Preparing for Your Waterjet
What facility requirements are needed for a waterjet, and what will it take to maintain it once it's operational? We've got answers to help you make informed decisions.
Maintaining Your Waterjet
While the day-to-day maintenance of your waterjet is quite simple, it's important that it be done right to ensure the health and longevity of your equipment. Flow offers training to help you navigate the process if you choose to do it yourself. Better yet, we recommend you take advantage of our highly trained expert service team to ensure your investment is being maximized to its greatest potential.
Daily maintenance involves a few simple health checks that take only minutes to perform:
- Make sure your garnet supply is full
- Visually check to make sure your cutting head is in good operating condition
- Ensure your pump is generating the appropriate high pressure for successful cutting
Facility Requirements
From a facility readiness standpoint there are four areas you need to consider in preparation for your waterjet.Foundation
Everything starts with a great foundation and your waterjet is no exception. Having a surface free of cracks or expansion joints and of proper thickness will ensure you are getting the most accuracy out of your machine.
Electrical
For convenience, all power is derived from a single connection point, powering pumps ranging from 30–200 HP, as well as the machines controls and operating system.
A Clean Air Supply
Most likely the air compressor you are using today will be adequate for your waterjet. This air is used for adjusting water level control, operating actuators, and solenoids, and for drying off your cut part.
Water
Certainly, waterjets need water. Most systems will utilize 1-2 gpm (3.79–7.57 lpm) for cutting and an additional amount for cooling, dependent upon pump model. In most installations, tap water used in conjunction with a water softener (if needed) is adequate. We will perform a water quality test for you prior to install.
Safety Regarding Water System Management
Safety Regarding Water System Management
- Aerosols from water systems can pose a risk for exposure to waterborne pathogens.
- As a purchaser of a Flow Waterjet System, you should take the following measures to ensure the safety of employees, users, and bystanders.
- Before operating the Flow Waterjet System, a water management plan that complies ASHRAE 188 and ASHRAE Guideline 121 should be developed, implemented, followed, maintained, and enforced by purchasers, building owners, facility managers, and operators to help control, limit, or prevent the presence, dissemination, and amplification of and exposure to waterborne pathogens.
- The water management plan should entail a commissioning plan, regularly scheduled inspections, and maintenance on the Flow Waterjet System, in accordance with ASHRAE Standard 188 and ASHRAE Guideline 12.
