WATERJET CUTTING
Precision, Cold-Cut Fabrication with the Flow Mach 500 — The Industry's Most Productive Waterjet System
At Port Welding, we've raised the bar on precision cutting with the addition of the Flow Mach 500, widely recognized as the most accurate, productive abrasive waterjet on the market.
Engineered for high-volume production and built around Flow's industry-leading ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) technology, the Mach 500 enables us to deliver burr-free, distortion-free, tolerance-true parts in virtually any material — from hardened steel and titanium to composites, stone, glass, and foam — with zero heat-affected zone (HAZ) and no metallurgical compromise.
Our Mach 500 is equipped with Flow's flagship HyperJet® ultrahigh-pressure pump and the 5-axis Dynamic Waterjet® XD cutting head — the fastest, most accurate, most flexible cutting combination Flow builds. For projects where thermal cutting won't cut it — literally — waterjet is the answer. And this is the answer to waterjet.
Flow Mach 500 Capabilities
Cuts virtually any material — mild steel, stainless steel, aluminum, titanium, Inconel, copper, brass, composites, plastics, rubber, glass, stone, ceramics, and foam.
Material thickness up to 8" (200 mm), depending on substrate.
Work envelope of 13'-1" x 6'-6" (4 m x 2 m).
Linear positional accuracy of ± 0.0005" (± 0.0127 mm).
Repeatability of ± 0.0008" (± 0.02 mm).
Rapid traverse up to 700 in/min (17.8 m/min).
5-axis Dynamic Waterjet® XD cutting head for compound bevels and complex 3D geometries.
Ultrahigh-pressure cutting up to 94,000 psi (6,500 bar) via Flow's HyperJet® pump.
Programmed and nested through Flow's industry-leading FlowXpert software suite for 2D and 3D cutting.
WHY THE MACH 500 WATERJET?
Waterjet cutting opens doors that thermal processes simply can't. There's no melting, no warping, no recast layer, no microcracking — just a clean, cold cut that preserves the structural integrity, surface finish, and material properties of the parent stock.
Layer in the precision motion control, dynamic taper compensation, and UHP technology of the Flow Mach 500, and Port Welding is now equipped to take on the jobs that other shops turn away.
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Because the Mach 500 cuts with a high-velocity stream of water and garnet abrasive — not flame, plasma, or focused light — there is no thermal input to the workpiece.
That means no warping, no hardened edges, no microcracks, no recast, and no metallurgical changes. Heat-treated, hardened, and exotic alloys come off the table ready for the next operation, exactly as designed.
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One machine, one process, across hundreds of material types. From titanium to stainless plate, laminated composites, layered stacks, tempered glass, granite, and even soft materials like rubber and foam — the Mach 500 handles it all with a single setup change.
That versatility allows Port Welding to support prototypes, short runs, and ongoing production work without juggling disparate cutting platforms or outsourcing specialty jobs.
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With ± 0.0005" linear positional accuracy, ± 0.0008" repeatability, and Flow's Dynamic Waterjet® XD technology automatically compensating for stream lag and kerf taper, the Mach 500 delivers tight-tolerance parts straight off the cutting bed — minimizing, and in many cases eliminating, secondary machining operations and finishing passes.
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The Dynamic Waterjet® XD cutting head provides full 5-axis articulation for weld-prep bevels, scarf joints, countersinks, chamfers, and complex 3D contours.
Whether you need a clean 45° weld prep on 1" plate, compound angles on a composite assembly, or a finished bevel that drops straight into the welder's queue, the Mach 500 produces it in a single setup.
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Pair the Mach 500's 700 in/min rapid traverse with continuous 87,000 psi cutting pressure from Flow's HyperJet® pump, and you have a system purpose-built for production — not just prototyping.
Smart nesting through FlowXpert maximizes material yield, while precision motion control and acceleration of 0.1 g keep cycle times tight and consistent across every part on the sheet.
Cold-cut. Burr-free. The Flow Mach 500 lets Port Welding deliver parts that come off the table ready for the next step — no deburring, no stress relieving, no secondary machining required.
Waterjet Cutting Where Other Processes Fall Short
Where laser, plasma, and oxy-fuel cutting introduce heat, hardness changes, and edge distortion, waterjet delivers a cold, clean, and dimensionally accurate cut from the first millimetre to the last. That makes the Flow Mach 500 the ideal solution when your project demands any of the following:
Thick-section cutting in materials laser cannot economically process.
Heat-sensitive alloys (titanium, hardened tool steels, aerospace-grade aluminum) where HAZ would compromise certification.
Reflective and conductive metals (copper, brass) that resist laser cutting.
Layered or composite stack-ups where thermal cutting would delaminate or scorch.
Non-metallics — stone, glass, ceramic, rubber, gasket material, and foam.
Weld-prep bevels and chamfers cut in a single operation, ready for fit-up.
Industries We Serve with Waterjet Cutting
The versatility of the Flow Mach 500 extends Port Welding's reach across every sector we currently support — and unlocks several new ones. Whatever your industry, our waterjet capabilities are engineered to deliver:
HEAVY EQUIPMENT & CONSTRUCTION
Thick plate, hardened wear components, and weld-prep bevels — all completed in a single operation.
ARCHITECTURAL & DECORATIVE
Stone, glass, tile, and brushed metal cut with artisan-level detail and edge quality.
AUTOMOTIVE & MOTORSPORT
Custom gaskets, brake components, prototype tooling, and trim work in virtually any material.
ENERGY & UTILITIES
Providing reliable cutting and fabrication services for components used in energy production and infrastructure.
CUSTOM FABRICATION
Prototypes, short runs, and one-off components in materials no other cutting process can handle.
AEROSPACE & DEFENSE
Titanium, Inconel, aluminum honeycomb, and composite layups cut to flight-critical tolerances, with zero HAZ to compromise certification.
MEDICAL & INDUSTRIAL EQUIPMENT
Surgical-grade stainless steel, titanium implant blanks, and precision instrumentation parts with no thermal distortion.
ISO 9001:2015 Certified.
Full-Circle Fabrication.
One Trusted Partner.
Port Welding's investment in the Flow Mach 500 reflects our continued commitment to bringing the most advanced precision manufacturing technology to our customers. But the machine is only one part of the equation.
Every waterjet project is backed by our ISO 9001:2015 quality management system, our in-house custom design and 3D CAD support, our welding and brake forming capabilities, and our completefinishing services — powder coating, zinc plating, galvanizing, assembly, and delivery.
That means your waterjet-cut components don't just leave the cutting bed — they move seamlessly into the next stage of production, all under one roof, with one accountable partner.
That means your waterjet-cut components don't just leave the cutting bed — they move seamlessly into the next stage of production, all under one roof, with one accountable partner.
Ready for Cold, Clean, Distortion-Free Cuts?
Port Welding is dedicated to providing the most advanced precision cutting services in the industry.
The Flow Mach 500 expands our capabilities into materials, geometries, and tolerances that thermal processes can't touch — giving our customers a single, trusted source for everything from prototype concepts to high-volume production.
Whether you're cutting hardened plate, exotic alloy, stacked composites, or architectural stone, Port Welding has the equipment, the expertise, and the ISO-certified process to deliver — on spec, on tolerance, and on time.
From the first concept sketch to the final finished assembly, Port Welding ensures every detail is accounted for in your custom waterjet project.Contact Port Welding today to learn how our waterjet cutting capabilities can take your project to the next level.