Desktop Waterjet Cutting
WAZER Desktop Waterjet Cutting Machine | Working Area (LxW) | Max Allowable Working Pressure | Max Working Flow Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
 | 305 mm x 460 mm (13" x 19" in) | 4,600 psi (317 bar) | 0.45 GPM (1.7 L/min). (at 4,000 psi) |
About the Waterjet
Waterjet cutting is the process of using a high pressure jet of water to cut a material.
The waterjet has a hydraulic power output of 820 W. There are a variety of materials that the waterjet can cut, example of allowed materials include acrylic, agate, aluminum, borosilicate, brass, carbon fiber, ceramic tile, copper, gabbro, fused glass, graphite, granite, HDPE, marble, memory foam, mild steel, neoprene, polycarbonate, polyethylene, polyurethane, porcelain tile, silicone, spring steel, stained glass, stainless steel, titanium, and tool steel. Materials that are water soluble or shatter under high pressure are not suitable for waterjet cutting.
Advantages:
- Waterjet cutting is a cold cutting process, meaning there is no heat-affected zone (HAZ), so the material’s mechanical and microstructural properties remain unchanged.
- It can cut a wide variety of materials, including metals, ceramics, composites, glass, and polymers, making it extremely versatile.
- It allows for thicker material cutting compared to many other methods (including laser cutting).
Disadvantages: (needs to be edited still)
- Waterjet cutting is generally slower than laser cutting, especially for thinner materials.
- There can be a taper (slight angle) in the cut, especially in thicker materials, affecting edge perpendicularity.
Software and Usage Instructions
Opening WazerCam
Open WazerCam website, WazerCam , and enter the following login information.
Username: RPSpublic
Password: RPSpublic
File Import
Files uploaded must be in .dxf or .svg file types. Multiple files can be added at once using the "+" and "-" buttons.
Setting Scale and Positioning
The following metrics can be adjusted within WazerCam:
Rotation: the angle which the part needs to be rotated to
X & Y positions: The top left of the screen represents 0. All X and Y movements are from the top left of your part.
Scale: Scale of parts can be changed by any magnitude
Height & Width: Similar to scale, height and width can be changed independently.
(Be aware of total physical space that the waterjet will occupy on a material, taking into account the width of the cut itself (kerf) )
Materials Selection
Using the first dropdown menu, select the material category. Using the second dropdown menu, select the specific material you are cutting. If the specific material is not listed, consult an RPS studio staff member. Once category and material type are selected, input the material thickness in either millimeters or inches.
Cutting Path Adjustments
Change the cutting path to match the design of your file.
Outside: Part will be cut outside the designated lines by a user given offset.
Centerline: Part will be cut directly on the lines of your part.
Inside: Part will be cut inside the designated lines by a user given offset.
No Cut: Lines will not be cut
Tabs and Leads
Tabs are a connection point between your part and where it's being cut on the material. Tabs keep your part in place while being cut, and improve the overall cut accuracy by preventing your part from popping up or out of place. The default settings are that all cut paths receive a single tab, with the size based on the material, however tabs can be manually adjusted as well.
A Lead refers to the distance that a cut will made away from the Cut Path. This is done to make sure that the pierce at the start of a cut does not remove any excess material on your part. The Lead’s location and size are designated with a blue indicator.
Cut
There are three setting selections for cut quality: Coarse, Medium, and Fine. Cut rate and cut quality have an inverse relationship, a faster Cut leads to lower quality, and better quality requires a slower Cut. The page includes cut details such as rate, time, abrasive use, cut cost, and cut extents.
This is the final step in file preparation, and file naming and downloading are done at this stage. A virtual cut path simulation will also be available for viewing.
Machine Setup
Turning Machine On
- Place SD card with part file into the right side of the wazer jet machine. (SD cards are not provided)
- Twist the E-Stop button to where it releases, the screen should begin to turn on.
- Check that the button on the bottom right of the machine is set to "On" (if screen is still not turning on, consult a staff member)
Setting Up
- On the starting screen there will be two options, "Select Cut File" and "Setup & Maintenance". Press the OK button to Select the Select Cut File option.
- Scroll down until the cursor is next to the file you created earlier, and hit OK
- Loosen the Nozzle securing knob, pull the nozzle up, and retighten the nozzle securing knob, press OK to home the nozzle
- Fill the grit hopper on the left side of the machine, hit OK
- Check to make sure the blue water valve is in line with the vertical pipe, hit OK
- Secure the material to the cut bed using the screws and a screwdriver, hit OK
- Now that the arrow keys can be used to move the nozzle over the material, remove the plastic cover off of the cutting head.
- Loosen the nozzle securing knob, and place the tab side of the plastic cover underneath the nozzle.
- Lower the nozzle until it makes contact with the plastic tab, and tighten the nozzle securing knob and place the plastic cover back on top of the cutting head. Hit OK.
- The next screen will have several options. Before doing anything else, move the origin to the location of your choosing
- Move Origin - allows you to move the origin for the program to a location of your choosing. DO THIS FIRST.
- Cut - sends you to the next screen where you must press the Start button to begin cutting.
- Dry Run - Follows the exact cutting path of the program without firing the waterjet.
- Check Extents - Outlines the bounding box of the area being cut
- Restart cut - if the cut fails or stops in the middle, this will restart the program in the Dry Run state and will allow you to resume the cut at any point along the program.
- Cancel - sends you back to the starting screen.
Run Part
*You must remain with the machine for the entirety of the cut*
- It may be necessary to refill the water in the machine before running. Use the white 3 gallon bucket to pour more water into the tank directly. The water level should sit right below the surface of the bed.
- Monitor the level of the grit while the part is running, if it's running low, machine will automatically stop the cut and shut off.
- It is recommended to keep the hoppers topped off
- If water starts pouring out from under the hoppers, the machine is having a backflow problem, SHUT IT OFF with the E-Stop and notify RPS Staff.
Clean Up
- Remove your part and any excess material from the bed.
- Clean material and part(s) off by dunking them in the grit catchers/water bucket. DO NOT wash grit down the sink.
- Pull the grit catchers out and drain the excess water back into the tank.
- Once the majority of the water is drained, dump the grit into the orange 5 gallon bucket
- Place the grit catchers back into the machine.
Required PPE
- Close toed shoes
- Eye glasses/goggles