DXF File Preparation for Waterjet Cutting — Tolerances, Lead-ins, and Geometry Rules

Waterjet cutting is not laser cutting. A programmer at a waterjet shop evaluates your DXF differently than a laser operator does, and the geometry problems that a laser CAM system tolerates will stop a waterjet program cold. This post covers what you need to know before the file leaves your desk: kerf width, taper, lead-in placement, pierce rules, minimum features, and the geometry requirements that every waterjet CAM system actually checks. ...

15 May 2026 · 10 min · CadShift