Among the various cutting methods in manufacturing are water cutting and laser cutting. Water cutting uses pressurized water and, in some cases, an abrasive substance. It is an accurate process that doesn’t use heat. Laser cutting was been around for over half a century. Machines create a focused beam of laser light that goes through materials. It is more powerful than water jet cutting and can cut aluminum, high-carbon steel, and many other hard materials. Both cutting processes can be automated. For laser cutting, computer numerical control (CNC) machines are widely used.

Key Takeaways:

• Water jet cutting utilizes high-powered water in a process that doesn’t use heat.
• Laser cutting utilizes a focused beam of laser light and is more powerful than water cutting.
• Both cutting processes can be automated; for laser cutting, this involves CNC machines.

“In the mid-1960s, some of the first laser cutting machines were used to cut holes in diamonds.”

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