"Can you use ruby or diamond orifices with WARDJet waterjets? Yes, you can use either. Of course, the next question is which one should be used. That answer depends on the environment the machine will be working in and a number of other issues," said a WARDjet spokesperson.
"Cost is a major factor in deciding between the two. A ruby (or sapphire) orifice costs in the $15-20 range. These orifices can last anywhere from 0 - 40 hours. If proper break-in procedures are not used, a ruby orifice could fail the first time you turn high pressure water on. Following the WARDJet recommended break-in procedure can help to avoid orifice failure. Unfortunately, even with proper break-in, the life of a ruby orifice is highly variable.
"Currently, diamonds cost around $425. With proper water quality and a thimble filter installed at the cutting head, diamonds are guaranteed to last for at least 600 hours. The thimble filter is a very small, very fine filter that is located above the orifice to trap any debris before it gets to the diamond orifice," said the spokesperson.
"Reasons to Choose a Diamond Orifice:
- Because of their long life, diamonds offer a major benefit when cutting long-running jobs, especially those out of very expensive materials. For instance, a 6" thick Inconel part that takes 20 hours to cut would probably be a poor candidate for a ruby orifice that could potentially fail before the cutting program is complete.
- When cutting with multiple cutting heads, diamonds are a benefit because the machine operator can plan to change them all out at one time, once or twice a year (depending upon usage). Just imagine trying to cut with four cutting heads equipped with ruby orifices - the ruby in head one lasts 19 hours, the ruby in head two lasts for 24.7 hours, the ruby in head three lasts 12.5 hours and the ruby in head four lasts 43 hours. Operators can either change all four out when the first one fails or end up changing an orifice every couple of hours.
- Stream quality with a diamond is better than ruby or sapphires, and as a result, cut quality is smoother."
"Reasons to Choose a Ruby Orifice:
If none of the benefits of diamonds listed above applies to a manufacturer or if he is frequently changing nozzle/orifice combinations, he may find it better to stick with rubies. In a job shop or short-run environment, rubies may be a better choice because every time an operator takes the cutting head off the machine to change the orifice/nozzle combination, he increases the risk of debris getting to the orifice that could cause damage. Also, every time the operator changes the orifice, there is a chance that it may accidentally drop in the waterjet tank. (NOTE: always change the orifice and nozzle away from the machine to avoid this.) Dropping a $20 ruby orifice in the tank, while unfortunate, is not heart breaking. Conversely, dropping a $425 diamond orifice in the tank would drastically impact a shop's potential profits on a job," said the WARDjet spokesperson.
For more information contact:
Benjie Massara
Marketing Director
WARDJet
180 South Ave., PO Box 517
Tallmadge, OH 44278
330-660-9100 Ext. 6
sales@wardjet.com
www.wardjet.com