【Waterjet Cutter】WAZER: Multi-functional! Unboxing and Real-world Test of the Waterjet Cutter!
When innovative technology meets creativity, the possibilities are endless. The WAZER waterjet cutter is one such captivating tool, conquering the hearts of small and medium-sized enterprises, schools, and artists worldwide with its compact size and affordable price. Let's uncover the magical charm of this waterjet cutter and see how it's changing the game for processing equipment.
The WAZER desktop waterjet cutter, hailing from New York, was founded in 2015 by four engineering students from the University of Pennsylvania. They collaborated to make this processing equipment more compact and affordable. So, what exactly is the magical appeal of this WAZER waterjet cutter?
WAZER is a waterjet cutter designed for engineers, operating at a pressure of 4,000 psi, making it convenient for cutting various materials. WAZER is easier to operate, disassemble, and repair compared to traditional cutting machines. Since its release in 2018, it has continuously expanded its scale, providing global customers with waterjet cutters that are both reasonably sized and priced.
Key Features and Technical Specifications
Traditional waterjet cutters often cost millions of Taiwanese dollars, while the WAZER can be owned for less than 400,000. As the first entry-level waterjet cutter, the WAZER offers excellent value, with no other waterjet cutter on the market able to match its price. The primary customers for WAZER are typically small and medium-sized enterprises that prioritize production speed, cutting quality, and accuracy. It is also suitable for schools and artists.
Waterjet cutters can be used on a variety of materials, including metals, glass, plastics, composites, tiles, rubber, and foam. The WAZER has a cutting area of 305 x 460 mm. With its impressive small size and low price, this moderate cutting range is certainly sufficient to meet user needs. In addition, customer support is provided by in-house experts, and the entire machine can be disassembled and repaired using the extensive resources available on the WAZER official website.
Unboxing and Package Contents
The WAZER is shipped securely packaged in a crate on a pallet. Each WAZER machine is hand-assembled at the New York factory and undergoes 120 quality checks. Every part is wrapped in foam to ensure it arrives safely at the customer's hands. 
It includes: two abrasive tanks, a water filter, an accessories box, four replacement cutting beds, a pump box, two water sensors, a stand, and the WAZER cutter itself. An optional stand adds storage space and mobility.
Additionally, there is an installation kit and accessories containing the tools and parts needed to set up and use the WAZER. It is also recommended to purchase extra gaskets, nozzles, and other consumables that might wear out after using the WAZER. The user manual is, as always, recommended reading and can resolve most common issues. Although the WAZER is mostly pre-assembled, the water pump needs to be manually connected to the main water supply system; most users can complete this step by following the included manual and online instructions.
Hardware and Structure
For safety reasons, the waterjet machine cannot operate with the cover open. During operation, the waterjet sprays onto the material, driving abrasive material to cut the object. The casing design ensures that water and abrasive do not overflow.
The main body of the WAZER is made of steel, aluminum, and plastic. The aluminum frame is sturdy and durable, with designated cutouts for easier operation. This machine uses a single waterjet nozzle to cut materials. Water and abrasive are mixed in a mixing tube with an inner diameter of 1.1mm. The nozzle is adjustable and can be positioned at the appropriate distance from the part along the Z-axis. The nozzle has a diameter of 0.48mm and is made of ruby or sapphire.
The independent pump box, located behind the waterjet machine, controls the water pressure of the WAZER. The pump box measures 533 x 379 x 251 mm and weighs 42 kg, allowing it to be placed anywhere convenient for the user. Due to its weight, it is not recommended to place it on fragile surfaces. The stand is made of sturdy aluminum alloy, making it very easy to assemble and position the machine, creating additional storage space in a single footprint and forming an excellent working area.
The included cutting mat, made of polypropylene, is a consumable that can last approximately 20-50 hours, depending on the cutting patterns and materials you frequently use. Once one side is used up, it can be flipped over for continued use.
The operation interface is a small LCD screen, located on the right side of the device, controlled by directional buttons. The screen includes a start/stop button for convenient use during the cutting process, and there is also an emergency button to immediately stop cutting in case of danger.
Before starting the cut, the WAZER also offers options to fine-tune the cutting head or run a test to ensure all parts are within the material boundaries; this feature is very useful if a cut fails, as it allows for restarting the cut midway. Once the cutting file is confirmed, the WAZER automatically returns to its original position, ensuring it can resume the correct position after an emergency stop or shutdown.
The WAZER team places a high priority on customer service. Customers can access a wealth of resources and links through the WAZER official website to understand potential issues or malfunctions with the machine. Additionally, they offer various support methods, including email, phone, and video calls.
In addition to hardware and customer service, WAZER also provides cloud-based cutting software, WAM, which is recommended to be operated with a stable Wi-Fi connection. When accessing WAM, both companies and users can easily manage the system. Files can be imported and exported, scaled and positioned, materials can be selected, cutting paths can be determined, or options can be manually or automatically added within WAM.
Although WAM's general user interface is friendly, it is not possible to drag or reposition during the scaling and positioning process; users must manually enter the position and scale in the menu. While a bit inconvenient, it does increase accuracy.
Real-world Test Challenge
After introducing the functions and applications of the WAZER cutting machine, let's look at a clear real-world test. The first test involves a HDPE 3D printed industrial spray paint board. Laser cutters often melt acrylic at the contact point, causing unsightly cut marks, whereas the waterjet machine cuts smoothly without leaving marks.
To challenge the WAZER's ability to cut precise and neat copper alloy, a copper sheet was also tested. The cut surface was quite beautiful, without jagged edges or burrs.
How about making gears from 3mm thick aluminum? It was confirmed that it could successfully cut intricate and complex structures.
Additionally, stained glass was tested, with the WAZER used to cut both aluminum frames and stained glass panels to see if they would fit. The glass finished product showed excellent results, with no cutting failures and no problems during processing.
The protrusions on the aluminum part were not well fixed to the part, and cutting was paused three times to remove loose parts and reduce the risk of collision with the cutting head. Although this test was successful, it also showed some room for improvement.
Finally, an 8mm thick ceramic was challenged to create a "Live, Laugh, WAZER" sign. Compared to methods like laser cutting or manual engraving, this cutting method was perfect, producing excellent results in a very short time.
Next, a carbon fiber sheet was also tested to make an RC car chassis plate. Although this cut was acceptable, there was some delamination issue at the top of the workpiece. This was because water entered between the two layers of carbon and resin. WAZER officials have confirmed that this is a potential issue when using laminated materials, caused by the stress of the jet during the perforation process. This problem might also be due to insufficient lamination by the material supplier during multiple operations, leading to weaker bonding between layers. However, it can still be confirmed that WAZER can handle carbon fiber materials.
In addition, cutting stainless steel is a common need, but laser cutting mirrored stainless steel is very difficult. Therefore, the next test was cutting a stainless steel gear, a mathematical shape that follows the Fibonacci spiral.
To test the ability of the WAZER to cut thick metal, 12mm and 6mm stainless steel were cut. During the process, the abrasive ran out and needed to be refilled. In this test, the WAZER paused after an hour of cutting, indicating the need to add more abrasive, but there was no guarantee that the second cut after restarting would not leave marks.
The testing team was impressed with the cutting performance of the WAZER, which achieves capabilities typically found in large industrial cutting machines. Compared to million-dollar machines, the WAZER's accuracy is slightly inferior, but its cost-effectiveness and versatility still make it a top choice. Furthermore, the WAZER's seamless integration of hardware and software is a significant operational advantage.
Regarding accuracy, in repeatability tests, all measurements were slightly higher than the reference values; the Y-axis averaged 0.37 mm higher, while the X-axis averaged 0.14 mm higher. The X-axis demonstrated better accuracy than the Y-axis, and the overall standard deviation for both axes was 0.085 mm, which is below 0.1 mm, a result that is acceptable for most applications.
Overall, the WAZER is a user-friendly and easy-to-operate waterjet cutter. Please contact us to learn more details; it is suitable for helping you meet more needs with a more reasonable budget.
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