Mine to Double Productivity with Waterjet Cutting System

Based in Johannesburg, South Africa, Jetstream Cutting Solutions represents Jet Edge waterjets in several Southern African nations and carries Jet Edge’s full line of waterjet cutting and surface preparation equipment, including waterjet cutting machines, waterjet intensifier pumps and portable waterjetting systems. In addition to Jet Edge waterjets, Jetstream also sells, installs and services other 3-axis waterjet systems and UHP pumps. With Jetstream Cutting Solutions’ help, operators of a remote copper mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are planning to double the mine’s productivity with the use of a new Jet Edge Edge X-5® 5-axis waterjet.
The DRC mine operation, which is at least a three week’s drive from Johannesburg, South Africa, plans to use the Jet Edge waterjet system to speed up the completion of a copper processing plant. The Jet Edge machine is the mine’s second waterjet system. In 2012, they installed a new Jetstream 3-axis waterjet, powered by a 90,000 psi (6200 bar) 50hp Jet Edge X-stream xP90-50 hydraulic intensifier pump.

Mine officials plan to double productivity with help of their latest Jet Edge waterjet.
RELIABILITY IN ACTION
“They run their first machine 24/7,” says Jetstream Cutting Solutions director Malcolm Cruickshank. “The Jet Edge X-Stream pump was key to the success of the first machine because they could utilize the higher pressure to increase productivity.”
For their second waterjet system, the mine operators selected Jet Edge’s premiere 90,000 psi (6200 bar) Edge X-5 system with dual independently programmable 5-axis cutting heads and laser plate mapping system, Aquavision Di industrial PC controller, and 5-axis waterjet cutting software.
Cruickshank notes that the mine officials chose a Jet Edge system for their second machine based on the reliability of their first Jet Edge pump, and Jet Edge’s ability to quickly supply spare parts when needed.
“Reliability is very important to them due to the remoteness of the mine,” he says. “They appreciate the speed with which Jet Edge can supply spares.”

The Jet Edge Edge X-5 work envelope can accommodate very large plates.
INTUITIVE AND EASY
Jake Hall, a Jetstream subcontractor and director of Mobile Digital Solutions of Sylvania, Australia, oversaw the installation of the Jet Edge system and trained the mine’s waterjet operators how to use the new 5-axis machine.
“The Edge X-5 is a good system,” Hall notes. “It’s intuitive and easy to operate. I’ve seen lots of systems in my eleven years working with waterjets and it seems to do the job very well and is easy to teach. The Aquavision Di controller is extremely reliable. The software is great. It solves a lot of the problems of other CAD/CAM software. It’s been specifically designed with waterjetting in mind. Lead ins and outs are easy and it’s easy to nest multiple parts. Most importantly, you’re not stuck to a certain order. With some software, if you miss one step, you have to start all over again. Jet Edge’s software is flexible and it’s not labor intensive. The library of materials is good and the speed control is good.”
Hall added that he has been very impressed with Jet Edge’s X-Stream intensifier pumps, service and training.
“The X-Stream pump is bullet-proof,” he says. “We feel comfortable that we have a good support network and that we can call Jet Edge any time, day or night.” ■

Jetstream Cutting Solutions director Malcolm Cruickshank (right) and subcontractor Jake Hall travelled to a remote copper mine in Africa’s Democratic Republic of Congo to install a premier Jet Edge 5-axis waterjet system.
About The Author
Nancy Lauseng is the marketing manager for Jet Edge. For more information about Jet Edge, visit www.jetedge.com or call 800.JET.EDGE (538.3343) or 763.497.8700. For information about Jetstream Cutting Solutions CC, visit www.jetstreamcutting.co.za, and for information about Mobile Digital Solutions, visit www.mobiledigitalsolutions.com.au.