Waterjet Pumps: a Third Way

Published 1/17/2012

Waterjet Pumps: a Third Way

Any manufacturer in the market for a new waterjet will be faced early on with a critical choice: whether to invest in a direct-drive or intensifier pump. Techni Waterjet offers a third option designed to combine the advantages of both.

Matt Danford

Former Senior Editor, 91��Ƶ��վ��

The Quantum ESP is available in single- or dual-pump models with output pressures of 55,000 or 66,000 psi. According to the company, all operate quietly, with even the dual models never exceeding 70 decibels.

Rather than a crankshaft or hydraulic system, Techni’s Quantum ESP creates the pumping action with a reciprocating ballscrew driven by an electric servomotor.

Coke or Pepsi, PC or Mac, Republican or Democrat—life abounds with decisions that seem to boil down to two major alternatives. According to one waterjet equipment supplier, choosing a pump design doesn’t have to be one of them. The Quantum Electric Servo Pump (ESP) from Techni Waterjet (Lenexa, Kansas) combines the advantages of the two most prevalent pump types while avoiding their drawbacks, says Chris McKinney, Techni’s national sales manager.

The two traditional types of waterjet pumps are direct drive and intensifier. Both draw, pressurize and eject water by moving a piston-plunger assembly back and forth within a sealed chamber. The difference lies in the mechanism used to drive the plunger. Direct-drive models use a crankshaft, whereas intensifier pumps use hydraulic cylinders. Conversely, Techni’s Quantum ESP uses an electric servomotor to drive plungers attached to a reciprocating ballscrew. Mr. McKinney says this design can generally match or surpass the performance of both direct-drive and intensifier models in the following areas:

Efficiency

Unlike the other two designs, the ESP uses only the power required for the cutting process, Mr. McKinney says. Like a direct-drive pump, an ESP can direct the lion’s share of power generated by the motor to creating the plunging action that pressurizes the water. In contrast, an intensifier must devote power to operating the hydraulic system, which also tends to require more cooling water than the other two designs to prevent overheating. Additionally, when an intensifier pump is idle, oil in the hydraulic system must be directed through a relief valve to stop the plunging action.

However, the ESP takes the efficiency advantages of direct-drive models a step further. That’s because direct-drive pumps must continuously expel water as long as the motor is on to avoid damage, he says. When the cutting head is closed, the direct-drive pump must drain water—and by extension, power—via a relief valve. The ESP has no such requirement.

Multiple Heads, Varying Pressures

Both ESPs and intensifiers can idle without displacing water or losing pressure. This ability, known as “dead-heading,” makes these designs practical for driving multiple cutting heads and for varying the pressure of the stream. However, an intensifier’s hydraulic cylinders operate at a set speed. As a result, resuming the cut after dead-heading can result in an unwanted spike in pressure as the plunger restarts. This isn’t a problem with the ESP because the servomotor provides infinite control, enabling controlled starting and stopping of the plungers.

Maintenance

Both intensifier pumps and ESPs typically require less maintenance than direct-drive models, Mr. McKinney says. A major reason for that relates to the speed at which the plunger reciprocates. At the same pressure setting, he explains, a direct-drive pump will stroke more times each minute than either an intensifier pump or an ESP. This places additional strain on seals, tubing and other critical components. Avoiding unwanted spikes in pressure that can result from dead-heading intensifier pumps further reduces maintenance requirements for ESPs.

Footprint

Both direct-drive and intensifier pumps are driven by electric motors housed separately from the actual pumping apparatus. In contrast, the servomotor that drives the ESP is hollow and wraps around the reciprocating ballscrew. This minimizes the floor space requried for the pump. Mr. McKinney adds that this advantage is more pronounced when comparing the system to intensifier pumps, which often house large drums of hydraulic oil in addition to the motor and the pumping apparatus.

Real-Time Diagnostics

Unlike the motors employed by the other designs, the Quantum ESP’s servomotor provides direct feedback, similarly to servos on machine tools that relay positioning information to the CNC. Mr. McKinney says this enables operators to monitor the pump’s operation in real time—either at the control or from any device with Internet access—and detect abnormalities that might indicate potential problems down the road.

Other Considerations

Other notable features include quick-change seal components and a structure designed to provide easy access to internal components for maintenance. Mr. McKinney also notes that the pump’s efficiency in terms of power, water and oil consumption benefits not just the bottom line, but also the environment.

Related Content

Lean Approach to Automated Machine Tending Delivers Quicker Paths to Success

Almost any shop can automate at least some of its production, even in low-volume, high-mix applications. The key to getting started is finding the simplest solutions that fit your requirements. It helps to work with an automation partner that understands your needs.

The Future of High Feed Milling in Modern Manufacturing

Achieve higher metal removal rates and enhanced predictability with ISCAR’s advanced high-feed milling tools — optimized for today’s competitive global market.

CNC & Machine Controls 20 Sep 2023

6 Machine Shop Essentials to Stay Competitive

If you want to streamline production and be competitive in the industry, you will need far more than a standard three-axis CNC mill or two-axis CNC lathe and a few measuring tools.

Turning Machines 11 Aug 2023

Inside the Premium Machine Shop Making Fasteners

AMPG can’t help but take risks — its management doesn’t know how to run machines. But these risks have enabled it to become a runaway success in its market.

Top Shops

Last Chance! 2025 Top Shops Benchmarking Survey Still Open Through April 30

Don’t miss out! 91��Ƶ��վ��'s Top Shops Benchmarking Survey is still open — but not for long. This is your last chance to a receive free, customized benchmarking report that includes actionable feedback across several shopfloor and business metrics.

Basics

Machine Shop MBA

Making Chips and 91��Ƶ��վ�� are teaming up for a new podcast series called Machine Shop MBA—designed to help manufacturers measure their success against the industry’s best. Through the lens of the Top Shops benchmarking program, the series explores the KPIs that set high-performing shops apart, from machine utilization and first-pass yield to employee engagement and revenue per employee.

Automation

AMRs Are Moving Into Manufacturing: 4 Considerations for Implementation

AMRs can provide a flexible, easy-to-use automation platform so long as manufacturers choose a suitable task and prepare their facilities.

91��Ƶ��վ��

Waterjet Pumps: a Third Way

Share

Related Content

Lean Approach to Automated Machine Tending Delivers Quicker Paths to Success

The Future of High Feed Milling in Modern Manufacturing

6 Machine Shop Essentials to Stay Competitive

Inside the Premium Machine Shop Making Fasteners

Read Next

Last Chance! 2025 Top Shops Benchmarking Survey Still Open Through April 30

Machine Shop MBA

AMRs Are Moving Into Manufacturing: 4 Considerations for Implementation

Country

Industries Served

Operations Performed

Welcome to 91��Ƶ��վ��!

Waterjet Pumps: a Third Way

Share

SMW Autoblok Corporation

Featured Content

Featured Videos

CNC Engineering, Inc.

Featured Content

Featured Videos

QualiChem Inc.

Featured Content

Featured Videos

Heidenhain Corporation

Featured Content

Featured Videos

Mikron Corp.

Featured Content

Featured Videos

T J Davies, Co., Inc.

Featured Content

All World Machinery Supply

Featured Content

Featured Videos

ZEISS Industrial Quality Solutions

Featured Content

Featured Videos

Related Content

Read Next

Country

Industries Served

Operations Performed

Welcome to 91��Ƶ��վ��!