A part made from ceramic tile
Whether your considering purchasing an OMAX JetMachining system or one from another manufacturer, there are things you should look for from all these systems.
Accuracy
For maximum utility and capability, the system should be able to produce parts tolerances of ±0.005" in materials up to 1-1⁄2" thick. This will require the following features:
- Precise X-Y motion with servo-driven precision-ground zero-backlash
ball screws, and precision-ground machine-tool quality linear guides.
- An internal framework to rigidly connect the X-Y axes with the material-supporting
table (thereby eliminating random relative motion and vibration between
the nozzle and the material being machined).
- An integral vibration dampening system for units with a nozzle travel
of more than 30" along the shorter axis (thus dampening vibration
the nozzle may otherwise experience on larger X-Y tables).
- A pump module that is completely separate from the X-Y table and
motion control system (insuring that no pump vibrations are transmitted
to the table or nozzle).
- Manufacturer documentation of accuracy and repeatability via the
Renishaw Ball-Bar Test. At least four widely-spaced locations on the
X-Y table should be tested while maintaining nozzle travel speed of
at least 100 inches per minute.
- A PC-based motion control system that calculates optimum nozzle
travel speeds (based on the material and shape being machined) prior
to actual cutting. This controls washouts and inconsistencies at corners
and around curves.
- A motion control system that provides easy adjustment to the nozzle offset based on waterjet cutting width.
The OMAX Tilt-A-Jet® eliminates taper and provides maximum accuracy
Table size and nozzle travel
The table should be large enough to hold stock based on standard US sizes; nozzle travel should accommodate a cut at least 2" greater than standard US sizes. For example, standard 2'x4' stock should be cut with a nozzle able to travel at least 26"x50".
User-friendly operation and maintenance
For a system that is easy to maintain, yet does not require extensive operator experience, the following features are important:
- A precision nozzle assembly with fixed-alignment mixing tube and
jeweled orifice. Nozzle changes should be possible in five minutes
or less without special tools; a complete nozzle overhaul should take
no more than fifteen minutes.
- A nozzle mixing tube guard (to protect against impact with the material
being cut).
- A simple, reliable abrasive metering system using gravity flow.
- Submerged cutting capability, including rapid water level adjustment.
- Automatic dynamic piercing capability.
- Adjustable/removable material support slats.
- Multiple user-specified machine home ("Zero") positions.
- Fully sealed X-Y guides and ball screws; bellows should not have
horizontal "pleats."
- Easily adjustable Z-axis with at least 6" of vertical travel.
- User-friendly, icon-based control software that runs on a desktop
or laptop computer, with an operating system capable of true multi-tasking,
such as Windows XP.
- Comprehensive operator and maintenance training at the customer's
facility.
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