Fibre composites such as CFC, CFP, GRP and carbon are enjoying ever more interdisciplinary popularity thanks to their formability, corrosion resistance, stability and lightness. Especially in lightweight construction and space travel, production must be adapted accordingly. This increases the need for delicate all-purpose cutting processes, as composite materials fray easily and their mechanical material properties such as heat resistance, radiation absorption or fire resistance can be easily impaired during cutting.

In addition, the dust generated during machining must be discharged as it is harmful to health and, as an electric conductor, can also damage the machinery. There is a simultaneous requirement for high precision and flexibility for machining. These high demands put the spotlight on one tool technology: waterjet cutting.

This is because the cold-cutting technique enables highly delicate working and cuts even the finest and most complex structures accurately, reproducibly and virtually fully automatically with tolerances of +/- 0.1 millimetres. Thanks to the very thin die clearance of 0.3-1.0 millimetres, this technology is not only fast and cheap but also delivers high material efficiency with minimum tool wear. Reworking of frayed areas etc. is not necessary. Likewise, in contrast to thermal cutting techniques, neither hardening or tensions on the workpiece nor harmful steam, dust or smoke occur during the cutting process, since cutting can also take place under water.

All in all, waterjet cutting is an environmentally friendly and inexpensive way to cut all customary composite materials. More than that: Unlike milling, almost all other materials can be cut on the same machine without much time-consuming retooling. Last but not least, the water used can be treated and reused. These requirements are met by the waterjet cutting systems of Europe’s leading manufacturer, STM.

With its modular system, the Austrian waterjet pioneer specialises in customised complete solutions and offers interested companies a full service perfected down to the last detail. The range of services covers consulting and test cuts, training courses, service and maintenance right down to the comprehensive supply of wear parts and operating resources, and financial management. With this all-round support, STM provides an opportunity to switch to new, more efficient technology. The best examples are the carbon processing waterjet users, tfc tools for composite GmbH and 3c-Carbon Composite Company GmbH. For further information, see www.stm-waterjet.com.

Waterjet technology that grows with you – STM makes it possible

STM’s waterjet system can cut composites efficiently. STM’s modular waterjet cutting system can be individually adapted to current requirements.

The Austrian company has been specialising in the universal and economic implementation of waterjet technology for over 30 years. Even with inexpensive entry-level models such as the STM EcoCut, in principle any composite material can be cut on one and the same machine with either pure water or the addition of abrasive sand and without the need for time-consuming retooling. At the same time, the pressure can be continuously adjusted to match the material properties. With soft composites, the working pressure can be throttled down to 600 bar during drilling, while with harder materials, cutting can take place using pressures up to 4,000 bar. With the high-pressure pump, functions such as frequency converter and soft start ensure energy and cost efficiency and environmentally friendly operation. Programming cutting tasks takes only a few minutes with the intuitive STM SmartCut software. Drawn workpieces are scanned by the software and nested in the best possible way for larger lot sizes. From this point, a fully automated cutting process starts up.

Possible additional system equipment such as a pneumatic drilling spindle for drilling sensitive materials or the OneClean modular water treatment system are available as options for all systems and can be retrofitted at any time at a later date.

In brief: Companies can grow with new tasks without friction losses, since STM’s modular system provides a practical solution for almost any cutting challenge. The possibilities go far beyond the processing of composite materials and include materials such as steel, aluminium, metal, stone, ceramics, plastic and glass.

Infinite possibilities, manageable investment

The all-rounder among the STM systems is the PremiumCut, which provides unlimited cutting options thanks to its full range of features. Companies that mainly cut 2D workpieces are equipped with an EcoCut for the production of smaller series.

With full capacity utilisation, the acquisition costs can be amortised after just a few years. STM’s accompanying “one-stop shop” promise ensures economical operation: STM specialists ensure the best possible use of STM technology by advising customers on site and personally supporting them from training, installation and ongoing operation to maintenance and the procurement of wear parts and operating materials.

This applies not least to assistance in applying for subsidies as investment in waterjet cutting is subsidised by the State – in Germany until 2023, in Austria until April 2021!

Getting into waterjet cutting made easy

Interested parties can check the performance of STM systems by means of an individual test cut or at any time at the STM test centres in Germany, Austria or Switzerland without obligation. Upon request, you will be provided with a free system proposal including a cost-benefit analysis, so that you can precisely assess the suitability of a waterjet cutting system based on your own requirements. Second-hand systems and financing models mean that procuring a machine is still possible even if the room for financial manoeuvres is limited.