From Raw Cutting Toward Precision Machining: A History of Waterjet Technology

From Raw Cutting Toward Precision Machining builds on the author’s earlier book, Versatility of Waterjet Technology, and chronicles the evolution of waterjet machining—from crude cutting to a high-precision manufacturing process. Spanning five decades of innovation, it highlights the people, ideas, and milestones that shaped this versatile technology. At its core, the book honors Dr John Olsen, whose pioneering work in high-pressure waterjets laid the foundation for transformative advances. Several chapters explore his pivotal role, including the development of compact, affordable systems for precision and micro-machining. The Pacific Northwest’s leadership in high-pressure hardware, intelligent control software, and abrasive waterjet systems is also featured prominently. In addition to technical breakthroughs, the book examines how marketing, education, and collaboration helped transform waterjets from niche equipment into essential global manufacturing tools. Blending historical insight, technical depth, and personal reflection, this is essential reading for engineers, educators, and anyone curious about the evolution of the manufacturing technology.

Table of Contents:
PART I LEGACY OF THE FATHER OF WATERJET TECHNOLOGY 1. OMAX, MIT, and University Synergy 2. The Legacy of Dr. John Olsen, Father of Waterjet Technology 3. Working with Dr. John Olsen and the Evolution of High-Pressure Technology PART II EVOLUTION OF WATERJET TECHNOLOGY 4. Early Developments in Waterjet Technical Growth 5. Early Development of AWJ Technology 6. Evolution of Waterjet Technology from Raw Cutting to Precision Machining 7. Short History of Abrasive Waterjet Milling 8. Modeling of Abrasive Waterjet Cutting Performance 9. Particle Velocity Measurement Methods in Abrasive Water Jets 10. Abrasive Waterjet and Abrasive Slurry Jet Milling of Microfeatures in Ductile and Brittle Materials PART III WATERJET EDUCATION 11. Waterjet Education Programs at Massachusetts Institute of Technology 12. Waterjet Education Programs at the University of British Columbia 13. Academia and the Growth of Waterjet Technology 14. The Creative Use of Waterjet in Education at the University of Sunderland 15. The Art of Waterjet Cutting 16. Waterjet Education in Japan: History, New Applications, and University Education 17. Waterjet Education Programs in K-9 through K-14 Schools

About the Author :
Peter H.-T. Liu retired from OMAX Corporation in 2022. His specialty is experimental fluid dynamics. He earned his PhD from Colorado State University and held a postdoctoral fellowship at the National Center for Atmospheric Research before joining Flow Industries, where he specialized in qualitative and quantitative flow visualization in both laboratory and field settings. He later joined OMAX, where he focused on developing precision and micro-waterjet systems. Over his 50-year career, he collaborated with various institutions including PNNL, NIST, MIT, the University of Washington, Toronto Metropolitan University, National Taiwan University, and National Cheng Kung University. He has authored 2 books and over 90 technical publications and holds 11 U.S. and European patents.

Review :
“The message is versatility. What do liver surgery, glass art, egg salad sandwiches, road repair, corrosion maintenance, aircraft parts, and jewelry have in common? Waterjetting—a technology that’s everywhere but often unnoticed. My world of waterjetting focuses on cleaning, not cutting. I knew John Olsen and Peter Liu from conferences. Liu tells a different story. Dr Olsen’s idea for smaller, affordable systems fitted well with Prof. Slocum’s knowledge of precision machine design. A lunch meeting—sketched on napkins—sparked a collaboration that bridged industrial cutting and precision machining. Waterjet machining belongs to high schools, trade schools, and colleges. It offers a hands-on way to teach future engineers and artists. This book shows how one conversation helped transform an industry through teamwork and innovation. It’s an inspiring story of engineering and possibility.” Dr Lydia Ann Melcher Frenzel; recipient of SSPC’s 2014 John D. Keane Award of Meritand ISO 2023 Contributions Award “This book, besides being a definitive work on the history of waterjet machining, answered two questions that had bothered me for a long time. First: ‘Why doesn’t everyone who builds things buy a waterjet cutter?’ That it’s expensive hasn’t been valid since the OMAX ProtoMAX appeared. In business, payback matters more than price. Few machines offer better payback, especially in R&D. Second: ‘Did they try this?’ This book unusually describes not only what worked, but also what failed or had limitations—like 3D abrasive jet machining and cavitation cutting. It also shows how design methods change once you understand waterjet cutting—toward flexures, ceramics, and zero-cost registration features. For anyone intrigued by waterjet machining, this book is a gift.” Dan Gelbart; entrepreneur, Canada