09/29/2015
Garnet Power for CNC Waterjet Cutters:
Garnet, believed by some to have mystical healing powers, is also the most popular abrasive used in waterjet cutting. There are various superstitions and beliefs about garnet, including the belief that wearing it will bring good business fortune and health, and increase devotion to friends and family, but the fact that garnet is so hard, makes it a great abrasive when mixed with water to cut harder substances like steel.
Of course, garnet, which is a group of rock-forming minerals, has a variety of forms besides the gem, but the form used with waterjet cutters is the most popular abrasive because when it is fractured it has jagged edges which improve cutting ability. According to Flow International Corp., the world’s largest producer of CNC waterjets, garnet is also preferred because of its cost, cutting speed, mixing tube life, and lack of health hazards. Garnet, which is found all over the world, is relatively chemically inert so it does not react with most substances. Flow machines are equipped with both water-only cutting heads for softer materials in addition to heads for abrasive cutting.