Cutting elastic materials using a tabletop water jet device

Abstract

Most of the previous studies on waterjet cutting have been limited to abrasive waterjet cutting, which can cut even hard materials such as metals using water mixed with abrasive. In this study, experiment to cut soft materials such as PVF, EVA using low-pressure water without abrasive was conducted. A desktop waterjet cutting machine was fabricated and a circular sample was cut out. To improve the kerf quality, roller jigs which hold a workpiece was attached to the nozzle section. The stronger the rollers are pressed against the material, the more accurate the cut-out of material becomes. This is because the undesirable material deformation caused by traverse of the jet was suppressed by pressing the rollers against the material.