Waterjet, Plasma and Saw Cutting – What’s the Difference?

Plasma Cutting for Thick Sheet Metal

Precision cutting steel services can be complex, especially given the variety of cutting processes available. Not only can it be overwhelming to choose which services you need for your specific project, but using the right cutting technology can make a world of difference in the quality of your project.

Atlantic Stainless offers several metal cutting methods, including waterjet cutting, plasma cutting, and saw cutting, which can be applied to an expanded range of applications. Here, we cover the advantages of each process and the applications they are used best for.

Waterjet Cutting

Waterjet cutting uses an incredibly pressurized jet stream of water to cut metal and other properties, though it is primarily used for stainless steel. This tool is extremely precise and created a uniform, burr-free edge in essentially any design.
waterjet cutting services | steel services

Although waterjet cutting is on the higher end of the cutting services Atlantic Stainless offers, it can save time and labor because it requires almost no machining to prepare the metal. Waterjet cutting services are ideal for applications that require extremely close tolerance.

Advantages of Waterjet Cutting

  • Highly accurate
  • Ideal for close tolerances
  • Cutting can be done up to approximately 6 inches thick
  • Produce part accuracies better than 0.002 inches
  • Cuts an expansive variety of materials
  • Does not cause micro-fracturing
  • No fumes generated from cutting process
  • Easy maintenance and use

Our waterjet cutting process is computerized so we can take your design prints and waterjet cut your custom parts accurately to ensure that the final outcome is exactly the way you envisioned it.

Plasma Cutting

Plasma cutting uses a torch with a jet of accelerated hot plasma to cut metal and other materials to size. This cutting method is cost-friendly while maintaining extremely high quality and precision.

Advantages of Plasma Cutting Laser Cutting Sheet Metal | steel services

  • Cuts a wide variety of materials
  • Economical and efficient to use
  • Operating with an in-house plasma cutting unit
  • Cutting capability up to 3-inches thick, 8-feet wide and 22-inches long
  • Produce part accuracies better than 0.008-inches
  • Impressive hole quality

Atlantic Stainless has added a High Definition Water-Injected Plasma Cutter to improve the quality and look of cut metal parts. Custom cutting is based on client project specifications with closer tolerances that ultimately saves you money and time in production.

As with waterjet cutting, our plasma cutting process is computerized, which allows us to cut your material to a set of project specifications. All you have to do is send us your specs!

Saw Cutting

Saw cutting is the most basic of the three cutting methods, utilizing fully automatic saws that are capable of cutting metal and a variety of other materials by using multiple swift, clean cuts.

Advantages of Saw Cutting Stainless Steel Saw Cutting Services | steel services

  • Fully automatic band saw
  • Cutting capability up to 16-inch diameter
  • Can saw metal bars, piping, and tubing

We are proud to offer waterjet cutting, plasma cutting, and saw cutting steel services for all your stainless steel projects. Still have questions about which cutting method is best for your application? Contact the experts at Atlantic Stainless today!