When innovative technology combines with creativity, an astonishing array of possibilities unfolds. The WAZER Waterjet Cutter is precisely such a fascinating processing tool. Its compact size and affordable price have attracted attention from small and medium-sized businesses, schools, and artists worldwide. This time, we will delve into the appeal of this waterjet cutter and see how it is changing the conventional wisdom of processing equipment.
The WAZER desktop waterjet cutter, originating from New York, was founded in 2015 by four engineering students from the University of Pennsylvania. It was developed with the aim of providing more compact and affordable processing equipment. So, what exactly is the appeal of this WAZER waterjet cutter?
The WAZER is a waterjet cutter developed for engineers, operating at pressures up to 4,000 psi and capable of cutting various materials. Compared to conventional cutting machines, it is easier to operate, disassemble, and maintain. Since its launch in 2018, it has continued to expand its scale, providing waterjet cutters that are easy to introduce in terms of both size and price to users worldwide.
Key Features and Specifications
The WAZER desktop model measures 856 x 648 x 551 mm, and with the dedicated stand attached, it measures 856 x 548 x 1220 mm. Considering its cutting capability, it is extremely compact and can be easily installed in various locations such as factories and workshops.
While traditional waterjet cutters can cost several millions of yen, the WAZER can be introduced for less than 400,000 yen, making it a very cost-effective product for users introducing a waterjet cutter for the first time. There is no other waterjet cutter on the market that has reduced costs to this price range. The main users of the WAZER are small and medium-sized businesses looking to improve production speed and cutting quality and precision, but it is also suitable for schools and artists.
Waterjet cutters can be used with various materials such as metals, glass, plastics, composites, tiles, rubber, and foams. The WAZER has a cutting area of 305 x 460 mm, achieving both a compact size and an affordable price. This appropriate processing range can meet the needs of various users. Furthermore, customer support is available from in-house specialists. The main unit is also designed to be disassembled, and maintenance and repairs can be performed using the abundant resources provided on the WAZER official website.
The WAZER is also well-packaged for transport. It is shipped in a dedicated packing box on a pallet, with each WAZER hand-assembled one by one at the New York factory and subjected to 120 quality inspections. Each part is carefully protected with sponge to ensure it arrives safely to the user.
The set includes two buckets of abrasive, a filter, a water treatment unit, an accessory box, four replacement cutting beds, a pump box, two water sensors, a rack, and the WAZER unit itself. Adding the optional dedicated stand increases storage space and makes it easier to move the unit.
In addition, an installation kit and various accessories are included. These contain the tools and parts necessary for setting up and using the WAZER. It is also recommended to have spare washers, water taps, and other parts that may wear out with WAZER use. We also recommend reading the instruction manual once. It can help solve many problems. Most of the WAZER unit is pre-assembled, but the pump needs to be connected to the main water supply system. Following the included manual or online procedures, most users can complete this task without issues.
Hardware and Structure
Looking at the structure, this cutting machine is driven by three stepper motors. Two are located on either side of the X-axis frame controlling Y-axis movement, and one is located within the waterjet module controlling X-axis movement.
For safety reasons, the waterjet cutter is designed not to operate when the lid is open. During processing, the waterjet is sprayed onto the material, cutting it along with the abrasive. The main unit's cover prevents water and abrasive from scattering outside.
The body of the WAZER is constructed from steel, aluminum, and plastic. The aluminum frame is robust and durable, with cutouts provided in various places for ease of operation. This machine cuts materials with a single-nozzle waterjet. Water and abrasive are mixed in a mixing tube with an inner diameter of 1.1mm. The nozzle is adjustable and can be moved in the Z-axis direction to set the appropriate distance from the workpiece. The nozzle diameter is 0.48mm, and ruby or sapphire nozzles are used.
An independent pump box controls the water pressure of the WAZER. The pump box, installed at the rear of the main unit, measures 533 x 379 x 251 mm and weighs 42 kg. It can be placed anywhere according to the user's work environment, but due to its weight, it is not recommended to place it on weak chairs or similar objects. The dedicated stand is made of sturdy aluminum alloy, making assembly and installation of the unit easy. Furthermore, it effectively utilizes the unit's footprint to add storage and workspace, creating an efficient work environment.
The included cutting bed is made of polypropylene and is used as a consumable. Depending on the cut pattern and material used, it can be used for approximately 20 to 50 hours. If one side is worn out, it can be flipped over to continue using the other side.
The operation interface is a small LCD display on the right side of the main unit, operated using directional buttons. The screen has start/stop buttons for easy operation during cutting. An emergency stop button is also included, allowing immediate cessation of cutting in case of danger.
Before starting cutting, the WAZER allows for fine adjustment of the nozzle position and a test run. This allows you to confirm in advance that all parts are within the material's range. This feature is very convenient, and even if a cut fails, you can resume from the middle. When confirming cutting data, the WAZER automatically returns to the home position, allowing it to resume from the correct position even after an emergency stop or power off.
The WAZER team places a high emphasis on customer service, and users can access abundant resources and links from the WAZER official website to check for potential problems or malfunctions with the machine. Furthermore, various support methods such as email, phone, and video calls are also provided.
In addition to hardware and customer service, WAZER also offers cloud-based cutting software called "WAM." Use in a stable Wi-Fi environment is recommended, and by accessing WAM, companies and users can easily manage the system. They can import/export files, scale, position, select materials, set cutting paths, and add options manually or automatically on WAM.
The WAM user interface is generally designed to be easy to use, but you cannot drag to move and reposition when scaling or adjusting position. Users must manually input the position and magnification from the menu. While this can be somewhat inconvenient, it allows for precise setting of position and size.
So far, we have introduced the functions and uses of the WAZER cutting machine, but seeing the actual cutting results will be the most illustrative. First, we tested an industrial paint mask for 3D printing made of HDPE. With a laser cutter, acrylic can melt at contact points, leaving unsightly cut marks, but a waterjet cutter can cut smoothly without leaving marks.
Next, we tried cutting a copper plate to test if it could cut copper alloy precisely and cleanly. The cut surface was very clean, with almost no jagged edges or burrs.
What about making gears from 3mm thick aluminum? We confirmed that even fine and complex shapes could be cut without problems.
Furthermore, we tested stained glass. We used the WAZER to cut an aluminum frame and stained glass sheets to see if they could be combined cleanly. The glass finish was very good, there were no cutting failures, and no problems occurred during processing.
The protrusions of the aluminum parts were not properly secured to the workpiece, and cutting stopped three times. We removed the loose parts to reduce the risk of collision with the cutting head. This test was successful, but we also found some room for improvement.
Finally, we created the "Live, Laugh, WAZER" logo using 8mm thick ceramic. Compared to laser cutting or manual engraving, this cutting method was superior, achieving a very clean finish in a short time.
Next, we made an RC car chassis plate using a carbon fiber sheet. The cutting itself went smoothly, but some delamination occurred on the top of the workpiece. This was due to water getting between the two layers of carbon fiber and resin. The WAZER official confirmed that this is a potential issue when using laminated materials, caused by the stress generated by the waterjet during the piercing process. It is also possible that the lamination process on the material manufacturer's side was insufficient, resulting in weak adhesive strength between layers. Nevertheless, we confirmed that the WAZER can process carbon fiber materials.
Also, while stainless steel cutting is a very common application, cutting mirror-finished stainless steel with a laser is extremely difficult. So, we also tried cutting a mathematical shape stainless steel gear based on the Fibonacci spiral.
Furthermore, to test if the WAZER could cut thick metal, we also cut 12mm and 6mm thick stainless steel. Abrasive ran out during processing, so it needed to be refilled. In this real machine test, the WAZER stopped after about an hour of cutting, indicating that more abrasive was needed. However, it cannot be guaranteed that there will be no cut marks in the second cut after restarting.
The real machine test team was very impressed with the WAZER's cutting performance. It can perform processing that would normally only be possible with large industrial cutting machines, all within a compact housing. While the WAZER's precision is slightly inferior compared to models costing millions of yen, it is a very attractive option considering its cost-effectiveness and multifunctionality. Also, the WAZER's hardware and software integration is excellent, which is another significant advantage that enhances usability.
Regarding accuracy, all measurements slightly exceeded the reference values in repeatability tests. The Y-axis averaged 0.37mm and the X-axis averaged 0.14mm. The X-axis accuracy was higher than the Y-axis, and the overall standard deviation for both axes was 0.085mm, which was less than 0.1mm. This can be considered sufficiently practical performance for many applications.
Overall, the WAZER is an easy-to-use and highly operable waterjet cutter. It is suitable for those who want to meet a wide range of processing needs with a more reasonable budget. Please contact us for more information.
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