Here's why laser cutting is more affordable for your project, no matter its size or shape.
Laser: $13-20/hr
Waterjet: $20-40/hr
Combined with the speed and precision of cutting, waterjet vs. laser cutting cost in terms of operation is not even close. Waterjet cutting is much slower AND much more costly per hour of use.
Let's do some quick math. Say you have a project that adds up to 15,000" in total cuts. If we take the quickest speed and lowest cost for each type of cutting, we end up with:
Laser cutting service cost: 15,000 in / 70 ipm = 214.29 minutes of active cutting. 214.29 min = 3.57 hours. $13/hr * 3.57 hr = $46.41 for 15,000" of cutting.
Waterjet cutting cost: 15,000 in / 15 ipm = 1,000 minutes of active cutting. 1,000 min = 16.67 hours. $20/hr * 16.67 hr = $333.40 for 15,000" of cutting.
Without considering any other factors, waterjet cutting is more than 5x the cost of laser cutter cost per hour.
Related: Slash Costs with All-in-One Component Manufacturing
Any laser cutting cost calculation should include waste -- or lack thereof.
Lasers require little to no cleanup. A small amount of waste is produced in the form of dust, which is easily removed with a simple vacuuming and filtering process.
On the other hand, waterjet cutting requires a large amount of cleanup due to the abrasives mixed in with the water. The abrasive waste requires special disposal (due to possible toxicity), which further drives up the cost.
How much does laser cutting cost in terms of tooling? Very little.
The gases used to produce the laser are inexpensive, and increased demand for lasers has driven down costs of components. Really, the most expensive part of operating a laser cutting machine is the power consumption of converting electricity into light.
In contrast, a waterjet machine requires some very expensive components to run properly: a high pressure pump, a cutting head usually made out of gemstones (diamond, sapphire), and an expensive abrasive material (usually garnet). To add insult to injury, some of these components wear out quickly and need to be replaced often.
Laser: 20-70" per minute, up to .005" tolerance
Waterjet: 3-14" per minute, up to .02" tolerance
The Fabricator reports the following stainless steel cutting speeds:
Laser cutting cost per inch for steel (in this specific case, stainless steel) is obviously superior thanks to laser's high speed plus incredible precision. A waterjet machine moves very slowly and doesn't even come close to the precision of a laser.
Further, thin metals and small products are difficult to fabricate due to the force of the water. This can lead to higher rates of part defects. In terms of precision, waterjet cutting is best for large parts and low tolerances.
The cost of laser cutting steel is more affordable than cutting with water. The numbers won't add up as neatly as in our example problem above, as there are many more factors to consider in the actual manufacturing process. However, you still get a general idea of the cost disparity.
There are really only a few cases in which waterjet cutting would overshadow laser cutting. For instance, laser cutting doesn't do so well with thick materials, and waterjet cutting can be used on almost any material type or thickness.
As we refine all of our manufacturing processes, we may see waterjet cutting become a more viable option. But, for now, laser cutting should be at the top of your list.
(Editor's Note: This article was originally published in July 2016 and was recently updated.)