Waterjet vs. laser, plasma & EDM
No process wins at everything, and any honest manufacturer will tell you so. Here is a fair comparison of the four main industrial cutting methods: where each one is the right tool, and where it isn't.
The four processes, compared.
| Waterjet | Laser | Plasma | EDM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | Almost anything: stone, glass, ceramic, metal, composites, rubber, foam | Mostly metals; some plastics, wood; not reflective metals or stone/glass | Electrically conductive metals only | Electrically conductive metals only |
| Max thickness | Very high: up to ~5.9 in (150 mm) metal, ~3.9 in (100 mm) stone | Thin to medium metal (~1 in (25 mm) / ~1 in practical for most fiber lasers) | Medium-thick metal (~2 in (50 mm) / ~2 in) | Limited; slow on thick sections |
| Edge quality | Smooth, square, often ready to use | Clean on thin metal; dross & taper as thickness rises | Rougher, with dross and bevel | Excellent, very fine |
| Heat-affected zone | None: cold cutting, no HAZ | Yes: melts/burns the edge | Yes: significant heat | Small recast layer |
| Warping risk | None | Possible on thin/tall parts | Higher on thin material | Minimal |
| Kerf width | Narrow (~0.8–0 in (1.2 mm) / 0.03–0.05 in) | Very narrow on thin metal | Wide | Extremely fine (wire) |
| Secondary finishing | Often none | Often needed on thick cuts (deburr, dross) | Usually needed | Rarely |
| Speed | Moderate: wins on range, not raw speed | Fast on thin sheet metal | Fast on thick metal | Slow |
| Typical use | Stone, glass & ceramic; thick or mixed-material work; heat-sensitive parts | High-volume thin sheet-metal production | Fast, rough cutting of structural steel | Precision tooling, dies, intricate metal detail |
Figures are typical industry ranges and vary by machine, power and material. Waterjet thickness figures reflect Rich machine capability: up to 5.9 in (150 mm) aluminum and 3.9 in (100 mm) (3.9 in) stone.
When each one is the right call.
Choose waterjet when…
You cut stone, glass, ceramic or mixed materials; you need thick sections; you can't tolerate a heat-affected zone or warping; or you want a square edge with little finishing. Waterjet's advantage is range: one machine, almost any material, almost any thickness, no heat. That breadth is why it anchors a fabrication shop.
Choose laser when…
You run high volumes of thin sheet metal and raw speed is everything. On thin steel a fiber laser is hard to beat for throughput, provided you can accept a heat-affected edge and that you're not cutting reflective metals, stone or glass.
Choose plasma when…
You need to cut thick conductive metal fast and cheaply, and edge quality is a secondary concern. Plasma is quick on structural steel but leaves dross, a wider kerf and heat.
Choose EDM when…
You need extreme precision and fine detail in conductive metal, dies, tooling, intricate profiles, and you can accept that it's slow and limited to metals.
Decided waterjet is the fit?
Rich has engineered its own IP68 cutting head and intensifier in-house since 2008. Tell the configurator what you cut and get the right machine, and a real price.