The objective of this project was to not only obtain a better understanding of how to manufacture with water jet machining, but also to understand the inherent advantages and disadvantages of its use. Water jet machining is a subtractive method of manufacturing, removing material where necessary to fabricate a complete part. The process is computer controlled, allowing the water jet to create intricate and unnaturally curved parts. In order to demonstrate the functionality of water jet machining, a dragon-shaped bottle opener and an elaborate crest were machined, which were intricately detailed and contained complex internal features. These designs were ideal for the water jet machining process.

Having followed the dimensional constraints and requirements of the interior rounds being no smaller than .04 inches in diameter and hole sizes being no smaller than .06 inches in diameter, these parts came out exceptionally with smooth faces and no edge deformation; they matched the 3D CAD very closely. In addition, the bottle opener operates flawlessly and repeatedly, as demonstrated in below, and thereby achieved our initial goal to create a functional part. Both parts did however have coarse side edges where the pieces were cut out. This can be attributed to the material nature of the water jet abrasive.