Why do most waterjet machines use garnet abrasives?
Abrasives are one of the most important components of the waterjet cutting process. While pure water jets (without abrasives) can cut softer materials such as foam and rubber, the addition of abrasives enhances the jet’s cutting ability for the purpose of cutting glass, steel, and various other parts. As you might imagine, the type of abrasive used is very important in determining the finish.
Professionals have tested a variety of synthetic and natural materials for waterjet cutting. The industry’s standout choice is Garnet. The sharp edges of the garnet abrasive when fractured provide superior cutting power. Garnet has excellent properties of durability, density and particle shape to maximize cutting ability.
On the Mohs scale, diamonds have a hardness of 10 (the hardest known substance), while garnets typically have a hardness between 7.5 and 8.0. Although stronger minerals are available, garnet generally offers the best hardness at the most reasonable price. As an abrasive substance, the advantages of garnet are:
Significant hardness. Garnets usually last a long time before needing to be replaced. making it a cost-effective abrasive.
Garnets come in a variety of particle sizes and are designed to provide different results, such as smooth or rough surfaces, depending on the hardness of the material being processed. In most cases, companies need to use finer grits for processes that require higher edge quality, while larger grits are most effective for projects that require faster cuts.