Cutting with the Water-Jet

Creating Your Design

• Choose your design tool, CorelDraw is an easy one
• Create your design, and export it as a .dxf file

OMAX software

• Grab the OMAX software from the NEMO computer on the windows network
• Open up the OMAX shortcut it created on your desktop

Prepare Your Design For Cutting

• Use the File->Open command to open your .dxf file
• Set the quality of cut you want
  • Right-Click on the big "Q" button, select "all"
  • Choose your quality (1 is coarse, 5 is fine), 3 usually works fine
• Set up the traverses needed to make the cut
  • Right-Click on the "Lead I/O" button
  • Select "AutoPath (Quick)"
  • The green lines are traverses (not cuts)
• Set up the path for the jet
  • Right-Click on the "Path" button
  • Select "Automatically Generate"
  • Click at the start of a traverse, where you want it to start
  • It generates the path for your approval
  • Check to make sure it looks allright (the path is the dark red line)
  • Hit save to accept it
• Export the design
  • Stick in a floppy
  • Select File->Transfer Path and Drawing->to 3.5" Floppy

Prepare the Pump to Use

• It will probably be on, if not, turn the big switch on the right of the computer housing to the "On" position
• Rotate the switch on the left of the pump (to the left of the computer housing) twice
• Place your material on the bed and clamp or weight it down
• Check the abrasive to make sure it is at least half full
• Check the abrasive feeding tube to make sure it is clear

Set up Your Design for Cutting

• Lift the cover and insert your diskette
• Click the Make button
• Hit open and select the .ORD file from your diskette
• Enter the appropriate machinability rating and thickness

Set Up the Cutter For Your Design

• Use the arrows to move the head till you are at your zero point
• Click the "Set UZ" button to set the coordinate zero point
• Set up the nozzle
  • Tighten down the main nozzle till it locks using the winder on top
  • Keep going till it makes contact
  • Turn it back half a turn
  • Lock down the handle on the side

Cut It

• Hit the begin button
• Hit run once
• Raise the H2O till about 1/2 inch above your material
• Hit the start button
  • The space bar will pause your design