Taper is generally not an issue, even on thick workpieces, unless too high a cutting speed, or other improper parameters, are selected. Minimal or no deburrin g or secondary finishing is required. Minimal lateral forces are generated, simplifying fixturing. The key pieces of equipment for a waterjet or an abrasive waterjet system are the special high-pressure pump or intensifier to provide the stream of water, the plumbing and tank or catcher unit to handle the water, the gantry, robotic or other delivery system to traverse and guide the nozzle head, and the nozzle assembly unit, which forms the jet. In the case of abrasive waterjets there is an abrasive delivery system including a hopper, a metering valve, and a mixing unit, which mixes the abrasive particles into the water system.
Equipment is available in the range from individual components to finished machine tools.
But prices appear to be dropping. More complex systems, such as 5-axis robotic systems, tend to be custom built. Plasma will cut most metals faster than abrasive waterjet. This is the prime limitation. This speed limitation of abrasive waterjet must be considered together with the issue of secondary processes.