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Guide on how to use the ProtoMAX water jet in the Richards shop.

Download the Software

  1. Follow this link and start the download process:
    https://www.omax.com/libraries/omax/download/?srsltid=AfmBOop17lQhQaWEPGZ_Yzjimbz8PT23wkEOWm8y1wOeG9VxG-mrN-3S

  2. When this box appears click next with the default options selected:

image-20241112-201404.png

  1. Follow through with the installation and finish.

  2. You should see ProtoMAX LAYOUT on your desktop. This is the app we use to turn .dxf’s into OMX tool path files.

image-20241112-201755.png

Create a Part

  1. Open your part in SolidWorks and save as a .dxf with the outline of what you want cut out

  2. Open ProtoMAX LAYOUT

  3. Go to File > Open and open the .dxf you just saved

  4. Make sure the part looks correct. Notice how the part will be in white lines.

image-20241120-014042.png

  1. Now you have to make the toolpath. Click L on your keyboard to activate the line command because you’re going to be using this a lot.

  2. Click somewhere off of your part and then click the point on your part where you want the cut to start. Notice how the toolpath line is green.

  3. Continue drawing lines to connect every cut in your part like the one below. (If you have a super complex part with a ton of cutouts you can use the AutoPath option but then you might have to tweak a few lines to make it good. With simple parts like this its best to just do it manually so you know the start and end are where you want them)

image-20241120-014415.pngimage-20241120-014557.png

  1. Click on the Post button on the right and then select which of the two end points of the toolpath that you want as the start.

  2. Make sure that all of your cuts are highlighted in red and that the green path still looks correct.

image-20241120-020132.png

  1. Notice how the red highlighting is centered on the white part outline so the cut will be line-on-line. TBD on how to change this lol

image-20241120-021138.png

  1. Click save

Cut on the Machine

  1. Turn on the machine with the switch on the right side.

IMG_2379.jpeg

  1. Open the laptop connected to the machine and open the ProtoMAX MAKE software. Make sure the USB is connecting the machine to the laptop.

  2. Click on the red home button to move the nozzle of the machine to its home point.

  3. Set the machine zero to this home position by clicking zero for the User Home position. (User Home is the machine’s zero and Path Start is the zero of your part’s cut path)

image-20241117-230318.png

  1. Put your stock on the bed of the machine lining the bottom left corner up with the machine’s bottom and secure it down. (For fusible links, use the small magnets to hold the aluminum down.

IMG_2383.jpeg

  1. Jog the nozzle using the arrow keys to put it where you want the path zero to be then click zero for the Path Start position.

image-20241118-003057.png

  1. do dry run

  2. set z height

IMG_2382.jpeg

  1. make sure tube is connected to nozzle head and flip lemon down

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  1. close lid

  2. run

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  1. rinse part and take it out

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