How Water Jet Cutting Saved Time and Cost for a Custom Fabrication Project
The Challenge
A commercial contractor approached us with a tight-deadline project: 50 large-format decorative steel panels needed to be cut with a complex pattern for a Class A office building lobby. The design required high precision, clean edges, and zero warping, as the panels would be displayed in a highly visible, upscale space.
Traditional fabrication methods like plasma or laser cutting presented risks of heat distortion and discoloration — deal-breakers for stainless steel in a polished finish. Manual cutting was out of the question due to time and complexity.
The Solution
We recommended water jet cutting for its cold-cutting precision, edge quality, and ability to handle stainless steel without affecting its surface finish. The client submitted a DXF file of the pattern, and we imported it directly into our CNC water jet system.
Each panel measured 48" x 96", with hundreds of fine internal cuts and tight corner radii. With water jet, we were able to maintain the full design integrity — no melting, no burns, no secondary cleanup needed.
Results
- Cutting Tolerance Achieved: ±0.005"
- Panels Completed: 50
- Turnaround Time: 4 days
- Post-Processing Needed: None