Frequently Asked Questions

No, waterjet cutting is actually the more expensive process. This is due to the slower processing rates, coupled with the large amount of consumable material involved. Although multiple cutting heads, tight nesting capabilities and the ability to layer some materials do help to offset these additional costs, generally speaking, abrasive waterjet cutting is a more costly process than laser cutting.

While waterjet cutting can technically cut wood, it is important to note that the entire piece will come into contact with the dirty water from the machine thus causing staining of the wood. This staining is something that is difficult to remove. Therefor, we recommend considering more traditional methods of cutting wood.

Yes! Our abrasive waterjet cutting services are great for contour cutting of glass. We have done countless projects involving cutting glass, and the cuts look amazing when they're done. However, some types of glass may be more fragile than others. If there is a specific type of glass you'd like to cut but are unsure about it, feel free to ask a member of our sales team.

Yes! Fedtech Is ISO 9001:2015 Certified. Our Quality Management System is applicable to: Laser and Waterjet Cutting, Forming and Welding Services, CNC Turning and Machining Operations. Our certification period is From June 13th, 2022 through July 29th, 2025

Follow this link to our certification page. ISO CERTIFIED

Yes! Alloys such as 2024, 6061, 7050 and 7075 can be heat treated

Here at Fedtech, our versatile capabilities extend into the field of reverse engineering. Depending on the specific part and requirements, we have the ability to precisely dissect and recreate complex machinery components. Our state-of-the-art Virtek machine can handle a substantial size of up to 48" x 48". This tool allows us to generate CAD files for reverse engineered parts, which we can then employ in our highly accurate waterjet and laser cutting processes. This ensures the utmost precision and quality in every finished product. If you have a part that needs reverse engineering, get in touch with us to explore how we can facilitate your needs at Fedtech. See a reverse engineering project we have done here.

Here at Fedtech, our versatile capabilities extend into the field of reverse engineering. Depending on the specific part and requirements, we have the ability to precisely dissect and recreate complex machinery components. Our state-of-the-art Virtek machine can handle a substantial size of up to 48" x 48". This tool allows us to generate CAD files for reverse engineered parts, which we can then employ in our highly accurate waterjet and laser cutting processes. This ensures the utmost precision and quality in every finished product. If you have a part that needs reverse engineering, get in touch with us to explore how we can facilitate your needs at Fedtech. See a reverse engineering project we have done here.

Great questions, We are ISO 9001:2015 certified. 

Being ISO certified in the Precision Manufacturing arena is a major achievement for any company. It not only demonstrates a commitment to quality and customer satisfaction, but also sets the company apart from its competitors.

At [Company Name], we are proud to be ISO 9001:2015 certified. This certification showcases our ability to consistently provide products and services that meet customer requirements and comply with applicable regulations and industry standards. But why is this certification so important? First and foremost, it shows our dedication to continuous improvement. The ISO 9001:2015 standard requires companies to have a strong focus on customer satisfaction and continuously evaluate and improve their processes. This means that you can trust us to constantly strive towards providing the best possible products and services for our customers.

Moreover, our ISO certification also brings a level of trust and credibility to our brand. It assures our customers that we have established and maintain effective quality management systems, leading to consistent and reliable results. This is particularly important in the field of Precision Manufacturing where precision and accuracy are critical.

In addition, being ISO certified allows us to expand our customer base by meeting the requirements of organizations that only work with ISO certified companies. This enables us to access new markets and opportunities, ultimately benefiting our customers by providing them with a wider range of high-quality products and services.

We work with a wide range of file types to meet various design and engineering needs. Here's a comprehensive explanation of each file type:

• .dwg: This is an AutoCAD drawing file format used for storing 2D and 3D design data and metadata.
• .dxf: Standing for Drawing Exchange Format, .dxf files are vector graphic files widely used in CAD software to enable data interoperability between AutoCAD and other programs.
• .igs, .iges: Initial Graphics Exchange Specification files are used for exchanging information between different CAD systems, particularly for 3D models.
• .stp, .step: Standard for the Exchange of Product Data files are often used for 3D CAD files and are supported by numerous CAD software applications.
• .mcam: Mastercam files contain toolpath and CAD information for driving CNC machines.
• .sat, .sab: These are ACIS files used for 3D modeling, with .sat being in text format and .sab in binary format.
• .vda: VDA-FS (Verband der Automobile industrie - Flächenschnittstelle) files facilitate the exchange of digital data within the automobile industry.
• .stl: Stereolithography files are commonly used for 3D printing and computer-aided design applications, defining the geometry of a 3D object.
• .3mf: 3D Manufacturing Format files are used specifically for additive manufacturing, providing a standard for 3D printing.
• .amf: Additive Manufacturing File format used for 3D printing, supporting color, materials, and arbitrarily complex geometric shapes.
• .pdf: Portable Document Format files are used to present documents, including text and images, independent of software, hardware, or operating systems.
• .sldprt: SolidWorks Part files contain information about a single part and are utilized in 3D mechanical design.
• .sldasm: SolidWorks Assembly files store information about assemblies in SolidWorks, including the part geometry and how they are assembled.
• .slddrw: SolidWorks Drawing files are used for 2D drawings in SolidWorks, often linked to .sldprt and .sldasm files.
• .par: This file format is used by Siemens NX for storing part files.
• .psm: These files are used for part files in Solid Edge.

Understanding and utilizing these file formats ensures versatile and efficient workflows in various design and engineering projects. Providing a CAD model allows us to cross-reference details if something is missing in a print. It also helps reduce interpretation errors in prints.

If you have another type of file, feel free to consult with a member of our sales team before requesting a quote.

Of course! We stock all kinds of material, including; 300 series of stainless steel (such as 303, 304, 316, and 321), Aluminum (including 2024, 3003, 6061, 5052, and 7075), carbon steels (CRS, HRS), super alloys, plastics, rubber, foam and more.

Lead-time for waterjet cutting and laser cutting orders is typically 1-2 weeks and often times, deliveries in just a couple days are possible.

Yes, abrasive waterjet is an ideal process for cutting titanium.

Yes, abrasive waterjet is an ideal process for cutting Inconel. 

It depends on the project, we can offer titanium welding depending on the application and requirements of each project.

No, laser welding is one area that we do not specialize in at FedTech.

The main chemical composition of stainless steel can be divided into several categories, including chromium stainless steel, chromium-nickel stainless steel, chromium-manganese-nitrogen stainless steel, chromium-nickel-molybdenum stainless steel, ultra-low carbon stainless steel, high molybdenum stainless steel, and high-purity stainless steel.

Classification based on steel properties and application includes nitric acid (nitric grade) stainless steel, corrosion-resistant stainless steel, stress stainless steel, high-strength stainless steel, among others.

In terms of functional characteristics, stainless steel can be divided into low-temperature stainless steel, non-magnetic stainless steel, easy-cutting stainless steel, and ultra-plastic stainless steel.

It is also classified based on its metallographic structure, which includes ferrite (F) stainless steel, martensite stainless steel (M), austenitic stainless steel, austenitic-ferritic duplex stainless steel (A-F), austenite-martensite duplex stainless steel (A-M), and precipitation-hardening stainless steel (PH).

Yes, we also inventory a large variety of materials such as 300 series of stainless steel (including 304 and 316), carbon steels and several alloys of aluminum.

Abrasive waterjet processes materials from .0005" to 12".

Our largest plate size to waterjet cut would be 144" x 360".

Yes, we can use waterjet to process hardened metals ranging from 20-70 Rockwell C.

The kerf width can be as small as 0.020" for waterjet processing of thin materials or up to 0.055" in thick materials. Also, kerf on non-abrasive waterjet is .006".

Yes, there is often times a taper when waterjet cutting a part, however it can be eliminated on certain materials.

Our common tolerance for waterjet cutting is ±.005", however a tolerance of ±.003" is very achievable as well.

There's really only one way to find out, we quote each project based on the waterjet cutting, laser cutting, or in-house processing that will need to be done. The price varies depending on material costs and the size of each project, so there really isn't a way to give prices without knowing these factors.

Our advanced waterjet technology is designed to handle a variety of materials with thicknesses as great as 12 inches. This robust capability provides versatility and precision even for the most challenging projects. In addition, our water-only waterjet has demonstrated an ability to manage materials up to 3 inches thick, with the final capacity largely dependent on the specific material. When it comes to laser metal cutting, our equipment can efficiently process materials up to 3/4 inch in thickness for carbon steel. At Fedtech, we strive to meet each customer's unique needs, always preserving the high standard of quality that defines our service

Four materials that we do not use waterjet cutting for are; Tungsten, Tungsten Carbide, Lead and Beryllium Copper. Tungsten is an extremely hard material, and Beryllium Copper releases poisonous Beryllium into the air. Because of this, these are materials that we do not process with our waterjets.

Garnet is the most commonly used abrasive for waterjet cutting. Since abrasive is one of the most expensive things in abrasive waterjet cutting, Garnet is a nice choice as it's one of the least expensive options.

We can use custom laser cutting to process many different types of materials such as stainless steel, Hastelloy, aluminum, and carbon steel.

We can use custom laser cutting to process many different types of materials such as Corten.  Corten ( A weathering steel ) comes in A588, A606-4, A242, A709-50W, M270-50W, A847. 

As you might know, waterjet cutting has been around for years. The process is a means of cutting countless types of material, much faster and with much higher quality than traditional methods of tooling. Waterjet has the capability to easily process materials like stainless steel, titanium, alloy steels, and many more. The best part about waterjet cutting is the fact that it has no heat-affected zones. This means that the metals do not get hardened or damaged in any way during the process of cutting, leaving no further work to be done with the parts. With that being said, it's important to point out that there are two types of waterjet cutting; abrasive waterjet cutting, and water-only cutting (also known as pure waterjet). In water-only cutting, the cutting stream erodes the material.

However, in abrasive waterjet cutting, the abrasive particles shear the material after being accelerated through the waterjet stream. This process is much more powerful than water-only cutting. The abrasive is often made up of tiny garnet particles. The particles start as a pile of abrasive, and are delivered through tubing to arrive in the mixing chamber. From there, the abrasive is mixed in with the water and the two are rapidly projected down through the nozzle. The nozzle creates a perfect cutting stream to produce exact cuts with exceptionally smooth edges.

Laser cutting can usually be used to cut aluminum up to 3/4" thick. Since the dust from aluminum is actually flammable, a lot of times it is better to use waterjet cutting for aluminum. Not to mention, aluminum is a reflective material, so we try to avoid cutting thick aluminum because it can damage the lens on the laser.

The most obvious difference between the two is the lack of abrasive in pure waterjet cutting. Since abrasive waterjet is more commonly used on hard and thick materials, water-only is often used for processing materials such as PTFE, plastics, neoprene rubber, foam board, composites, cellular silicone, nylon reinforced rubber, and virtually any flexible material.

Water-only processing has no heat affected zones, as to not alter any of the materials being processed. Water-only waterjet generates a fine jet of water with very high energy. Water-only cutting is a non-contact process which means there is minimal lateral effect on the part. It can also be used to process materials ranging from .004" to .010" in diameter. Another reason why you might choose water-only processing is for its cleaner processing. When abrasives stream through soft, light-colored materials, they often leave a dirty trail behind them. However in water-only cutting, there are no abrasives, thus no trail and the results look much more pleasing. Abrasive waterjet cutting and water-only cutting both offer many benefits. Both have: cutting tolerance up to +/- .003", burr-free parts, multiple-head cutting, tight nesting of parts, and the ability to produce parts for many different industries. These industries include; defense, architectural, automotive, food processing, agriculture, mining, packaging, public utilities, pulp and paper, shipping, medical, aerospace, power plants, and more.

Yes. HY-80 can be laser cut, only up to about 3/4" though. If the material is thicker than this, a good alternative might be waterjet cutting, which can cut up to 12" HY-80. See our material list here.

If your project involves cutting thick material over 5/8", then you should use waterjet cutting. If your project involves cutting aluminum, copper, brass, titanium, wood, acrylic, plastic, or requires no heat affected zones, then you should use waterjet cutting. If your project involves processing thinner stainless steels, or carbon steels, then you most likely will choose the laser cutting route. Laser cutting is also a little less expensive, as it uses less consumables than waterjet cutting.

Our waterjets can cut up to 12" thick in nearly every material, steel included. If you require material that is thicker than 12", feel free to contact one of our sales team members and they can help guide you in the right direction.

A burr is a raised or jagged edge on a metal part, most often appearing after it has been processed. Generally speaking, it's unwanted material that can be fixed using a process called deburring.

You can learn more about deburring by taking a look at our value-added page of our website.

Basically, a round is a thick circle part cut from a long bar of material. Most often seen in stainless steel (SST).

Your best bet for cutting acetal is most likely water-only waterjet cutting. Here's a link to a project that was waterjet cut from acetal.

Have you seen our aluminum blocks case study? That's definitely worth checking into. The answer to the question is waterjet. Waterjet can cut up to 12" thick aluminum blocks very well.

"AR" means abrasion resistant, including AR236, AR400, AR500, etc. The best way to cut these materials is laser cutting.

We usually use water-only waterjet cutting for urethane parts. We can also machine urethane.

As far as renewable or recyclable materials that you can cut with waterjet, this could include bamboo, cork, plastic (polycarbonate, acrylic, nylon, polyethylene, HDPE) or rubber (foam, silicone, urethane, vinyl, neoprene) and more. We also process numerous composites with waterjet this can include glass, ceramics, linoleum, and others.

We consider FedTech's waterjet cutting 'green' because we:

• Recycle our abrasive that is used in our cutting process
• Recycle our water from our RO systems
• Recycle all of our metals
• Test our air compressor system plant wide for leaks and reduce air pressure to optimum levels

Some laser machines have the capability to accurately laser cut acrylic, otherwise you can choose to waterjet cut acrylic. It all depends on the intricacy of the design and the thickness of the material. Simple designs can easily be cut on the waterjet table. At FedTech, we only use waterjet cutting to process acrylic.

Depending on how thick of material you are using, we would recommend using water-only waterjet for polycarbonate up to .032". From there, you may have to switch to abrasive waterjet which cuts up to 12" thick.

Yes, they can be laser cut. But we do not laser cut these two materials at FedTech, we use waterjet cutting instead.

Yes, it can. You'd want to use water-only waterjet cutting but abrasive waterjet cutting would work as well. It would depend on the application you'd be using the plastic for.

You can, and we do! We usually laser cut armor, but we're able to waterjet cut armor plate and ballistics up to 12" thick and from all different types of plate. Click here to see a specified page on the topic.

Oh yes, and we have defined it in our glossary section of our website. Jump to the H's here.

That's a great question. The most basic differences can be seen in 1) heat affected zones, which laser cutting has and waterjet does not have. 2) laser cutting typically cuts up to 5/8" thick stainless steel. Anything thicker than that and you may need to use waterjet cutting. 3) Laser cutting typically has tighter cutting tolerances, so if your part includes intricate designs and is less than 5/8" thick, then laser cutting is the ideal choice.

Thick aluminum plates can be cut easily with abrasive waterjet cutting. See a thick aluminum project that we cut here with waterjet to get a good idea of how it works.

You can order it from us. First request a quote and we'll get you pricing. Then we can waterjet or laser cut it to your dimensions and tolerances. Choose your material according to your application (ie. heat resistancy, soft/hard material...) Visit our gaskets page here.

You don't. At least, we don't. We typically waterjet cut acetal. Since waterjet cutting leaves no heat-affected zones, it's our best bet for clean cuts and unwarped/unmelted material.

Our Youtube account is a great place to start. It features a few laser cutting videos and also some waterjet cutting videos: https://www.youtube.com/user/WaterJetter08

Waterjet can serve almost any industry. We tend to see a lot of customers coming from machine shops, custom fixtures (lighting, panels, etc.) renewable energy segments, medical parts, custom military and defense vehicles, other automotive industries, architectural and art sculptures, appliance components, custom gaskets and flanges, custom flooring (tile and such) and so much more. See this page for a full list of industries we serve.

Great question! 

In todays world everyone is spoiled with quick online services when buying off the shelf goods. When it comes to manufacturing goods to customer provided specs this can take 1-10 weeks depending on the complexity of the parts.

Great question, we think Weathering Steels are cool!

Weathering steels, such as ASTM A588, A242, A606-4 and Cor-Ten® exhibit superior corrosion resistance over regular carbon steel as a result of the development of a protective oxide film on the metals surface which slows down further corrosion. Their 50,000 minimum yield strength characteristic allows cost reduction through the ability to design lighter sections into structures. These steels were designed primarily to be used in unpainted applications where a reduction in maintenance costs, such as painting, were desired. Since their development, weathering steels are now being used in a variety of applications, including bridges, rail cars, transmission towers, highway poles and shipbuilding.

Great question, we've  encountered this question many times over the years. 

Thanks for the inquiry about waterjet cutting Aluminum Extrusions. I’ve been in the Waterjet industry since 1989 and have been involved with cutting extrusions many times. The goal was always to see if Waterjet is a feasible process to cut extrusions to length which included many configurations of extrusions. The result was always the same and that was the quality of the cut was never to the standard that is required because of tolerances mostly. During the cutting process as the jet cuts through the upper part of the extrusion and exits the jet will decrease in power and leaves the remaining material quite jagged. The extrusions will become contaminated with very fine abrasive partials. This application type isn't a good one for the Waterjet process.