Cut time, machine cost and material cost for a waterjet cutting job — set material, thickness, cut length and machine rate.
Cutting speed scales with thickness relative to a 12mm reference figure for each material: speed = reference speed × (12 ÷ thickness). Waterjet's reference speeds vary far less between materials than plasma or laser's, since abrasive erosion doesn't depend on a material's conductivity or reflectivity the way thermal cutting does. Cut time per part is travel time (cut length ÷ speed) plus pierce time — waterjet pierces take longer than laser or plasma, so they're worth checking carefully on hole-heavy parts; see the pierce time guide.
Job weight uses part area × thickness × material density, and material cost multiplies that by your price per kg — see the metal sheet weight & density guide. Machine cost is total job time × your hourly rate, and waterjet's rate is usually the highest of the three processes due to abrasive consumable use. For laser or plasma instead, see the laser cost calculator or plasma cost calculator, or compare all three in the process comparison guide.