Abrasive Waterjet Drilling Applications

Using our waterjet process holes can be drilled in metal, ceramic, rubber, plastic – virtually any material – even extremely hard and brittle materials such as carbides, nitrides, quartz and glass.  In addition the holes don’t have to be round – they can be diamond-shaped, conical, “diffuser"-shaped, as well as round.

Unlike laser or EDM drilling, the waterjet process is cold so it doesn’t produce a heat affected zone, recast layer or distortion.  The inside of the holes are smooth and bur free – eliminating the need for any post drilling operations.  We can even drill into blind cavities.

Common Turbine Components we waterjet drill are: Blades (Buckets), Vanes (Nozzles), Combustors and Transition Pieces.  Parts can be drilled either before or after being coated.  Drilling through Thermal Barrier Coatings (TBC’s) is one of our specialties.