ProtoMAX Abrasive Waterjet

September 26, 2017
ProtoMAX Abrasive Waterjet

OMAX Corp. announced the release of the new ProtoMAX abrasive waterjet, a compact, self-installed cutting system suited for prototyping and relatively low-volume cutting of almost any material under 2” thick. The ProtoMAX brings all the versatility benefits of large abrasive waterjet cutters in a sleek and economic package that’s suitable for small job shops, engineering classrooms, makerspaces and personal use. It’s also a handy addition for large shops and fabricators that need occasional waterjet capabilities to complement their other cutting systems.

Though compact, the ProtoMAX delivers 30,000-psi cutting power with a 5-hp pump and can cut material under 2” thick of almost any type, from metal to composites, glass to granite, plastic to wood and more. The ProtoMAX cuts with no heat-affected zone and no change to the material properties. The waterjet plugs into a 240VAC dryer-style outlet and does not require any hardwiring. The pump and cutting table are on casters for easy relocation. Work material is submerged under water for clean, quiet cutting that won’t disrupt a shared work space.

OMAX manufactures the ProtoMAX at the OMAX facility in Kent, Washington, including the pump, cutting head, abrasive feeder, motion controller and software. All parts are designed to work together as a complete, integrated system.

The programming of part files and the cutting operation are controlled by Intelli-MAX software. Vice president of marketing at OMAX Corp., Stephen Bruner, said: “It’s easy to program even complex paths on the ProtoMAX. We’ve taken many of the same popular CAD/CAM software features that we use in our industrial waterjet systems and incorporated it into the compact ProtoMAX waterjet. Behind the scenes, the software uses sophisticated waterjet cutting models that predict the jet’s precise behavior when cutting different materials, thicknesses and shapes. But the user interface is simple and straightforward, making it an ideal learning tool for computer-aided manufacturing.”

Related Glossary Terms

  • abrasive

    abrasive

    Substance used for grinding, honing, lapping, superfinishing and polishing. Examples include garnet, emery, corundum, silicon carbide, cubic boron nitride and diamond in various grit sizes.

  • abrasive waterjet ( AWJ)

    abrasive waterjet ( AWJ)

    System that uses high-pressure waterjets in combination with a slurry of fine abrasive grains to machine materials. See waterjet cutting.

  • composites

    composites

    Materials composed of different elements, with one element normally embedded in another, held together by a compatible binder.

  • computer-aided manufacturing ( CAM)

    computer-aided manufacturing ( CAM)

    Use of computers to control machining and manufacturing processes.

  • heat-affected zone

    heat-affected zone

    That portion of the base metal that was not melted during brazing, cutting or welding, but whose microstructure and mechanical properties were altered by the heat.

  • waterjet cutting

    waterjet cutting

    Fine, high-pressure (up to 50,000 psi or greater), high-velocity jet of water directed by a small nozzle to cut material. Velocity of the stream can exceed twice the speed of sound. Nozzle opening ranges from between 0.004" to 0.016" (0.l0mm to 0.41mm), producing a very narrow kerf. See AWJ, abrasive waterjet.