NCM 10 Micro demonstrates the next level in precision waterjet cutting

A Nordic subcontract manufacturer has expanded its precision waterjet capabilities with the installation of a new NCM 10 Micro from Water Jet Sweden, increasing both capacity and the range of high-precision components it can produce.

For UK manufacturers looking at increasingly demanding applications, the investment provides a useful example of how micro waterjet technology can support tighter tolerances, reduced material loss and more advanced component manufacture.

The subcontractor first invested in Water Jet Sweden technology in 2017, installing a standard waterjet cutting machine equipped with an FAWJ Micro cutting head. This enabled the company to offer considerably higher precision than conventional waterjet cutting.

Nine years later, growing customer demand meant the existing machine was operating at full capacity. As part of a wider expansion, the company wanted not simply to increase output, but to achieve even greater precision and open up opportunities in more technically demanding applications.

The company selected the NCM 10 Micro, Water Jet Sweden's dedicated machine platform for high-precision waterjet cutting and extremely tight tolerances.

At this level of accuracy, precision cannot depend on the cutting head alone. The complete machine must be designed to minimise potential sources of error.

The NCM 10 Micro uses a rigid, vibration-damping machine bed manufactured from a specialist composite material, helping to reduce the effects of temperature variation. Positioning is controlled using a Renishaw Invar scale, combining very low thermal expansion with high resolution.

The water tank is rubber-mounted to minimise vibration, while software-controlled abrasive delivery helps maintain a stable and consistent cutting process.

Combined with FAWJ (Fine Abrasive Waterjet) technology, this provides the conditions required to achieve exceptionally narrow kerfs while keeping material loss to a minimum.

“When tolerances become extremely tight, it is important to control the entire system, not just the cutting process itself. That is why the NCM 10 Micro has been developed with a focus on precision in every part of the machine,” says Christian Svensson, Sales Manager at Water Jet Sweden.

The new machine has also been equipped with an Alphajet TVL cutting head, allowing the subcontractor to combine the precision of FAWJ technology with the ability to produce perpendicular cuts on precision components.

The NCM 10 Micro can process workpieces up to 100 mm thick and, according to Water Jet Sweden specifications, offers positioning accuracy of ±0.01 mm/300 mm and repeatability of ±0.008 mm at 20°C ±2°C.

Kerf widths can be as narrow as 0.2 mm, making the system particularly suited to applications where intricate geometries, tight tolerances and efficient use of valuable materials are important.

For the Nordic manufacturer, the latest investment represents the next stage in a journey that began with its first Water Jet Sweden machine in 2017: increasing capacity while continuing to push the limits of the components it can manufacture.

For manufacturers in the UK facing similar demands for greater precision, complex component geometries and minimal material loss, the NCM 10 Micro provides a dedicated micro waterjet platform designed specifically for these high-accuracy applications.

Find out more about the NCM 10 Micro and precision waterjet cutting from Water Jet Sweden UK.