---
title: "Waterjet Cutting Services | Thick Metal & Composites, No Heat | OpenSpindle"
description: "Get quotes for abrasive waterjet cutting from independent machine shops. Cold cut thick metal, stone, glass, and composites with no heat-affected zone. Upload a drawing."
canonical: https://openspindle.com/capabilities/waterjet-cutting
---

# Waterjet cutting from independent machine shops

A high-pressure stream of water and garnet cuts flat parts cold, so there is no heat-affected zone, no warping, and no hardened edge. It cuts very thick metal and nearly any material. Upload a drawing and hear back from shops set up for waterjet.

## Waterjet shops on OpenSpindle

Real shops that cut custom flat parts on abrasive waterjet. See their equipment and talk to the person making your part.

[Browse all waterjet shops](https://openspindle.com/manufacturers?capability=Waterjet%20cutting)

## Materials our waterjet shops cut

Because the cut is cold, waterjet handles almost anything: metals to several inches thick, plus stone, glass, composites, ceramics, and thick plastics. Common metals are below; if your material is not here, ask when you request a quote.

- [Aluminum](https://openspindle.com/materials/aluminum.md) -- 6061 · 5052 · 7075
- [Stainless steel](https://openspindle.com/materials/stainless-steel.md) -- 304 · 316
- [Carbon steel](https://openspindle.com/materials/carbon-steel.md) -- A36 · 1018
- [Titanium](https://openspindle.com/materials/titanium.md) -- Grade 5
- [Brass](https://openspindle.com/materials/brass.md) -- C260 · C360
- [Copper](https://openspindle.com/materials/copper.md) -- C110
- [G10 / FR4](https://openspindle.com/materials/g10-fr4.md) -- No heat or dust
- [Phenolic](https://openspindle.com/materials/phenolic.md) -- No delamination
- [Polycarbonate](https://openspindle.com/materials/polycarbonate.md) -- No melted edge

## Tolerances

| Feature | With drawing | No callout |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Part profile (thin material) | ±0.003 in | ISO 2768 Medium |
| Part profile (thick or fast cut) | ±0.005 in | ISO 2768 Coarse |
| Edge taper | ~0.005 in per side | Standard on fast cuts |
| Kerf width | ~0.030-0.040 in | Abrasive nozzle typical |
| Hole / position | ±0.005 in | ISO 2768 Medium |

Thin parts hold ±0.003 in; thicker stock and faster cuts open to ±0.005 in with more edge taper. There is no heat distortion, so flatness stays true. Tell the shop which edges are critical and they can slow the cut or add a taper-compensation head.

## Threads, Inserts & Finishing

Waterjet cuts profiles and holes only; it does not tap or countersink. Threads, precision bores, and counterbores are added as a secondary drilling, tapping, or machining op.

The cut edge is matte and sandblasted-looking, with no burr and no recast layer. As-cut ships fastest; parts can be deburred, ground, or coated after.

| Finish | Materials | Adds | Stacks with |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| As-cut | All | +0 days | Anything |
| Deburr / edge break | All metals | +1 day | Before coating |
| Powder coat | Steel, aluminum | +3-5 days | Deburr first |
| Anodize | Aluminum, titanium | +3-5 days | Deburr first |

Parts come off the table wet. If your material can flash-rust, tell the shop so they dry and oil steel parts before they ship.

## What Makes a Good RFQ

| Instead of | Send |
| --- | --- |
| "Cut this plate" | "1/2 in 6061 aluminum, profile per DXF, qty 25, ±0.005 in" |
| "A few holes" | "Four ⌀0.375 in holes on the pattern, waterjet-pierced, no tap" |
| "Thick steel bracket" | "2 in A36 plate, outside profile only, one critical mating edge" |

Send a flat DXF or STEP with material and thickness. Call out which edge mates so the shop can slow that pass and control taper.

## Industries Served

- Aerospace
- Defense
- Architecture & signage
- Oil & gas
- Heavy equipment
- Automotive
- Stone & tile
- Industrial / OEM

Waterjet shops on OpenSpindle cut gaskets, brackets, plate, gears, and architectural panels where a clean, cold edge and thick material matter, including AS9100 and ITAR-registered shops.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How is waterjet different from laser or plasma cutting?

Laser and plasma cut with heat, which leaves a heat-affected zone, a hardened edge, and possible warping on thin parts. Waterjet cuts cold with abrasive-laden water, so there is no HAZ, no hardening, and no distortion. Waterjet also cuts far thicker material and non-metals, but it is slower than laser on thin sheet.

### How thick can waterjet cut?

Abrasive waterjet routinely cuts metal several inches thick and can go thicker in stainless and steel at slower speeds. Thicker cuts run slower and show more edge taper. Note your thickness in the request and shops confirm feasibility.

### What materials can waterjet cut?

Nearly anything: aluminum, steel, stainless, titanium, brass, and copper, plus stone, glass, ceramic, composites, and thick plastics. Tempered glass and some ceramics can be exceptions, so ask the shop.

### What tolerances can waterjet hold?

Thin parts commonly hold ±0.003 in; thicker or faster cuts run closer to ±0.005 in with more edge taper. Machines with dynamic taper-compensation heads hold tighter edges. Call out the critical edge on your drawing.

### What is edge taper and does it matter?

The stream loses energy as it passes through the material, so a fast cut leaves an edge slightly wider at the top than the bottom. On thin parts it is negligible; on thick or press-fit features it matters, and the shop slows the cut or uses a taper-compensation head.

### Can waterjet do threads or precise holes?

It pierces and cuts holes but does not tap or ream. Threaded, reamed, or counterbored features are added as a secondary machining op. Show them on the drawing and the shop quotes the extra step.

### What file formats should I send?

DXF or DWG for flat profiles, or STEP for solid models. Include material, thickness, quantity, hole sizes, and any critical edge or tolerance.

## Other Capabilities

- [Laser Cutting](https://openspindle.com/capabilities/laser-cutting.md)
- [Plasma Cutting](https://openspindle.com/capabilities/plasma-cutting.md)
- [Sheet Metal & Press Brake](https://openspindle.com/capabilities/sheet-metal-fabrication.md)
- [CNC Machining](https://openspindle.com/capabilities/cnc-machining.md)
- [Carbon Fiber Cutting](https://openspindle.com/carbon-fiber-cutting.md)
- [Welding](https://openspindle.com/capabilities/welding.md)

## Design Notes That Move Your Price

Not a definition of waterjet. The design choices that move your price and lead time.

- **Thickness sets the clock:** Waterjet is billed by cut time, and time climbs fast with thickness. A 2 in plate cuts far slower than 1/4 in. If a feature does not need the full thickness, split the part or thin the stock.
- **Inside corners cost radius:** The stream is round, so a sharp inside corner is not possible. Add a small corner radius (about half the kerf) so the shop is not forced into a slow, multi-pass corner.
- **Group parts to share pierces:** Every hole starts with a pierce, which takes time. Sharing edges between nested parts or common-line cutting reduces pierces and drops the price on a full sheet.
- **Small holes near the thickness limit:** A reliable pierced hole should be at least the size of the material thickness. Holes smaller than that in thick plate may need drilling instead, which adds a secondary op.

## Get waterjet cutting quotes

Upload a drawing once and compare quotes from independent waterjet shops.