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Load and Secure Material

Place Material on ProtoMAX Cutting Table

1. Move the nozzle to a location that will not interfere when loading the material on the cutting deck.

Ensure nozzle is raised sufficiently to pass above and not strike anything in its path.

Use the keyboard arrow keys or click the nozzle position buttons (such as Move X and Move Y) to control nozzle movement.

2. Place material on the cutting deck, ensuring that it is:

Within the nozzle's cutting area

Accessible to the operator

Laying flat on the cutting slats

Free of any obstructions that the nozzle could strike

Using sacrificial material (such as waterjet brick) when applicable

Secure Material to Cutting Table

It is important that your material be properly secured, or "fixtured," when using the ProtoMAX. The abrasive jet stream is very powerful, and the force it exerts can push up on the material and move it. If the material moves during machining, the part will not be precise and may be ruined.

Material must be securely fixed to the cutting table, preventing it from moving, vibrating, floating, tipping, or falling into the tank.

NOTICE

Insufficient clamping may cause inaccuracies in finished parts.

Best Practices for Securing Material

Following are some best practices for securing material in the cutting deck, including tips for working with thin material, and using sacrificial material for preventing damage.

Use the provided clamping arms to hold the material in place.
Make sure that parts are secure in all three axes. The material should not float above the material cutting bed, or be able to move in any direction.
When cutting on the slat bed, place clamp ends directly over the slats. Do not place clamp ends between two slats, as this can bend thin material, warp thin material, or lead to nozzle plugging.

To help keep material stable and secure, place it against the square fixture .

Thin Material

Securing thin material for waterjet machining requires extra care. The jet stream causes turbulence and the force under the material is sufficient enough to cause unsecured material to move up or shift. When this happens, the material can raise and hit the mixing tube in the nozzle, causing the nozzle to clog.

Use a polymer cutting deck to reduce the chance of thin material moving during the cutting process. The polymer cutting deck diffuses the jet stream as soon as it cuts through material, and provides a stable support surface.

Whether cutting on the slat deck or a polymer cutting deck, place material holding clamps closer to the part being machined to help prevent movement of thinner material.

More secure

Less secure

Sacrificial Material

Use sacrificial material to stabilize thin material, or to prevent frosting on the part.

Place sacrificial material on top of the material you are cutting to prevent frosting on the top of the part, or to help prevent movement of thinner material.
Place sacrificial material underneath the material you are cutting to prevent splash back from the slats from frosting the underside of the part, or to help prevent movement of thinner material.
Another option is to cut on top of something softer than the slats, such as the polymer cutting deck.

Micro Clamp Material Holding Kit

The Micro Clamp Material Holding Kit provides additional options for holding and securing material to the slat deck or the polymer cutting deck.