In modern manufacturing, CNC machining is often viewed as the gold standard for accuracy, repeatability, and detailed geometry. It is one of the strongest tools for shaping metals and building structurally critical components. But even with those advantages, CNC machining is not always the most cost-effective or efficient way to start a project. There are situations where machining alone slows production, increases tool wear, wastes material, or overcomplicates steps that could be handled more quickly with another technology.
This is where waterjet cutting becomes the ideal complementary process. When used alongside CNC machining, a waterjet can reduce cycle time, simplify workflows, and prepare materials so the CNC can perform only the work it truly needs. The result is faster turnaround, lower cost, and more consistent parts. For many manufacturers, the powerful combination of both technologies is what unlocks the performance they need.
Why machining alone can slow down production
CNC machines are built to deliver extreme precision. But that precision comes with tradeoffs. For certain shapes and materials, CNC machining becomes slower and more expensive than necessary. Some of the most common challenges include:
Material removal time: Cutting thick plates or removing large pockets can take hours and put heavy stress on tools.
Tool wear: Hard alloys and abrasive composites quickly damage cutters, increasing downtime and raising tooling costs.
Fixturing complexity: Odd-shaped or oversized materials often require special fixtures or manual prep before machining can begin.
Heat concerns: Temperature-sensitive materials can warp, melt, or distort when subjected to friction and tool heat.
Inconsistent edges: Machining thick or layered materials can leave burrs or introduce microstresses, requiring secondary finishing.
When these problems appear, machining the entire part from start to finish becomes inefficient. It is more productive to prepare material using a waterjet, allowing the CNC to focus on features that require tight tolerances and fine detail.
How waterjet solves the biggest machining limitations
Waterjet cutting uses a high-pressure stream of water mixed with an abrasive to cut through almost any material. It produces no heat-affected zone, no burning, and no mechanical stress. Because of this, waterjet can complete essential pre-machining tasks much faster and more efficiently than CNC equipment.
These advantages make waterjet a powerful partner to machining:
Fast rough cutting: A waterjet can quickly shape blanks, cut contours, or remove large sections of material, reducing hours of machining time.
No heat distortion: Materials that warp during machining stay stable when cut with a waterjet.
Zero tool wear: Since cutting happens with water and abrasives, there are no cutting tools to break or replace.
Clean edges: Waterjet produces smooth, uniform edges that require little to no secondary finishing.
Large format capability: Oversized plates, thick stock, and irregular shapes are easy to handle on a waterjet table.
By letting the waterjet handle the groundwork, the CNC machine can complete the final operations with better accuracy and at a lower cost.
When the combination becomes the best solution
There are many situations in which pairing waterjet cutting with CNC machining delivers the greatest value to the manufacturer. A few of the most common examples include:
Thick metal parts: Instead of milling down inches of material, the waterjet can cut the outline and rough internal features in minutes.
Composite materials: CNC tools struggle with fiber-reinforced plastics, carbon fiber, and layered materials, but waterjet cuts them cleanly with no delamination.
Heat-sensitive plastics: Acrylic, UHMW, PTFE, and others can warp under machining heat but stay stable with waterjet prep.
Intricate parts with tight tolerances: The waterjet cuts the blank, and the CNC machine finishes the precision features.
High-volume production: Waterjet cuts repeatable shapes quickly, preparing batches of blanks for direct delivery to the CNC.
Reducing scrap: Since waterjet kerf is narrow and nesting is efficient, material usage improves across large production runs.
Any situation in which removing bulk material is unnecessary or inefficient is a strong argument for using both technologies in sequence.
Tangible benefits for manufacturers
The biggest advantages of using CNC machining and waterjet cutting together are measurable and directly tied to production efficiency and cost.
Faster turnaround: Projects move through the shop more quickly because each machine focuses on its own best-in-class work.
Lower tooling costs: CNC tools last longer, enabling them to handle finishing work.
Shorter machining cycles: Removing less material drastically reduces machine time and labor.
Better surface integrity: Without thermal distortion or microcracks, final parts perform more reliably.
Higher consistency in production runs: Waterjet-cut blanks maintain uniformity before machining begins.
Improved material yield: Tighter nesting and cleaner cuts reduce waste, especially in high-value materials.
These are not abstract benefits. They are direct improvements that save time, reduce cost, and increase productivity.
Why do many industries rely on this combination?
Sectors that depend on accurate, repeatable, and efficient manufacturing often use CNC and waterjet together, including:
- Aerospace: Cutting titanium, Inconel, Kevlar, and composites without heat.
- Medical device manufacturing: Creating blanks for machined surgical components.
- Automotive and motorsports: Quickly preparing plates, brackets, and custom parts.
- Electronics: Cutting plastics and nonconductive materials without melting.
- Architecture and fabrication: Producing complex shapes at scale.
For operations where precision and reliability matter, the combination of both technologies is not just convenient but essential.
The bottom line
CNC machining is unmatched for detail and final accuracy. Waterjet is unmatched for cold cutting and fast material removal. When manufacturers pair the two, they eliminate inefficiencies that slow production and raise costs.
Waterjet does the heavy lifting, and CNC delivers the precision. Together, they create a workflow that is faster, cleaner, and more profitable.
If you want reliable service, clear communication, and workmanship that adds real value to your property, ASC Painting is ready to help.
Call now at (508) 384-5081 to request your free estimate today.
210 Kuniholm Drive – Suite 1, Holliston, MA
