Personal Waterjet Cutter for the Small Shop

The compact, self-installed ProtoMAX® abrasive waterjet cutting system from OMAX Corporation (Kent, WA) is ideal for prototyping and relatively low volume cutting of almost any material under 2 in thick in light industry, technical education, artists and the maker movement. It brings all the versatility and benefits of large abrasive waterjet cutters in a sleek and economic package that’s perfect 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 precision cut material under 2 in 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 240V AC 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. This cutting system is manufactured and shipped in two to four weeks from the OMAX facility in Kent, with all parts are designed to work together as a complete, integrated system, including the pump, cutting head, abrasive feeder, motion controller and software. The programming of part files and the cutting operation are controlled by Intelli-MAX software. “It’s easy to program even complex paths on this machine,” said Stephen Bruner, the vice president of marketing at OMAX. “We’ve incorporated many of the same CAD/CAM software features used in our industrial waterjet systems. The software uses sophisticated waterjet cutting models that predict the jet’s precise behavior when cutting different materials, thicknesses and shapes. The user interface is simple and straightforward, making it an ideal learning tool for computer-aided manufacturing.”

The company also offers their value-priced GlobalMAX 1530 abrasive waterjet that is available exclusively through international distribution. The pump, table and software in this GlobalMAX machine is designed, manufactured and tested as complete units in Kent.

OMAX Corporation, 21409 72nd Avenue South, Kent, WA 98032, 800-838-0343, Fax: 253-872-6190, www.omax.com.

Subscribe to learn the latest in manufacturing.