Water Jet training

You would be getting trained on Protomax Water Jet.

Picture of the Machine is shown.

Power Switch is shown in the picture

The water Jet takes a DXF file format

It ends in .dxf

While exporting a CAD file you can choose DXF

You can refer to the picture shown

To prepare the DXF, we need to import it to Protomax Layout

The program is shown in the picture. It should be on the Desktop.

Once the software is opened.

Go to the FILE tab

And click the option shown in the picture

Usually one deosn't need to change anything on this page

But, if you have custom settings for your part regarding precision, first please ask for help before doing anything.

If you want re-size your dxf drawing on the water jet bed.

You can use the re-size tool.

As shown .

You can use this to mirror your drawing.

As shown

When you insert the drawing, the part is placed randomly

Therefore, you can use this tool to place it, wherever you on the grid.

Placement also depends on where you want to start with your part on the material.

Can be used to rotate the part

The tool is shown.

After you have made changes to the part's position and the properties.

You Have to clean the part

Follow the steps in the pictures

Repeat the cleaning step at-least two times, to make sure the part is clean of openings.

You would add the autopath, by selecting the following choice

After you have added the path to the file

You have to check if the path is correct or broken.

The path would look unusual, something like the picture shown

The first picture shows the path which is wrong, as the drawing has open ends

The second picture shows the correct path, because you need to clean the part before you autopath.

Which would then create a path which is clean

If you have a part, which would eventually fall off, after it has been cut by the water jet

Then one need to add tabs to the part

This step can only be done, after you have cleaned the part, and added autopath

Hold CTRL-T, to enable the tabs option

Then you can add tabs, as shown in the picture

Once everything is done

you can select the "Post" option on the right hand of the screen.(As shown!)

After you have selected the post option

you would be taken to another pop screen

Where its going to ask you to choose the starting position for the cut

The screen could look like this

You can choose the start point, only off the part

The options are shown in the picture, for this part

You can choose the start point

Then you will be redirected to another window

If you have any settings that you want for the toolset, you can change it

Otherwise, we just speed through this window

And leave the settings as is

Select save and then proceed

The Picture shows the icon, of the software on the desktop of the laptop.

This is where you import your LAYOUT file that was edited before

You can also control the psoition of the Nozzle using this software

This is basically a control center for the machine

You have to go to FILE

Choose " Open (change path file) "

Choose the Layout file from your local directory/file

Click the drop down menu

in order to choose the material that you are using

This is the thickness of the material in INCHES

Input the thickness of the material you are using for your part

This is how precise the cut of the water jet would be

You would choose the offset accordingly

After importing the part

You have to HOME the nozzle in order to move forward with the process

It would take the nozzle to the machine home, where the cut would start

However, after when the machine is done homing the nozzle. You ca create your own custom starting position using your computer arrow keys to navigate the nozzle shown in picture 2

These are clamps

Which are used to secure the part on the Water jet cutting bed

The first picture shows the clamps, and spokes that secure the clamps on the edges of the bed

Picture 2 shows how it should look.

You have to make sure the clamp is not in the cutting path too.

As you can see the clamps are out of the cutting path

you have to make sure, that it is. Otherwise the clamps would get damaged

After you have secured the part, you have to calibrate the nozzle height manually.

Loosen the nozzle height adjustment knob allowing the installation of the nozzle splash guard. Position the splash guard in its up position, allowing the nozzle tip to be viewed while setting the stand-off. Always use a splash guard!

The nozzle stand-off for the ProtoMAX must be set to .075 in. using the provided feeler gauge.

Set the feeler gauge down on the material just below the nozzle tip.

Tighten the nozzle height adjustment knob to lock the nozzle position in place at the .075 in. stand-off height.

Remove the feeler gauge. The stand-off height is now correctly set.

MAKE software

First Home the Nozzle using the MAKE button shown

Then Use the Arrow keys on the keyboard to move the nozzle to the home position which is particular to your part.

You would select the Begin Machining

Choose the option to Dry Run at FULL. Picture 3 shows the options

You have to make sure that the dry run is ideal for your part

You also have to make sure that the nozzle is not going over the supports, or off the material.

After the dry run, Click "Go Home", so that you can start from the home and not the end of the path

You would choose the option shown in picture 1

Then start the machining process, as shown in picture 2

If something goes wrong, while the nozzle is cutting the material

Like the material, which was cut previously, come in the path of the nozzle

or the water level is too high, and you have to open the hood, to reduce the water level.

You should hit pause and then continue...

After you are done

You can use the water hose to clean the water jet bed, so that there is no garnet.

make sure the clamps are off

Also reduce the water level of the machine to just bellow the slats

Student competition teams: Failure to leave the machine clean will result in access being revoked

If you are using this machine for a student competition team, you must submit an order in papercut and track its usage.

Select the [Waterjet] - Student Teams

Specify what team you are affiliated

Machine runtime in minutes, rounded up to the nearest quarter hour

Lbs of garnet used

Failure to track usage will result in access being revoked

There is a Dozuki for this

Please refer to that