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The latest in high-tech cutting comes to DIX Metals!

The latest addition to DIX Metals’ array of advanced machinery is a Flow International Corp. Waterjet cutting system, with Dynamic Waterjet technology. Waterjet is the fastest growing machine tool process in the world. It cuts without heat and leaves a clean edge, eliminating the need for secondary finishing.

It works by pressurizing water up to 60,000 psi, and forcing it through a tiny opening Waterjets are capable of cutting a variety of materials with CNC accuracy. Typical part tolerances range from between 0.003 and 0.005 of an inch. When small amounts of abrasive particles, such as garnet, are mixed into the jet stream, the resulting "abrasive waterjet" can cut virtually any hard material such as metal, composites, stone and glass.

Waterjet cutting systems are the world's most versatile machine tools. They are capable of cutting virtually any shape in a single step with edge quality that usually requires no secondary finishing. They're the most productive solution for cutting a wide range of materials from 1/16 inch to more than eight inches thick.

Our customers will enjoy many benefits from the Waterjet cutting system:

• Minimal setup and fixturing time
• No retooling between jobs
• Multiple parts cut in a single pass
• High edge quality reduces secondary finishing
• Narrow kerf saves raw material

“Our Waterjet Cutting Systems deliver precision, machine-ready blanks with rapid speed, efficiency and savings to satisfy client demands in an ever changing manufacturing marketplace.”

Bob Dix – President & CEO, DIX Metals

ABout The Dynamic Waterjet®

A Breakthrough Waterjet Cutting Process

Dynamic Waterjet with Active Tolerance Control produces more accurate parts at significantly higher cutting speeds than parts cut with a conventional waterjet. This patent-pending system utilizes a newly-developed advanced motion system that incorporates unique mathematical cutting models, which control a small, articulated wrist that is attached to the cutting head. The wrist allows the cutting head to tilt in any direction, compensating for the stream lag and taper experienced with conventional waterjet cutting machines.

Stream lag and taper are a natural, but undesirable, result of cutting with a beam-type cutter such as a waterjet. The faster parts are cut, the greater the stream lag. Stream lag causes part geometry errors. In addition, as cut speed is increased through a given material, the waterjet beam produces ever-increasing taper. Conventional waterjets must slow down in order to reduce or eliminate finished-part tolerance errors caused by stream lag and taper. Now, with Dynamic Waterjet, these limitations are overcome.

FlowMaster Software®

User-friendly FlowMaster, Flow's intelligent, Windows®-based waterjet control system, makes the Dynamic Waterjet extremely simple to operate. All mathematical calculations take place behind the scenes, triggering the appropriate motion commands to all five axes at lightning speed. The user simply enters the basic cutting parameters, such as material type and thickness, cut speed, and desired edge finish, and FlowMaster does the rest.

FlowMaster dynamically controls the position of the cutting head. It knows the amount of tilt and rotation required at numerous incremental points along a cutting path. For example, at high speeds outside corners require increased tilt to prevent coning. FlowMaster knows the optimal cutting speed to keep parts within tolerance and taper-free. The faster the cutting speed, the more tilt that is required. In most cases the ability to tilt the cutting head allows for a faster cutting speed. Because of this, Dynamic Waterjet produces superior part features at higher speeds than those resulting from conventional waterjet cutting.

Benefits

• Cut parts 25-400% faster than conventional flat stock waterjet cutting machines
• Improve cut part tolerances and geometry at significantly higher speeds
• Virtually eliminate taper; taper is < 1 degree in straight-line geometry
• Reduce part cost
• True part stacking ability with consistent tolerance layer to layer
• No secondary finishing required
• Cut a variety of materials, such as metal, stone, glass, and composites
• Easy to program; no specialized training or knowledge required
• Cut parts using virtually any CAD file, or scan a drawing directly into FlowMaster®

DIX Metals is a full-service stainless steel distributor and stainless steel plate services provider. In addition to offering 6061 aluminum plate and other materials, our services include precision material removal processes and cutting such as Blanchard grinding, double-disc grinding, duplex milling, waterjet cutting and others — all dedicated to the preparation of precision, made-to-order metal blanks.