From Raw Cutting Toward Precision Machining

“The message is versatility. What do liver surgery, glass art, egg salad sandwiches, road repair, corrosion maintenance, aircraft parts, and jewelry have in common? Waterjetting—a technology that’s everywhere but often unnoticed. My world of waterjetting focuses on cleaning, not cutting. I knew John Olsen and Peter Liu from conferences. Liu tells a different story. Dr Olsen’s idea for smaller, affordable systems fitted well with Prof. Slocum’s knowledge of precision machine design. A lunch meeting—sketched on napkins—sparked a collaboration that bridged industrial cutting and precision machining. Waterjet machining belongs to high schools, trade schools, and colleges. It offers a hands-on way to teach future engineers and artists. This book shows how one conversation helped transform an industry through teamwork and innovation. It’s an inspiring story of engineering and possibility.” Dr Lydia Ann Melcher Frenzel; recipient of SSPC’s 2014 John D. Keane Award of Meritand ISO 2023 Contributions Award “This book, besides being a definitive work on the history of waterjet machining, answered two questions that had bothered me for a long time. First: ‘Why doesn’t everyone who builds things buy a waterjet cutter?’ That it’s expensive hasn’t been valid since the OMAX ProtoMAX appeared. In business, payback matters more than price. Few machines offer better payback, especially in R&D. Second: ‘Did they try this?’ This book unusually describes not only what worked, but also what failed or had limitations—like 3D abrasive jet machining and cavitation cutting. It also shows how design methods change once you understand waterjet cutting—toward flexures, ceramics, and zero-cost registration features. For anyone intrigued by waterjet machining, this book is a gift.” Dan Gelbart; entrepreneur, Canada