With the SM-810-WJ series S.M.R.E. has developed a water jet cutting plotter for the automated 2D cutting of a wide range of materials that are difficult – if not impossible – to cut with conventional systems, like heavy rubber, granite, marble, iron, steel, brass, aluminum, very hard plastics, even glass.

SM-810-WJ has a very strong structure in steel, designed for heavy duty cutting jobs. Transmissions are in stainless steel racks with gapless helical teeth for optimal speed and control. The machine has 4 brushless motors: 2 on the X-axis, 1 on the Y-axis, 1 on the Z-axis. S.M.R.E. uses only the best industrial components to construct its machines. These components are freely available on the market.

S.M.R.E. water jets have limited operating costs, both compared to laser cutting and compared to water jets constructed by other manufacturers. S.M.R.E. water jets have limited maintenance costs.

TAs with our other machines, we have integrated several clever solutions in our water jets to make the operator’s job very simple. The abrasive cutting for example is done under water, thus limiting noise, dusts and heating of the surface being worked. Many water jets with abrasives have closed off work tops, because the machine, when cutting, “showers” the surrounding area, spraying dirty water and cutting debris. Because of the fact that the SM-810-WJ works under water, the surrounding area remains clean.

Another important advantage is that the work top is freely accessible. Instead of having to open, close and re-open the work area in between cutting jobs, the operator has immediate access to the work top, making it easy and comfortable to place the processed materials and remove them after cutting.

Thanks to the “WATER LEVEL CONTROL” (WLC) technology – a simple and effective system that manages the level of water in the collection tank during cutting – the water level in the container can be easily adjusted. By pneumatically increasing or decreasing an air bubble in an expansion tank at the back of the table, the operator can raise or lower the level of water in the collection tank at a speed of 6 cm / 15 seconds. Before placing the material on top of the working surface, the operator lowers the water level. The operator places the material, then pushes a button to raise the water level until the material is submerged. At this point, the under water cutting can start.

By shutting off the abrasive feeder, the abrasive machine can be used for pure water cutting as well. Thanks to the “WATER LEVEL CONTROL” technology, materials suitable for pure water cutting (like polyurethane foams) can easily be processed with this table. The water level in the water container is lowered below the work top grille. A sheet of alveolar plastic is put on top of the grille to keep the processed material dry, and the pure water cutting can start.

S.M.R.E. water jets have a dynamic cutting frame: the zero-point – the point where the machine starts to cut – can be decided manually or through the computer. The machine starts to cut wherever the operator decides to.

The computer that comes with the machine is not your average PC, but a very strong industrial computer, especially built for heavy duty industrial production. S.M.R.E. developed a special Cad/Cam program for 2D cutting for the machines: Easy Works Xtreme. This software makes drawing of even very complex shapes extremely easy. Drawing can be done directly on the computer that comes with the machine. Alternatively drawings can be uploaded from the company database or from a simple flash memory stick. Easy Works Xtreme helps the operator choose the correct cutting speed and pressure and calculates the optimal cutting track, to make sure the machine cuts as fast and precise as possible. Even very complex shapes are not a problem.

In case a multitude of smaller shapes need to be cut, a special “nesting” program calculates the optimal way to fit the shapes on top of the work top and cut as many pieces out of the material as possible. The “nesting” module fits the shapes like a puzzle, reducing discards to a minimum.

S.M.R.E. has introduced the possibility of 3D waterjet cutting. With a cutting head moving along 5 axes – X (width of the plotter), Y (length), Z (distance from the cutting surface), W (rotation around its axis) and inclination of the cutting head – SM-810-WJ can even cut complex shapes in 3D.

S.M.R.E. water jets make the even the toughest cutting job easy. It is hands free processing: the operator pushes the button and the machine starts to work. Until the cutting patterns are done, the operator has his free for other jobs.