Primary process: Waterjet Cutting. The full route, materials, tolerances and design tips for a tile, with an indicative cost.
Waterjet CuttingPrimary process
Non-traditionalFamily
4Route steps
+/-0.2mmTypical tol.
A tile is primarily made by Waterjet Cutting. Waterjet cutting uses a high-pressure stream of water and abrasive to cut almost any material with no heat-affected zone. Below is the full route to make a tile, the materials it suits, the tolerances to expect and the main design points. The route is free, from the finder.
Step by step
How a tile is made
The usual route, raw material to finished part. The amber step is where the tile gets its basic shape.
Stock
Prepare the conductive or sheet stock for the tile.
Waterjet Cutting
Cut the tile to its precise profile with no mechanical force.
Tooling None Tolerance ±0.1 to 0.5mm Lead days
Deburr and finish
Remove the recast layer or edge burr and finish as needed.
Inspection
Check the profile and surface against the drawing.
Need the real cost for a tile? The free route above is yours. Unlock the full dossier to quote and source it.
Where this process typically lands. Tighter is possible with extra operations like grinding, at higher cost.
Materials
Materials for a tile
Grade
Why it suits this
Thick steel/stainless
No heat-affected zone
Aluminium/titanium
No HAZ, clean
Stone/glass/composite
Non-metals too
Design
Design tips
General pointers. The full design-for-manufacturing list for a tile is in the dossier.
Using waterjet for thin steel.Laser is faster/cheaper there.
Tight tolerance on thick cut.Allow edge taper or secondary machine.
Cost
What a tile should cost
Cold cutting of thick, reflective, or heat-sensitive material (no HAZ); slower than laser but cuts almost anything.
PER-PART COST vs VOLUME
Per-part cost drops as volume spreads tooling and setup over more parts. The exact figures for a tile at your volume, in your currency, are in the dossier.
MODEL EST.
$5.7 to 16per part at 1 off
A rough ballpark only. The dossier gives should-cost at your exact volume and currency, with the full breakdown.
GET THE FULL DOSSIER
Everything you need to quote and source it
The free route above is yours. To actually put a number on a tile and buy it well:
Should-cost at your exact volume in 12 currencies, with the material, processing, tooling and overhead breakdown
Who to source from, typical MOQ and lead time, and the exact RFQ checklist to send
A quote checker that tells you if a supplier quote is fair, and the red flags to watch
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A tile is primarily made by waterjet cutting. The route is: Stock; Waterjet Cutting; Deburr and finish; Inspection.
What does a tile cost?
It depends on size, tolerance and volume. As a rough ballpark it starts around $5.7 to 16 per part at 1 off and falls with quantity. The dossier gives should-cost at your exact volume and currency. A model estimate, not a quote.
What material is a tile made from?
Common choices are Thick steel/stainless; Aluminium/titanium; Stone/glass/composite.
What is the main process for a tile?
Waterjet Cutting. Thick plate, stone, glass, composites and heat-sensitive material in flat form.
See the exact route and should-cost for your part
The free finder maps your part to its process and full route. Pro adds should-cost at your volume, sourcing and an RFQ draft.