MWR Speeds Up Waterjet Cutting with Jet Edge X-Stream Waterjet Pump
Michael Waltrip Racing (MWR) has installed a 90,000 psi Jet Edge X-Stream xP90-100 waterjet intensifier pump at its fabrication shop in Cornelius, N.C. The pump will power MWR’s Jet Edge waterjet cutting system, which it uses to make parts for its three NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams and its NASCAR Nationwide Series team.
Pictured left to right with the Jet Edge X-Stream pump: David Arthur, Jet Edge Southeast U.S. regional sales manager; Jeremy Vanderleest, Michael Waltrip Racing waterjet operator; Nick Hughes, Michael Waltrip Racing technical director.
MWR plans to achieve much faster cutting speeds and drastically lower its operating costs with its new Jet Edge X-Stream pump. The pump produces 50% more pressure than a typical 60,000 psi waterjet intensifier pump, resulting in a 40-50% increase in productivity for many materials. As a result of these faster cutting speeds, MWR can expect to use 30% less water, 30% less power, and up to 50% less abrasive.
“These days we’re all looking for ways to save time and money, and Jet Edge’s X-Stream pump does both,” said Nick Hughes, MWR’s technical director. “We couldn’t ask for anything more.”
According to Hughes, MWR has been running its Jet Edge waterjet system 60 to 65 hours per week since installing it in the spring of 2008. It now waterjets 250 parts for each of its racecars. The parts are cut from a wide variety of materials ranging from ¼” Nomex to ½” steel, and include numerous panels, mounts and chassis components, plus duct work, windows, splitter panels and much more. MWR builds about 56 cars per year, which include the #55 NAPA AUTO PARTS Toyota Camry driven by Michael Waltrip and fielded by MWR, the #00 Aaron s Dream Machine Toyota Camry driven by David Reutimann and fielded by MWR, the #47 Little Debbie Toyota Camry driven by Marcos Ambrose fielded by JTG-Daugherty Racing through a technical alliance with MWR, and the NASCAR Nationwide Series #99 Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota Camry driven by David Reutimann fielded by MWR.
MWR has experienced tremendous productivity gains since installing its Jet Edge waterjet system, Hughes said.
“After we installed our Jet Edge last year, we increased our productivity by 50 percent and were able to get technology improvements to the racetrack two weeks faster than in the past,” he said. “This resulted in some very respectable finishes that got everybody talking about Michael Waltrip Racing. It really comes down to machining time. We can cut parts a lot faster on the waterjet than on the milling center. We are also producing better quality parts and we are seeing huge reductions in material waste thanks to the Jet Edge’s tight nesting capabilities.”
Hughes noted that the Jet Edge waterjet was instrumental in the development of MWR’s newest racecar, the Series 600.
“The Jet Edge waterjet was key to the redesign,” Hughes said. “It enabled us to design and produce parts at a moment’s notice. We were able to get the project done much faster and much more cost effectively than we could have in the past. As we enter our third year of Sprint Cup Series competition, there is no doubt that we will be placing even more demands on our Jet Edge waterjet. The X-Stream pump’s faster cutting speeds will help us keep up with that demand.”
About Jet Edge
Established in 1984, Jet Edge is a global designer and manufacturer of waterjet systems for precision cutting, surface preparation and coating removal. Jet Edge systems are used around the world in a broad range of industries, from the world s leading airlines to automotive, aerospace, industrial manufacturers, machine and job shops. Jet Edge waterjet systems are proudly made in the U.S.A.
Source: Jet Edge, Inc.
