A water jet cutter in every fablab soon?
Engineers from New-York developed a very compact water jet cutter. Proposed on Kickstarter at an unbeatable price for delivery end of 2017, Wazer could generalize the market for cutting any material.
Wazer, an office water jet cutter, has just taken the pot tenfold during its funding campaign on Kickstarter, namely more than $900,000 – and there are still two months left in the campaign. Its price, around $5,000 (€4,470), and its size, less than 1 meter by 60 cm, are impressive. Its creators, a team of engineers based in the Bronx, in New York, promise that the machine cuts any type of material with digital precision, just like machines that sometimes cost up to $100,000.
The advantages of the water jet
In fact, although not really affordable until now, water jet cutting (pure or with additives, such as sand, to increase abrasion) competes with the perforating method or still laser cutting through the variety of materials concerned: metal, ceramic, stone, glass or still carbon fiber, but also soft material like rubber. The other attractive feature is the neatness and cleanness of the cut: no deformation due to heat, no dust, no toxic vapors, etc. As for the water used, it’s 10 to 20% less than a conventional shower.
A price that cuts everything but not as fast
But the main thing we remember about the Wazer is of course its price. One must however put things into perspective regarding its performances by comparison with large-plated machines. The engineers had to make some concessions on the pressure of the jet. Therefore, the cutting will take longer and the thicknesses will be lower (2.54 cm maximum), which usually is an advantage of the water jet cutter compared to the laser cutter. Demonstrations indicate that you can cut titanium and shape a bicycle cogwheel, the seat of a chair or still a knife.
The engineers of Wazer also consider that the low bulk, hitherto unseen, works in favor of the adoption of the machine in workshops. But it isn’t for now yet… up to this day, the 200 odd large contributors on Kickstarter will receive their machines in August-September 2017. The rest of the pre-orders in only accessible for Americans and Canadians, the smallest contribution actually consisting of helping its designers to consider a more international distribution.
Wazer presentation video:
More information on the project on Kickstarter