Comparing cutting technologies: discover the advantages of waterjet cutting!
Apr 15, 2025When it comes to industrial cutting, choosing the right technology makes all the difference. Waterjet cutting is an extremely versatile solution that allows you to process any material, from metals to natural stone, plastics, and even food products.
Compared to technologies like plasma, laser, and EDM, it offers significant advantages: versatility, cold cutting, and perfectly smooth edges without the need for secondary finishing.
• Waterjet: erosion process using a high-pressure water stream
• Plasma: combustion/fusion process using a high-temperature ionized gas arc
• Laser: fusion process using a focused laser beam
• EDM: erosion process using electrical discharge
What are the different features of each cutting technology?
WATERJET
• Materials and thickness: can cut any material, with a cutting capacity up to 300 mm.
• Secondary processing and edges: the process leaves perfectly smooth edges, with no need for finishing.
• Investment: medium-high.
• Precision: high, up to 0.05 mm.
• Tooling: single setup for all materials.
PLASMA
• Materials and thickness: suitable for steel, stainless steel, and aluminum, with a cutting capacity from 5 to 75 mm.
• Secondary processing and edges: usually required to remove the heat-affected zone (HAZ).
• Investment: medium-low.
• Precision: low, up to 0.25 mm.
• Tooling: varies depending on the material.
LASER
• Materials and thickness: suitable for steel, stainless steel, aluminum, and highly reflective alloys, with a cutting capacity up to 50 mm.
• Secondary processing and edges: sometimes required to remove oxidized (oxygen-cut) or sharp edges.
• Investment: medium-high.
• Precision: high, up to 0.025 mm.
• Tooling: requires specific assist gases.
EDM (Electrical Discharge Machining)
• Materials and thickness: limited to conductive materials (metals), with a cutting capacity up to 30 cm.
• Secondary processing and edges: generally not required; the heat-affected zone is minimal and edges are usually smooth.
• Investment: high.
• Precision: very high, up to 0.01 mm.
• Tooling: varies based on the operation.
Looking for precision, versatility, and uncompromising quality? Waterjet cutting is the ideal solution for all your needs!
Contact our experts and rely on CMS Metal Technology waterjet machines.