One of the major advantages of waterjet cutting is that the cutting force exerted on the workpiece is extremely low. Unlike milling or drilling, where the tool pushes against the material with significant force, the abrasive waterjet removes material through erosion with almost no lateral load. As a result, workholding is much simpler and often requires no specialized fixtures at all.

Cutting Force Data

The vertical force during piercing is approximately 13 to 16 kg for a typical 50HP system, and lateral cutting forces range from only 3.5 to 8 kg during rough cutting. Compared to milling, which can exert 136 kg or more, waterjet forces are minimal. This means the workpiece primarily needs to be positioned accurately, not clamped rigidly.

Common Workholding Methods

1. Direct Placement on the Support Grid
For flat plate cutting, the most common method is simply placing the material on the cutting table's support slats or grid. The workpiece's own weight provides sufficient stability. Edge stops or positioning blocks are used for accurate alignment and repeatability. This method requires no clamps and allows fast loading and unloading.

2. Edge Clamps and Positioning Blocks
For thinner sheets or smaller parts, simple edge clamps or toggle clamps are used to prevent shifting. These are typically mounted on the table edge and apply light pressure only. Positioning blocks along the X and Y axes ensure the part is located correctly for each run.

3. Vacuum Chucks
For very thin sheets, fragile materials, or high-precision work, vacuum chucks provide uniform holding force across the entire surface. This prevents the material from lifting or vibrating during cutting. Vacuum systems are also useful for glass, ceramics, and thin composites.

4. Magnetic Fixtures
For ferrous metal plates, magnetic clamps offer quick setup and strong holding force. They are especially useful for thick steel plates that need to remain perfectly flat during cutting.

5. Rotary Chucks for Pipe and Tube
Pipe and tube cutting requires a rotary chuck to hold and rotate the workpiece. Standard chucks handle diameters from 20mm to 300mm, while heavy-duty chucks support up to 800mm. The chuck is synchronized with the cutting head's axial motion through the CNC controller.

6. Sacrificial Support and Micro-Tabs
For small parts cut from a larger sheet, micro-tabs or bridges are left in the toolpath to keep the part connected to the parent material. After cutting, the tabs are broken or ground off. This eliminates the need for individual clamping of small parts.

Do You Need Special Fixtures?

In most cases, no. Waterjet cutting is far more forgiving than milling or laser cutting when it comes to workholding. Standard edge stops, simple clamps, and the support grid handle the majority of applications. Custom fixtures are only needed for complex 3D shapes, very small parts, or high-volume production where repeatable positioning is critical.

Winwin offers a complete range of waterjet cutting equipment, high-pressure pumps, and genuine waterjet accessories, including cutting tables with support grids, vacuum systems, and rotary chucks for pipe cutting. Every machine is fully customizable to your workpiece sizes, materials, and production targets. Winwin provides comprehensive after-sales service for products shipped worldwide, including professional installation, calibration, operator training, spare parts supply, remote technical support, and full lifecycle service, ensuring your equipment performs reliably wherever you are.