Corte por chorro de agua: libertad de diseño para plásticos y elastómeros

In fastening and sealing technology, precisely manufactured components and an optimal fit are crucial for functionality, durability, and safety. Particularly in the production of plastic fasteners made from PA, PE, PP, POM, or PTFE, as well as seals and components made from synthetic elastomers like NBR, EPDM, or neoprene, waterjet cutting has established itself as a powerful and versatile process.

How does waterjet cutting work?

In waterjet cutting, water is forced through a very fine nozzle at extremely high pressure (> 3,000 bar). The resulting jet reaches speeds of up to 900 meters per second and produces a clean, burr-free cut—even for plastic parts with very small radii starting from 0.04 mm.

Waterjet cutting for plastic parts: high precision and contour accuracy

A key advantage of waterjet cutting is its wear-free process, which requires no specialized tools and is therefore highly cost-efficient. The consistently sharp water jet ensures uniformly high precision across the entire production of plastic parts and plastic fasteners. This results in extremely clean, virtually burr-free cut edges—ideal for components that require tight tolerances and typically eliminating the need for post-processing.

Cold cutting process for dimensionally stable plastic components

Another major advantage is the cold cutting process. Unlike thermal machining methods, no heat-affected zones occur that could alter the material properties of engineering plastics such as polyamide or POM. This ensures that plastic fasteners, seals, and technical plastic parts maintain their mechanical properties and dimensional stability. Even thicker or flexible materials, such as neoprene seals, NBR, or EPDM, remain precise and deformation-free.

Waterjet cutting of plastic fasteners and seals

Customized plastic parts – maximum design freedom

The direct use of CAD data allows seamless conversion of design specifications into production. Plastic parts and fasteners can be manufactured exactly to drawing, while geometry changes can be implemented quickly and without tooling costs. This makes waterjet cutting particularly suitable for product development, prototyping, and variant production. Depending on the nozzle size, the effective cutting radius typically ranges from 0.04 to 0.4 mm—enabling the precise production of plastic fasteners, washers and custom plastic components with fine contours.

Waterjet cutting enables complex shapes and intricate geometries

Waterjet cutting is ideal for both prototype manufacturing and pre-series production of plastic components. Applications range from custom plastic washers to parts made to drawing, including plastic fasteners with complex geometries and delicate precision parts with thin walls or fine cut-outs. Optimized cutting paths ensure efficient material usage in series production, while multi-head cutting systems increase productivity for larger volumes of plastic parts.

FAQ – Waterjet cutting for plastic fasteners & seals

What are the advantages of waterjet cutting for plastic fasteners?

Waterjet cutting is a highly precise and versatile manufacturing process for plastic fasteners, seals and other technical plastic parts. The main advantages include:

High precision and exact contour accuracy for plastic components
Burr-free cut edges without post-processing
Cold cutting process without thermal stress on plastics
No tooling costs and no tool wear
Ideal for complex plastic fasteners and intricate geometries
Fast and flexible implementation of CAD designs

Which plastics can be processed with waterjet technology?

Waterjet cutting is suitable for a wide range of engineering plastics, including polyamide (PA), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyoxymethylene (POM), and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). Elastic materials such as NBR, EPDM, and neoprene can also be processed with high precision. This makes the method ideal for producing custom-made plastic fasteners, sealing elements, and technical plastic parts.

Why is waterjet cutting ideal for plastic fasteners and seals?

The process is particularly suitable for plastic fasteners and seals because:

No heat-induced material changes occur
Soft and elastic materials retain their shape
Extremely fine contours and precise cut-outs are possible

This ensures a high level of dimensional accuracy and a long service life of the plastic components.

How precise is waterjet cutting for plastics parts?

Waterjet cutting enables extremely fine cuts with radii starting from approx. 0.04 mm. This allows the production of high-precision plastic parts and fasteners with consistently high quality—even in series production.

What geometries are possible when waterjet cutting plastic parts?

The process enables 1) complex and customized contours, 2) intricate structures, 3) tight radii and fine cut-outs, and 4) thin-walled components. This provides maximum design freedom for bespoke plastic parts and fasteners.

Is waterjet cutting suitable for prototypes and small series?

Yes, waterjet cutting is ideal for prototyping, small batch production, and custom fasteners and other plastic parts. Since no tooling is required, design changes can be implemented quickly and cost-effectively—making it perfect for development and flexible manufacturing.