established as an independent specialist sub-contractor for over 10 years and specialises in waterjet cutting for the production of logos, lettering and images in a variety of materials for signage, flooring and the development of exterior landscape features. AquaCut uses the power and versatility of waterjet to cut the materials, curves and more intricate shapes and designs that customers specify.

Lettering and signage is frequently cut from stainless steel brass and aluminium.

Flooring materials include marble, granite, tiles, pvc, linoleum, stone, slate, flotex and rubber.

For exterior landscape projects, hard materials such as paver bricks can be cut in thicknesses up to 65mm.

Only waterjet can cope efficiently with such a wide range of material or the intricacies of some of the shapes required.

AquaCut's skill is to take a customer's design and turn it into a computer generated detailed drawing.

A required design to be cut is then transferred to the computer of the cutting table.

Cuttings paths are worked out and abrasive waterjet cutting operations at pressures up to 58,000 lb/in2 are carried out.

The retrofit of the Streamline SL-V 50HP pump has provided AquaCut with a number of benefits including highly reliable operation, improved cutting speed and a consistent quality of cut.

Energy savings at start up are also made as a result of reduced power consumption.

The intensifier's Hard Seal End Cap design (HSEC) for the topworks provides a metal to metal seal, reducing consumable costs and minimising downtime for maintenance.

The quick release ceramic plunger also has reduced maintenance requirements and is easier to release when necessary.

Essential to the waterjet cutting process at AquaCut is the AMS I Abrasive Management System.

Including the Autoline abrasive cutting head, the Feedline III abrasive feeder and the Abraline abrasive transfer system, it is designed to automate and optimise the waterjet cutting process by ensuring exactly the correct delivery of filtered abrasive to the cutting need in accordance with the continuously monitored cutting process.

For AquaCut, the retrofit of the KMT Waterjet Systems' intensifier and Abrasive Management System have given an extra dimension to the capabilities of their cutting table.

'Waterjet cutting is fundamental to our business and KMT offers a proven product with good customer support,' said AquaCut managing director Nicholas Stephens.