FAQs

Set-up and training requirements are minimal. When you purchase one of our cutting systems, we provide one week of on-site installation and training. For some models (five-axis, six-axis, etc.) an additional week of training is included.

AKS plasma cutting systems use Hypertherm ProNest programming software. AKS waterjet systems use Metamation programming software.

You can purchase additional parts through the AKS customer service department by phone, email, or text. Please visit our contact page for more information.

The motion of all AKS cutting systems is extremely accurate (+/- .003”). We use a precise rack and pinion, gear drive, and ball screw to achieve these tight tolerances. But, even if you have a machine that can move accurately, you have a cutting process or tool that operates as non-contact cutting. You don’t have a hard tool like a saw or router that touches the material you’re cutting. Therefore, the accuracy of the cut itself is difficult to define. If you have all new consumables in the machine, you can hold +/- .003-.005” on the part. But, plasma generally isn’t run on a brand new machine or consumables, so most customers have a part accuracy of +/- .010-.015”. Using a waterjet machine, it’s much more accurate, usually +/- .005-.010. Oxy-fuel typically achieves part accuracy of +/- .060”.

Many customers choose to purchase a separate air compressor for the machine if they don’t already have adequate compressed air onsite. Plasma machines may require a blower fan, exhaust, or smoke collection unit. Your sales representative will be able to recommend appropriate attachments for your specific machine.

Water is pressurized up to 90,000 pounds or more per square inch (psi) and forced through a tiny opening to cut a wide range of materials. There are two types of waterjets. Pure waterjets are used to cut soft materials such as food, paper, rubber, and foam. Abrasive waterjets add an abrasive — typically garnet — into the waterjet stream to cut harder metals including steel, titanium, stone, and more.

Waterjet machines can cut any kind of material. However, it struggles with tempered glass because of its propensity to shatter.

A waterjet cutting system has three basic components: a high-pressure water pump, a cutting head, and a CNC table, which features a CNC controller to program the cutting head.

AKS offers an automated garnet removal system (GRS). The GRS automatically pumps the water and abrasive out of the tank, separates the abrasive from the water, and moves it into a waste bin or hopper. The system then repumps the separated water back to the table. Every few weeks, the operator can dispose of the abrasive, usually in a waste bin.

The most commonly used abrasive for waterjet cutting is garnet, which is a non-toxic, non-hazardous, naturally-occurring rock that is mined all over the world.

The size of the pump depends on what types of applications you will be using it for. Our team would be happy to talk to you about your needs and direct you towards the right size.

In the industry, waterjet is considered high maintenance when compared to other metal cutting machines. The process of pressurizing and pumping the water wears out the high-pressure pump and nozzle, requiring the replacement of parts on a regular basis.

The initial capital investment to purchase a waterjet ranges from $100,000-$400,000, depending on the size of the cutting table and pump speed purchased. Our team would be happy to talk to you about your needs and get a more accurate estimate for your business.

Waterjet machines require electricity, water, and consumable parts, with operating costs ranging from $20-$30 per hour.

Waterjets are ideal for cutting highly intricate parts as small as 0.30 inches to .050 inches. Most common applications for the waterjet include cutting parts from 0.5-inch to 2-3 feet. In terms of accuracy, a waterjet can cut a small 0.5-inch part at 1-2 thousandths. Larger parts, such as 6-8 feet, can be cut with accuracies of +/- 100 thousandths.

With a waterjet, material thickness is unlimited, though the cutting speed may vary. Thicker materials take longer to cut.

Waterjets are versatile enough to cut any material, including metals of all types, glass, marble, stone, granite, plastic, paper, or wood. It can even be used to cut food such as lettuce, celery, or carrots.

Waterjets are ideal for nearly any application and can cut aluminum, brass, bronze, carbon fiber composite, ceramic, copper, fiberglass, glass, granite, Kevlar, marble, stainless steel, titanium, tungsten, and more.

Yes. An operator can load the table with an existing part located through the AKS laser alignment tool and cut additional features into the part.

No. In waterjet cutting, etching is very difficult because you cannot control the depth of the waterjet stream. If you attempt to etch with an abrasive waterjet and hover over a part for a split second longer than the other area, the part will have inconsistent depths.

Plasma cutting generates an electrical channel of superheated, electrically ionized gas, or plasma. The gas, which can be shop air, nitrogen, argon, or oxygen, creates an electrical arc that conducts itself through a constricted opening on the torch head to cut the metal. The torch is mounted on a CNC table or XY table. A CNC controller programs the torch to move in a specific profile or pattern to cut the part.

Plasma is typically limited to two-inch thick carbon steel. Anything thicker than that is probably best for an oxy-fuel machine, as it will cut faster and produce a cleaner edge. Plasma cutters can only cut metal, because it has to be conductive to allow electricity to flow through the material. You can’t cut plastic, stone, marble, or granite with a plasma cutting machine. Additionally, plasma is usually the tool of choice for aluminum and stainless steel, but does struggle when cutting reflective materials like brass or bronze.

A plasma cutting system consists of the plasma arc power supply and torch, and the CNC controlled table. The torch is mounted onto the table and the CNC controller moves the torch around the XY axes. Often, the CNC can also control the torch’s Z axis for full five-axis cutting.

The type of gas depends on the metal being cut. For mild steel, stainless steel, aluminum, etc., the gas is usually oxygen, nitrogen, or other mixed-fuel gasses (hydrogen, argon, etc).

While it’s impossible to measure, theoretical calculations have shown a temperature above 40,000 degrees Fahrenheit, which is hotter than the sun. Anything in its path is disintegrated.

There is very little maintenance required with a plasma cutter.

Plasma parts should be replaced every three to four weeks.

The initial capital investment to purchase a high-definition plasma machine ranges from $100,000-$400,000, depending on the size of the machine. Our team would be happy to learn more about your needs and get you an accurate estimate.

Operating costs consist of electricity, water, compressed air, gasses, and consumable parts. Plasma cutters cost approximately $5-6 per hour to run.

Plasma is ideal for cutting larger parts. Typically ranging from one-inch up to 30 feet, with accuracies ranging from +/- 0.15-.020.

By nature of the plasma technology, it’s limited to cutting about two inches of mild steel. It can typically cut up to 1.5 inches of stainless steel. Stainless steel and aluminum can be cut by plasma, though are not ideal due to the reflection of the torch and low melting point of the plasma cutter.

Ideal applications for plasma include cutting steel, brass, and copper and other conductive metals. You can find our cutting machines in fabrication shops, automotive repair and restoration facilities, industrial construction applications, and salvage and scrapping operations.

Yes. An operator can load the table with an existing part located through the AKS laser alignment tool and cut additional features into the part.

Yes. Recent improvements with the Hypertherm XPR (using argon gas) offer excellent etching into mild steel, stainless steel, or aluminum. Previously, nitrogen etching was available, but the results were less accurate.