Rodm1
Aluminum
- Joined
- Nov 27, 2015
- Location
- Amish Country, U.S.A.
I figured I would start a thread on my experience with Omax/Maxiem. This is in no way an endorsement for or against any particular manufacturer. Just my experience and opinion.
Right now my company is in the process of replacing the original (2) 40hp Omax/Maxiem direct drive pumps with a single H2Ojet intensifier style pump. Admittedly our use of the waterjet is not traditional as we are utilizing water-only technology for cutting plastics. Not cutting out parts, but creating slots or openings by the stream diameter
While traditional abrasive cutting is what most people are employing, some of the issues or problems I've encountered may not be applicable to you.
Direct drive - The pump utilizes a 3 cylinder, piston, and head/manifold design to manufacture/create the high pressure stream of water. Most do not employ an attenuater to equalize pressure and rely on 2 valves to to distribute pressure through the cutting head or through a pressure relief or dump valve.
This system, I have found, has some major inequities in properly maintaining a constant pressure, which results in premature failure of valves, fittings, and tubing. It also has an effect on cutting results.
After a year of changing out and replacing these components, a rep suggested I install a pressure gauge inline to see what was going on. Most waterjet manufacturers, I notice, include a high pressure gauge as an option or demo a machine with one installed. Omax/Maxiem does not. I guess I found the reason.
A few minutes of operation and documenting pressures, I was recording an amazing +/-20ksi variance in line pressure. The fitting and tube was seeing extreme pressure swings. With some fine adjustment we were able to get it down to +/-10ksi variance, but that is still a 20ksi swing in pressure. Note that setting and calibrating through the pump and Omax/Maxiems specifications and readings for a 3ksi variance of on/off cycle, water/pump only.
In other words, there was a major difference in pump reading of pressure and actual in line pressure.
At 30-40ksi and abrasive additive cutting of metals and granite this may be different, but at 42-50ksi, it is horrible and expensive for maintenance.
We just poured the slab for the waterjet's new location and should be installing water table and H2Ojet pump in their new respective locations in the next two weeks. Tech is scheduled for 1st week of October. I'll post some pics as it unfolds. Definitely some none typical utilization such as direct drain table, i.e. no residual water in the tank, as well, as some water reclaim that is application specific.Spoiler - I can't show specifically what we are cutting.
*If anyone is interested in (2) Omax/Maxiem 40hp direct drive pumps, let me know. I'll be contacting machine dealers in the near future. Both pumps have less than 100hrs. since their last rebuild. Also have some spare parts that go go with.
Right now my company is in the process of replacing the original (2) 40hp Omax/Maxiem direct drive pumps with a single H2Ojet intensifier style pump. Admittedly our use of the waterjet is not traditional as we are utilizing water-only technology for cutting plastics. Not cutting out parts, but creating slots or openings by the stream diameter
While traditional abrasive cutting is what most people are employing, some of the issues or problems I've encountered may not be applicable to you.
Direct drive - The pump utilizes a 3 cylinder, piston, and head/manifold design to manufacture/create the high pressure stream of water. Most do not employ an attenuater to equalize pressure and rely on 2 valves to to distribute pressure through the cutting head or through a pressure relief or dump valve.
This system, I have found, has some major inequities in properly maintaining a constant pressure, which results in premature failure of valves, fittings, and tubing. It also has an effect on cutting results.
After a year of changing out and replacing these components, a rep suggested I install a pressure gauge inline to see what was going on. Most waterjet manufacturers, I notice, include a high pressure gauge as an option or demo a machine with one installed. Omax/Maxiem does not. I guess I found the reason.
A few minutes of operation and documenting pressures, I was recording an amazing +/-20ksi variance in line pressure. The fitting and tube was seeing extreme pressure swings. With some fine adjustment we were able to get it down to +/-10ksi variance, but that is still a 20ksi swing in pressure. Note that setting and calibrating through the pump and Omax/Maxiems specifications and readings for a 3ksi variance of on/off cycle, water/pump only.
In other words, there was a major difference in pump reading of pressure and actual in line pressure.
At 30-40ksi and abrasive additive cutting of metals and granite this may be different, but at 42-50ksi, it is horrible and expensive for maintenance.
We just poured the slab for the waterjet's new location and should be installing water table and H2Ojet pump in their new respective locations in the next two weeks. Tech is scheduled for 1st week of October. I'll post some pics as it unfolds. Definitely some none typical utilization such as direct drain table, i.e. no residual water in the tank, as well, as some water reclaim that is application specific.Spoiler - I can't show specifically what we are cutting.
*If anyone is interested in (2) Omax/Maxiem 40hp direct drive pumps, let me know. I'll be contacting machine dealers in the near future. Both pumps have less than 100hrs. since their last rebuild. Also have some spare parts that go go with.