Setting the Z-height (OMAX Maxiem 1515)

Setting the Z-height, or the distance from the tip of the nozzle to the material, is an important part of making accurate parts with the waterjet cutter. If the nozzle is too close you run the risk of blocking the nozzle and filling the abrasive hopper with water. If it's too far away, the accuracy of your parts will suffer.

The process of setting the Z-height must be done each time the material is changed over, or if the material height changes significantly.

Important things to remember

• Driving the nozzle into the material during machine operation or setup will probably break the nozzle.
• It's safer (for the machine) to set the Z-height too far away than too close.
• If the material is warped or bowed set the Z-height at the highest point in the cutting area.
• Keep an eye out for stress in the material causing the material to twist and bow during cutting.
• Remove slag and major burrs from plasma-cut material before loading it into the machine to reduce the risk of snapping the tip of the nozzle.

Setting the Z-height in OMAX Make

	Clamp the material in place securely using blocks or the finger clamps.
	Jog the nozzle of the machine over the highest point of the material you are cutting, approximately 20mm above the surface of the material.
	Place the height gauge on top of the material with the angled section underneath the nozzle.
	Press the number 1 key on the keyboard's numpad to move the nozzle down in increments of approximately 1/8" (3.175 mm) until the nozzle just touches the top of the height gauge's angled section. Don't press and hold the 1 key or you may crash the nozzle into the material and break it.
	Once the nozzle is touching the gauge, use the Page Down key on the keyboard to move the nozzle down increments of approximately 1/64" (0.39 mm). Continue moving down until the angled portion of the gauge is flat on the work, but it can still be removed easily. The nozzle must not pinch the height gauge or damage to the nozzle or machine will occur.
	Slide the height gauge out and put it away in the top drawer of the tool box.
	In OMAX Make click the Zero Z1 Counter button in the Z Height window, in the top left of the screen. Hover over the buttons without clicking them to show the tooltip titles. This button will set the current nozzle position as Z = 0. The Z Height window should read 0.0.
	Raise the nozzle up using either the 7 key on the numpad, or using the All Up button in OMAX Make.