Because of its special properties, brass is especially well-suited to cutting on the waterjet machine. Contact us for quotes for waterjet cutting brass, copper, and other metals in Phoenix, AZ.
The Difference Between Brass and Bronze
Brass was accidentally created by Syrians around 3000 BC. Copper and tin were commonly combined to make bronze, one of the most-used metals during that era. At the time, they didn’t have the knowledge to tell the difference between alloys. Zinc was mistakenly used in place of tin while trying to make bronze, resulting in the invention of brass. Similar in color and physical properties, brass and bronze are easy to confuse.
Waterjet Cutting Brass
Brass is a medium-hard metal used for thousands of industrial applications. A mixture of metals known as an alloy, brass is made from copper and zinc. It’s used to make art, plumbing fixtures and fittings, lighting fixtures, musical instruments, bushings, ammunition, wear plates, and more. Brass is made from 33% zinc and 67% copper, but that mixture varies. You can identify the alloy mixture by its number. We commonly waterjet cut 260, 280, and 464 brass up to 12″ thick.
Waterjet Cutting Bronze
Bronze is a medium-hard, corrosion-resistant metal used in the manufacturing and production of coins, medals, statues, hardware mounts and hardware, furniture, plates and covers, construction panels for ceilings and walls, the hardware on ships, automotive parts, and more. Bronze is strong, moldable, cuttable, and resistant to corrosion, making it a good metal for numerous types of projects. Bronze is comprised of about 86% copper, 12-12.5% tin, and other metals and metalloids like aluminum, phosphorus, or silicon.
We Cut Brass and Bronze on Our Waterjet
Copper alloys like brass and bronze are difficult to cut with hot processes like lasers, CNC mills, and lathes. Waterjet cutting brass and bronze is a cold process that’s more accurate, faster, and more efficient than with traditional machining methods. Contact us today to learn more about our bronze and brass-cutting capabilities, programming your project, and turnaround time.