How to Use Flow Waterjet Cutting
- 1). Clean the flow waterjet work table off using compressed air as any debris left on the table may cause accuracy issues. Set the material on the work table of the machine within the travel of the nozzle. Place the weights on the material out of the way of the cutting path or set the material in a vise, if necessary.
- 2). Indicate the piece for accurate cutting. Place the indicator on the waterjet nozzle and manually move the nozzle close to the material or your work-holding choice. Place the tip of the indicator on a flat surface and reset the dial to zero. Move the nozzle head back and forth and straighten the material until it reads zero across the whole distance.
- 3). Enter the program at the control by inputting it line by line or use a flash drive to upload the program into the control itself. Enter the home position to start the program. Set the cutting operations in a logical way, starting with the outer dimension cuts, working your way in using the appropriate feed rates for the material. Cut wood and plastic with the fastest feed rates as they are soft. Be more conservative with metals such as aluminum and steel.
- 4). Move the nozzle to the center of the part and set this as the zero point for the program. Set the pressure amounts for the material on the main tool page as well. The amount of pressure you need is based on the material type, its thickness and the type of cut you require.
- 5). Start the program. Keep the rapids rate low. The rapids rate is the speed at which the nozzle head moves to the dimensions of the program. If the numbers are incorrect, the nozzle may move to the wrong spot and ruin your material or the nozzle itself. Inspect the first piece before running production to ensure that the dimensions are accurate.
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