Product Name: APW Small Sapphire Orifice / Water Nozzle

Description:
This component is a small sapphire orifice assembly, also known as a water nozzle or jewel orifice, specifically designed for APW series waterjet cutting systems. It is a precision-engineered consumable component that creates the initial ultra-high-pressure waterjet before it enters the mixing chamber . The assembly consists of a stainless steel housing with a synthetic sapphire diaphragm featuring a laser-drilled microscopic hole . This orifice is available in various flow rate options allowing operators to select the appropriate specification for different cutting requirements . It is rated for continuous operation at 60,000 PSI (approximately 4,137 bar) .

Applications:

• Used in abrasive waterjet cutting machines to generate the initial high-pressure waterjet before abrasive mixing 

• Installed in the upper section of the cutting head assembly, positioned above the mixing chamber and focusing tube

• Suitable for both pure water cutting and abrasive waterjet systems

• Compatible with APW and universal waterjet cutting head assemblies

Features:

• Sapphire Construction: Manufactured from synthetic sapphire, offering high hardness and excellent wear resistance 

• Precision Laser-Drilled Orifice: Microscopic hole creates an extremely precise, coherent waterjet for optimal cutting performance 

• Multiple Diameter Options: Available in various diameters including 0.22mm, 0.25mm, 0.30mm, 0.33mm, and 0.35mm 

• 60,000 PSI Rating: Engineered for continuous operation at 60,000 PSI (4,137 bar) 

• Stainless Steel Housing: Corrosion-resistant housing protects the sapphire diaphragm during installation and operation

• Service Life: Under good water quality conditions, sapphire orifices can achieve 50-100 working hours of service life 

Maintenance:

• Visual Inspection: Before each operation, observe the waterjet at low pressure. The water stream should be symmetrical and coherent. If the stream becomes divergent or sprays, the orifice is damaged and requires immediate replacement 

• No Fixed Replacement Schedule: Orifices do not require replacement on a fixed schedule. Replace only when the waterjet shows divergence or reduced cutting performance 

• Clean Installation: Before installing a new orifice, thoroughly clean the cutting head assembly to ensure no debris or contaminants are present

• Orifice to Mixing Tube Ratio: For optimal cutting performance, maintain a 1:3 diameter ratio between the orifice and mixing tube 

• Water Quality Monitoring: Poor water quality (contaminants, hardness, inadequate filtration) accelerates orifice wear. Regularly replace water filtration equipment to protect the orifice 

• Full Depressurization: Always fully depressurize the waterjet system and follow lockout/tagout procedures before removing or servicing the orifice assembly

• Torque Compliance: When installing, tighten the retaining cap to the specific torque value listed in the equipment service manual. Over-tightening may damage the sapphire orifice while under-tightening may cause high-pressure leaks

• Alignment Check: After installation, run low-pressure water through the system. The water column exiting the mixing tube should be straight and coherent. If divergent, the orifice may not be properly focused or seated