Differences Between Waterjet Cutting and Plasma Design
There are so many new and high-tech methods for creating ornamental and hand-crafted artistic ironwork designs that it can be mind-boggling to figure out which way you want to go. Two of the most popular and effective ways to create unique and intricate design patterns are waterjet cutting and plasma design. With these methods, everything from hanging wall art to specialized custom signs can be fashioned to suit your exact needs. So what’s the difference between these methods? Read a breakdown of the differences between waterjet cutting and plasma design, and how to know which you should use for your custom iron art.
Waterjet Cutting and Plasma Design
Waterjet cutting and plasma design are methods by which metals are shaped and worked for a broad variety of applications. Whether it is cutting a basic geometric pattern or creating intricate and detailed aesthetics for your signs, artwork, railings or other ornamental iron, some differences range from the level of detail to waste production and safety.
Waterjet Cutting
In waterjet cutting, a pressurized stream of water is used to slice through metals like a knife through butter. There is no heat used in waterjet cutting, which reduces the chance for burns, and for melting and disfiguring the metal in unsightly ways. Waterjet cutting has been used for everything from aluminum to titanium, soft and hard metals alike, and has a broad range of applications. It is a superior means of shaping and cutting metal for just about any need or requirement.
Plasma Design
Plasma design, like waterjet, is used to carve metal into specific shapes and patterns to create intricate decorative design work. However, plasma design is less advanced than waterjet and has several drawbacks when compared to the use of a waterjet method. Since it uses high heat, there’s a lot more potential for injuries to the operator. It also has a propensity for melting the surrounding metal and causing unsightly marring and damage to the materials.
Also, plasma cutters use electricity and heat to work, which means they can only cut through materials that have conductive properties. There could also be different cutting head requirements for various materials, and micro-fracturing is a common occurrence that is not a concern when waterjets are applied.
In general, plasma cutting is used for cutting bigger pieces into more basic and simpler designs that require less detail than those with water cutting methods.
Custom Las Vegas Iron Work
Plasma cutters are a solid choice for large projects, but if you want the very best in detailed and intricate Las Vegas ironwork designs, AR Iron, LLC provides the very best in high-end waterjet cutting. For more information, check out our waterjet cutting service pages, browse our website and feel free to get in touch with us today for answers to any questions you might have or to schedule an appointment!
