Plastics & rubbers
Plastic & rubber waterjet cutting with TamCut
TamCut enables accurate and flexible waterjet cutting of plastics, rubber and elastomer materials with a compact industrial machine. Cut flat parts, holes, openings and detailed 2D shapes without heat, melting, burning or material-specific cutting tools.
Overview
Flexible cutting for plastics, rubber and elastomer
TamCut is suitable for many plastic and rubber cutting applications where flexibility, clean shapes and low cutting forces are important. Waterjet cutting is especially useful when parts require holes, internal contours, cut-outs or non-standard geometries that are difficult or costly to produce with conventional cutting tools.
Because waterjet cutting is a cold cutting process, the material is not exposed to high cutting temperatures. This makes the method suitable for many heat-sensitive materials, including technical plastics, rubber sheets, elastomers and gasket materials.
VIDEOs
Watch TamCut cutting plastics and rubber
Material cutting videos
Watch TamCut cut technical plastic parts, holes and 2D contours with a clean waterjet process.
See how TamCut cuts gaskets from sheet materials without dedicated die cutting tools. Holes, bolt patterns and complex flat shapes can be produced directly from a drawing.
Rubber, plastic, foam and gasket cutting
See TamCut cut flexible and technical materials without dedicated die cutting tools.
Cutting speeds
Example cutting speeds
Please note
For tolerance-critical or unfamiliar materials we recommend a test cut with your own material before making production decisions
| Material | Thickness | Example cutting speed |
|---|---|---|
| Rubber | 3 mm | approx. mm/min |
| Rubber | 3 mm | approx. mm/min |
| Plastic | 5 mm | approx. mm/min |
| Plastic | 5 mm | approx. mm/min |
| Plastic | 30 mm | approx. mm/min |
Who uses Tamcut
Who uses TamCut for plastic and rubber cutting?
Production teams
TamCut helps production teams manufacture prototypes, single parts and small batches from plastics, rubber and elastomer materials in-house. This can reduce outsourcing, shorten lead times and improve flexibility when part designs change.
Maintenance teams
Maintenance and repair teams can use TamCut to produce replacement gaskets, rubber parts, protective covers, spacers and technical plastic components when they are needed.
R&D and laboratories
TamCut is well suited for research, development and testing environments where different plastic or rubber materials, shapes and test pieces need to be produced flexibly.
Gasket and seal manufacturers
Companies working with gasket materials, rubber sheets and sealing solutions can use TamCut for prototypes, replacement parts, short runs and special shapes without dedicated punching tools.
Machine shops
Machine shops can use TamCut as a flexible cutting tool alongside milling, sawing, laser cutting or subcontracting. It is especially useful for flat parts, mixed-material work and materials that are difficult to cut cleanly with heat-based methods.
Product development teams
TamCut helps product development teams move faster from drawing to physical part, without waiting for external suppliers or dedicated tooling.
Applications
Typical plastic and rubber applications
Gaskets and seals
TamCut is especially useful for gasket and seal cutting when parts are needed quickly, geometries vary or dedicated punching tools are not practical. Waterjet cutting allows holes, bolt patterns, internal contours and outer shapes to be cut directly from a drawing.
This makes TamCut a practical solution for:
- Replacement gaskets
- Prototype gaskets
- Small gasket batches
- Custom seals
- Rubber sheet parts
- Technical elastomer parts
- Maintenance and repair needs
- Product development and testing
Because no dedicated die cutting tool is required, TamCut can help reduce lead times and improve flexibility when gasket designs change or when only a small quantity is needed.
Prototypes
Cut prototype parts from different plastics and rubber materials without dedicated tooling. This makes it easier to test shapes, materials and design changes quickly.
Single parts
Produce one-off rubber parts, plastic covers, spacers, protective plates and small technical components in-house when they are needed.
Small production batches
TamCut supports low-volume production where flexibility, short lead times and material versatility are more important than high-volume automation.
Holes and cut-outs
Cut holes, slots, openings and internal contours directly from a drawing. This is useful for gaskets, covers, panels, seals and technical flat parts.
Complex flat shapes
TamCut can cut detailed flat shapes, internal contours and irregular 2D geometries without changing tools. This gives more freedom in flat part design compared with many traditional cutting methods.
Honest fit
Best fit for TamCut plastic and rubber cutting
TamCut is a strong fit when you need flexible in-house cutting for different plastic, rubber and elastomer parts. If you are unsure, send us your drawing and material. We will help evaluate whether TamCut is the right fit.
Best suited for
TamCut is a strong fit
TamCut is a strong fit when you need flexible in-house cutting for many different materials and flat part geometries.
- Gaskets and seals
- Prototypes
- Single parts
- Small batches
- Maintenance and repair parts
- Rubber sheets and technical plastics
- Mixed-material workshop use
- Applications where outsourcing causes long lead times
When another method may be better
Consider another process
TamCut is not intended to replace every plastic or rubber cutting method. In some cases, another process may be more suitable.
- High-volume mass production
- Very high cutting speeds in simple thin sheet parts
- Applications requiring automatic 3D cutting
- Very soft or highly elastic materials without process validation
- Jobs where punching, knife cutting, milling or molding is clearly faster and more cost-efficient
Why it works
Why waterjet cutting works well for plastics and rubber
Seven properties of the process explain why one machine can handle steel, glass, rubber and carbon fiber alike.
01
No heat, melting or burning
Waterjet cutting is a cold cutting process. Plastics and rubber materials are not exposed to high cutting temperatures, which helps avoid melting, burning, smoke or thermal deformation.
02
No mechanical blade wear
The cutting is done by a waterjet instead of a knife, saw blade or milling tool. This eliminates blade wear and reduces the need for material-specific cutting tools.
03
Suitable for holes and internal contours
Waterjet cutting makes it possible to create holes, slots, openings and internal shapes directly from a drawing without punching tools or special fixtures.
04
Low cutting forces
Waterjet cutting applies relatively low mechanical force to the material, which can be useful for flexible, soft or thin materials when the process is validated for the application.
05
Flexible production without dedicated tooling
The same machine can cut different part geometries directly from a drawing, making TamCut well suited for prototypes, single parts and small batches.
06
Good fit for changing designs
For product development, maintenance and short-run production, TamCut helps produce updated shapes quickly without waiting for new tools.
07
Important note on material suitability
Plastic and rubber materials vary significantly depending on hardness, thickness, elasticity, reinforcement, layering and required edge quality. Some very soft, highly elastic, porous or reinforced materials may require test cutting to confirm suitability and cutting quality. For demanding or unfamiliar applications, we recommend a test cut before production.
In short
Benefits, materials and typical parts
Benefits of cutting plastics and rubber with TamCut
- Compact in-house waterjet cutting
- Suitable for prototypes, single parts and low-volume production
- One machine for many metals and other materials
- No heat, melting or burning
- No dedicated die cutting tool required
- Accurate holes, openings and flat part geometries
- Reduced outsourcing and shorter lead times
- Easy-to-use industrial HMI
- Europe-wide service and support
- Built by Muototerä, a Finnish waterjet company with real production experience
Examples of plastics and rubber materials TamCut can cut
- Technical plastics
- Rubber sheets
- Elastomers
- Gasket materials
- Foam materials
- Sealing materials
- Plastic covers and plates
- Foam rubber materials
- Other waterjet-suitable plastic and rubber materials
Typical plastic and rubber parts
- Gaskets
- Seals
- Rubber parts
- Plastic covers
- Protective plates
- Spacers
- Panels
- Test specimens
- Prototype components
- Technical flat parts
- Maintenance parts
Free evaluation
Not sure if your plastic or rubber material is suitable?
Send us your material, drawing or part idea. Our waterjet specialists will evaluate whether TamCut is suitable for your application.
MAterials
Explore materials
Metal waterjet cutting
Glass waterjet cutting
Plastic & rubber waterjet cutting
Stone & tile waterjet cutting
Composite waterjet cutting
Wood, cardboard and other materials
Contact us
Can TamCut cut your plastic or rubber part?
Send us your drawing, material or part idea. Our waterjet specialists will evaluate whether TamCut is the right fit for your application.