Pier 9 Troubleshooting: A-Jet Quick Calibration

This Instructable is for trained Shoparones and Shop Staff at Pier 9.

Requirements for using this Instructable.

Be a member of Shop Staff OR
Be a Shoparone who has received training from a member of Shop Staff.

This is part of the routine maintenance and troubleshooting we do at Pier 9 to keep our machines in operating order. Waterjet Users at Pier 9 should talk to Shop Staff if they are experiencing issues with any machine in the workshop so that we can safely assess and repair our equipment. Users should never attempt to repair, adapt or alter any of our equipment.

This Instructable teaches you how to run a quick A-Jet Calibration. This should be done once a month during shop clean. This calibration will keep the X, Y and Z axis in alignment. This will consist of two operations. The first one will be to calibrate the X axis and the second will be to calibrate the Z axis.

Step 1: Auto-home and Square the A-Jet

If you are unsure of whether the OMAX has been Homed and Squared, error on the side of caution and spend a few minutes to do the startup routine, which will home and square the waterjet.

*Reference this Instructable if it has been awhile since you've homed the OMAX.

Position the OMAX head near the front-left of the bed. This will make it easier to do the calibration.

Step 2: Gather Hardware and Prepare for the Calibrations

In the OMAX Lista cabinet you will find all the things you will need for this calibration.

You will need these items, please reference this image.

Flat steel plate
Plunge Indicator with Dial (A)
Articulating Dial Holder with a magnetic base (B)
Tip/Dial Holder (C)
Metal Circle (D

Step 3: Take Out Tip

*If you have never switched a tip in the nozzle, do NOT proceed and ask another shop staff member for help.

Place tray under nozzle to catch parts.

Take out Tip and put in a safe place.

Step 4: Open Calibration Wizard

Open the software and in the menus:

Go to Setup
- Advanced
  - Calibrations
    - Calibrate Auto Square Perpendicularly

This will bring you to the A-Jet Squareness Calibration Wizard. Hit next to begin.

You should have already Squared and Homed the AJet so you can ignore this tab and click next.

Step 5: Rotational Set-up

This tab will show you how the set up for the Rotational Calibration should look.

Place the flat steel plate adjacent to the head.

Position the magnetic foot of the dial along the front side of the heads body.

Set the dial's plunge indicator at the back end of the head on the line in between the lettering OMAX and A-Jet allowing for 2" of horizontal movement without losing contact.

Make sure the indicator is about halfway in when it is in contact with the head.

*If it's set on the words, the sticker will make the dial jump so make sure it is on the line in between letters.

Click Next.

Step 6: Rotational Calibration

In this tab, take note of the number. You may not need it but in case you need to know where your starting point is, you will have it.

First hit the Move button with the green arrow to move the head horizontally.

Watch as it moves the head and mentally take note of if and how much the dial jumps.

Next hit the Rotational button once and then hit the Move button again to see if the dial jumps less.

If yes, continue with the Rotational and Move button until the dial does not jump anymore.
If not and the dial jumps more, reset to original number. Then try the Rotational button in the opposite direction.

Continue until the dial no longer jumps.

Step 7: Save

You MUST go to the finish and save tab or it will revert back to the original setting.

So before going to the Tilt Calibration tab, skip ahead to the Finish and Save Tab.

Follow directions.

Close out of Calibration Wizard.

Step 8: Tilt Set-up

Take the Plunge Indicator Dial (A) out of the Articulating Dial Holder (B) and put (B) away.

Place a tray under the head to catch any dropped parts.

Put Tip/Dial Holder (C) into nozzle, using the gasket, nut and collet from the tip.

Put the long rod goes in where the tip was.
- You may need to submerge the Tip/Dial Holder to feed it in.
Once fed in, tighten as you would a normal tip.
Replace tray with the flat steel plate.

Place Plunge Indicator Dial in the foot of the Tip/Dial Holder.

Place Metal Circle down, underneath the Dial with the Plunge Indicator in the hole.

*Make sure the Metal circle is in the middle of the steel plate. There is a possibility that when moving the head, you can knock it in the water.

Step 9: Tilt Calibration

In this tab, take note of the number. You may not need it but in case you need to know where your starting point is, you will have it.

First hit the Rotate button with the green arrow to move the head around.

Watch as it moves the head and mentally take note of if and how much the dial jumps.

Next hit the Tilt button once and then hit the Rotate button again to see if the dial jumps less.

If yes, continue with the Tilt and Rotate button until the dial does not jump anymore.
If not and the dial jumps more, reset to original number. Then try the Rotational button in the opposite direction.

Continue until the dial jumps the least. You may need to reset to the original number and start again.