WAZER vs. WAZER Pro: Which WaterJet Cutter Is Right For Me?

What Is Waterjet Cutting?

Waterjet cutting uses a focused stream of pressurized water to follow a programmed cut path. The WAZER machines add garnet abrasive to that stream, allowing them to cut materials including metal, glass, plastic, composites, tile, and rubber.

Because the material is removed without a heated cutting tool, the process does not create a heat-affected zone along the edge. That can be useful for parts where heat-induced changes are a concern. The resulting edge and total job time still depend on the material, thickness, cut path, and settings.

Video courtesy of WAZER. 

How Does Waterjet Cutting Work?

Step 1: Generate pressure. A pump pressurizes the water. WAZER uses a separate pump box, while WAZER Pro integrates its pump into the main machine. Their electrical requirements differ, so the available circuit is an important part of choosing between them.

Step 2: Direct the water through the cutting head. The pressurized water passes through a small orifice and accelerates into a focused stream. The machine moves the cutting head along the path prepared in WAZER’s WAM software.

Step 3: Add abrasive. Garnet enters the stream at the cutting head. The combination of water and abrasive removes material along the programmed path. Cut rate and pierce time vary with the type and thickness of the stock.

What Can Waterjet Cutting Be Used For?

Due to its speed and precision, waterjet cutting is employed across numerous industries such as aerospace, automotive, construction, medical sectors, and even paper manufacturing.

In essence, if you require a material to be cut into an exact shape or design without the influence of heat, waterjet cutters offer an excellent solution.

Which WAZER Waterjet Cutter Is Right for Me?

Both machines have a 12 × 18-inch cutting area and a nominal 0.044-inch kerf. Their biggest practical differences are material-specific cutting performance, electrical requirements, and used-abrasive collection.

WAZER suits shops cutting parts within its thickness limits at a lighter or varied pace. In North America, its separate pump box uses a 110–120 V circuit. It collects some used abrasive during cutting, with additional tank-cleaning cycles needed to remove the remainder.

WAZER Pro supports thicker stock in many material categories and cuts many common thicknesses at a higher rate. It requires a suitable 220 V circuit in North America. Its abrasive collection system collects used abrasive during cutting, and its larger hopper supports up to 90 minutes of cutting before a refill, compared with 60 minutes for WAZER.

WAZER Material Breakdown: What Can Each Machine Cut?

The tables retain the detailed thickness-by-thickness comparison from the original article in a format that can be read and updated as text. Cut rate is measured in inches per minute (IPM). Pierce time is the time spent entering the material before following the cut path. Neither figure represents the complete time for a finished part.

A dash means WAZER lists that thickness as too thick for the standard WAZER machine. These published settings are a starting point; check your particular stock and confirm the result with a test cut. The figures below follow WAZER’s material specifications.

Metals

Glass

Plastics

Composites

Tile

Rubber

Waterjet cutting offers precise and versatile solutions for various materials and industries. Whether you choose the WAZER Desktop for smaller projects or the WAZER Pro for more demanding tasks, both machines deliver excellent performance.

For personalized guidance on selecting the right waterjet cutter for your needs, please contact sales@matterhackers.com.

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