This water-jet is cutting a 0.5-in. (12.5-mm) slab of titanium at a pressure of 45,000 lb/in² (310 MPa).

Have you ever wondered how it's possible to cut through a metal that's as tough as titanium, a metal strong enough to stop a bullet? Although there are several ways, I feel that the most interesting method is through the use of an abrasive waterjet.

An abrasive waterjet implements the use of a high-velocity and pressure stream (up to 87,000 psi) of water mixed with abrasive compounds, such as garnet (a mineral that's used in sandpaper) to cut right through even the toughest of materials, including titanium.

There are several advantages to using a waterjet as opposed to any other cutting tools. For one, there are no blades or knives to replace or sharpen, which means less maintenance and aftermarket costs. But perhaps the most useful quality a waterjet has to offer is that it doesn't interfere with the materials inherent structure, due to the fact that there's no "heat affected zone". This allows the material to be cut without harming or changing its intrinsic properties.