FOCUS ON WATERJET
Eckert’ s Opal Waterjet Combo.
Eckert AS Sp. z o. o. is a Polish manufacturer of CNC cutting machines, working across four technologies( laser, plasma, oxyfuel and waterjet cutting) or combined technologies( including drilling).
Its Opal Waterjet cutting system features a wide range of equipment options, including a powerful ProX 3D cutting head. It is suitable for most materials up to 250mm in thickness. Its Opal Waterjet Combo is a patented, rapid CNC waterjet for plasma and waterjet cutting. It is optionally configurable with 2D and 3D cutting heads, depending upon the application, for materials up to 250mm thick. Equipped with the Pro-X 3D waterjet cutting head, it combines the advantages of ultra-fast plasma cutting and precision waterjet cutting. The Taper X 3D tilt-head waterjet support in the Eckert range is even faster for waterjet machines in its line-up. The Taper X 3D is equipped with a pneumatic contact ring that automatically adjusts the cutting height to the thickness of the workpiece. Once the cutting head is set at the correct height, the adjustment ring moves to the park position, preventing damage when cutting at an angle. Eckert’ s customers can order a waterjet cutting machine, Opal Waterjet or Opal Waterjet Combo, equipped with the Taper X 3D tilting waterjet head.
ESAB Welding & Cutting Products offers its Hydrocut™ HDX large gantry waterjet cutting system which combines waterjet with other cutting and marking processes such as plasma cutting; plasma marking; oxyfuel cutting or plate lettering or marking tools. The Hydrocut HDX can be equipped with up to four waterjet cutting heads, two oxy-fuel stations and up to two plasma stations, including ESAB’ s DMX Plasma Beveller. Floor mounted crane rails and a rigid gantry are combined with digital AC drive amplifiers, brushless AC motors and precision gearboxes.
Finepart SA, in Sweden, manufactures micro abrasive waterjet machines. The machines are available in 3-, 4- and 5-axis versions.
Flexicon’ s JET-FEED™ garnet delivery system automatically feeds garnet directly from bulk bags to waterjet cutters.
Flow International Corporation celebrated its 50th anniversary In February 2024. It is a global specialist in the
development, engineering and marketing of ultra high-pressure pumps and complete 2D and 3D waterjet cutting systems. It manufactures the entire waterjet system including the pump, cutting head, XY table and software.
“ The latest addition to the Flow line-up, the NX Pro, is the first waterjet with fully automated abrasive recycling. No scooping. No sifting. Just smarter cutting with less waste and lower cost per part,” it told ISMR.“ This enclosed system features the industry’ s first automated abrasive recycling system, energy-saving pump technology and a new modern software upgrade designed for intuitive programming and real-time simulation.”
Flow’ s Mach 150 waterjet cutting system is designed for entry-level users. Its Mach 200c features an innovative canted bridge design for full work envelope usage, distinguishing it from standard open gantry systems. Other Flow cutting systems include the Mach 500 and Mach 750( a dual-bridge, large-format waterjet) and the EchoJet, a fully enclosed waterjet solution( with five-axis capabilities). The EchoJet’ s compact design allows it to fit in smaller spaces, where a smaller footprint is required.
Flow’ s pump technology includes its Hyplex Prime pump, the next generation of energyefficient, direct drive, ultra high-pressure waterjet pumps. The HyperJet ® intensifier pump offers 94k HyperPressure technology.
H. G. RIDDER Automatisierungs GmbH( founded in 1980) has produced the 2D and 3D WARICUT waterjet cutting machines, in a wide variety of designs( including the WARICUT micro-max water jet micro cutting) since 1991. It has also been producing energyefficient, high-pressure pumps for several years. Its WARICUT micro-max is a micro waterjet cutting machine in both 2D and 3D versions.
Flow’ s new NX Pro waterjet cutting system.
Hypertherm Asssociates’ products include Hypertherm( R) plasma and OMAX ® waterjet systems, as well as CNCs, software, pumps and automated systems. See OMAX entry for further details.
Above and below: IGEMS CAD / CAM software.
IGEMS( Sweden) offers products such as CAD / CAM & Nest software for waterjet cutting in both 2D and 3D( ranging from one-axis cutting to six-axis bevel cutting on a rotation axis), as well as a modern CNC for waterjets( together with Beckhoff). Its Tilter is a versatile 5x kinematic mechanism because it can handle 45 ° bevels and taper angle compensation. The IGEMS Rounder measures, calculates and compensates for deviation in five-axis waterjet cutting, calibrating to the cutting head.
“ The IGEMS CNC Snapper takes detailed and accurate photos of the cutting table. The image provides the basis for optimal positioning in the NC program, saving time
48 | ismr. net | ISMR May 2026