• Home
  • Services
    • Water Jet Cutting
    • Equipment
  • Gallery
  • Contact Us
  • Home
  • Water Jet Cutting
  • Standoff Height: How Far Away Should You Be?

Standoff Height: How Far Away Should You Be?

December 19, 2017 / admin / Water Jet Cutting
0

Finding the right standoff height for the task at hand is absolutely essential—but how do you know what that height should be?

As your expert in water jet cutting in San Francisco, CA, Mach 1 Waterjet, Inc. can help you with all your metal cutting needs. Here are a few of our top tips for understanding water jet cutting height.

Know what different heights do

Half the battle of finding the right height is understanding what the wrong heights do for a piece of metal. Keep in mind that “standoff height” refers to the distance measured between your chosen material and the tip of your chosen mixing tube.

Standoffs that are too low are basically never a good idea. They increase your risk of scratching your material, and you could even snap the tube. These mistakes will cost you in time and money—not to mention the angry phone calls and emails you’ll get from frustrated operators!

If your standoff is too high, you could adversely alter your top edge and create problems with your dimensions. This is because the jet will actually widen slowly in the open air.

If you notice that one of these issues is happening when you use water jet cutting methods, you might be too high or too low.

Know the general rule of thumb

Although you’ll deviate a little depending on the job, there is a general rule of thumb that can help you gauge the right standoff height: it should be about the thickness of an American coin, or 2.54mm. If you’re unsure of what height precisely is best for the job at hand, call Mach 1 Waterjet, Inc., your trusted resource for water jet cutting in San Francisco, CA. We’ll be happy to discuss your project and give you assistance with cutting your materials.

Consider underwater cutting

If you haven’t already tried it, you might want to look into underwater cutting, which has the advantage of giving you a wider range for standoff heights. This is because the water jet is not affected by open air the way “over-water” cutting would be, where the jet can’t stay together for a very long distance. Rather, it stays together long enough for double or even triple your regular standoff height without rounding off on the top edge.

The most common reason that many water jet cutting companies do not consistently cut underwater is that customers often want to see the cutting in progress, and this is difficult to demonstrate below water. If you have the option of using underwater cutting methods, however, they are certainly worth a shot.

Know when to ask for help

When it comes to water jet cutting in San Francisco, CA, there are some types of projects you may want to try on your own, but sometimes it’s important to call in the pros. Whether you’re working with copper, glass, granite, wood, ceramics, stainless steel or aluminum, Mach 1 Waterjet, Inc. can help you get the quality results you need.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

5
July 8, 2016 Tony Dominski
"John can do large pieces and good work"
April 12, 2016 Monterey Mechanical
"Mach 1 is one of our most valued vendors. They are always willing to help with demanding timelines and are extremely professional. John is a..."
December 18, 2012 Mike Schaffer
"The guys at Mach 1 Waterjet do great work and they are always willing to help when I need something done fast!"
google.png
yahoo.png
binged.png
manta.png
facebook.png

Learn More!

Contact us

Location

Mach 1 Waterjet, Inc.


2900 Main St
Alameda, CA 94501

Phone: 510-337-2753
Email: info@bay-machine.com

Business Hours

Monday: 7:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday: 7:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday: 7:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday: 7:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday: 7:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed

Map of Alameda

map
Mach 1 Waterjet, Inc. - 2900 Main St Alameda, CA 94501 - (510) 459-6460