OMAX Waterjet

Waterjet: Category 2 in the Metals lab

The waterjet cuts a programmed shape with water and abrasive. See Laser, Waterjet and Plasma Cutting for how abrasive waterjet cutting works.

Category 2 in the Metals lab. Follow Equipment Categories and Supervision for permission and supervision, and complete Equipment Operating Procedure and Personal Protective Equipment.

Keep hands away from the cutting nozzle and clear of its travel. The jet cuts material, and the moving head can trap a hand. See Machine Hazards and Housekeeping for movement, guards and stopping. OMAX safety information is further reading for the installed-machine training.

Prepare the file and toolpath: lab steps 1–10

This is our lab's OMAX operating sequence. Follow it with the machine-specific instruction you received at checkout.

1. Export the CAD file to DXF or DWG, as for a laser-cut part.
2. Turn on the OMAX machine.
3. Turn on the water: the top water line under the sink.
4. Open ProtoMAX Layout software.
5. Click File → “Open file for other CAD software.”
6. Use the move, rotate and duplicate tools to lay out the parts. One square is equal to one inch.
7. Click Autopath to create toolpaths. Check that the path cuts on the correct side of each line and cuts inside items before outside items, so the part is not cut loose before its interior features are cut.
8. Click Post.
9. Select the starting position, normally the bottom left.
10. Save the post. It saves as an .omax file.

Verify settings, follow the prompts and dry-run: lab steps 11–15

11. Right-click on Post and open the .omax file in ProtoMAX Make.
12. When Make asks for cutting parameters, select the appropriate material and enter its thickness. The lab procedure says to oversize the thickness “by just a bit”; confirm that allowance with the instructor.
13. If the machine was just turned on, Make shows a red homing button at the top of the screen. Make sure nothing obstructs the nozzle's movement before clicking it to home the machine.
14. Follow all the on-screen steps. These include, but are not limited to:
    1. Attaching the abrasive hose.
    2. Testing the nozzle for abrasive flow.
    3. Placing and securing the material.
    4. Homing the nozzle to the starting position on the material.
    5. Adjusting the water height if necessary.
    6. Dry-running the program.
    7. Flipping down the splash guard.
15. Run the program.

In step 14, “homing” to the material means the job's starting position; it is distinct from the machine-homing step in step 13. Have both positions demonstrated during checkout.

A dropped part or a fault needs a safe stop, not a reach into the tank

Do not reach into the cutting area to retrieve a part while the machine is operating. If the material moves or the cut behaves unexpectedly, keep clear and use the stopping procedure demonstrated during checkout. Notify the instructor; follow Lab Conduct and Emergencies for an emergency.

The lab sequence above ends at running the program. Have the instructor demonstrate shutdown and safe part recovery before using the machine; a part falling into the tank is not a recovery procedure. Use Equipment Operating Procedure for the general shutdown and reporting requirements.