- Abrasive jets can machine many materials that lasers cannot: reflective materials in particular.
- Abrasive jets are great with Aluminum, Copper, stainless steel and other reflex metals. These are not easy to cut with a laser, and can damage the laser.
- Abrasive jets do not heat your part. Thus there is no thermal distortion or hardening of the material.
- Precision abrasive jet machines can obtain about the same or higher tolerances than lasers (especially as thickness increases).
- The capital equipment costs for water jet are generally much lower than that for a laser.
- Abrasive jets can machine thicker materials. How thick you can cut is a function of how long you are willing to wait. 2" in steel and 3" in aluminum is quite common. I heard of people doing up to 10" (254mm) steel, and 24" (600mm) thick glass with high horsepower systems. Once you get over 2" (50mm) thick it is very difficult to get precision, however.
- Lasers seem to have a maximum of .5" - .75" (13mm-20mm).
- Abrasive jets are safer. No burnt fingers, no noxious fumes, and no fires.
- Abrasive jets are more environmentally friendly. (I hope this is a selling feature to you.)
- Maintenance on the abrasive jet nozzle is simpler than that of a laser.
- Abrasive jets are capable of similar tolerances on thin parts, and better on parts thicker than .5"
- Abrasive jets do not loose much "focus" when cutting over uneven surfaces.
- While lasers are often faster on thinner materials, it may be cheaper and faster to simply buy two or three abrasive jet machining centers to do the same work. Also, you can stack materials.
- Modern Abrasive jets are typically much easier to operate and maintain than lasers, which means that every employee in your shop can be quickly trained to run it.
- You can't stay long at the same point with laser or fusion of material will occur.
- Laser cut is under inches (near 4 inches for WJ), but can do a better job in controlling depth of cut (ex.: cutting slot in tubing is possible with a laser, but difficult with abrasive jet).
- Laser has higher power consumption (power factor about 2%) (e.g..: for 1 kw output you need 50 kw input for YAG) (CO2 more efficient, but less precise ray).
- Laser needs a good "chillier" for cooling.
