As seen in the July/August 2011 issue of ® Waterjet Cutting BY GRETCHEN SALOIS, ASSOCIATE EDITOR All in the details Job shops appreciate easy software, streamlined customer service and precise waterjet cuts

Dual-head-cutting OMAX waterjet machine in the Fusion Tech shop.

ompanies creating parts for wouldn’t manufacture well using a laser. completely sealed and protected ball screw elaborate aerospace projects or Other software would be unable to drive system. It has a table size of 174 in. by Cartistic placards often prefer to process the download and the material 89 in. and rapid water level control for sub- use a precise waterjet cutter would not be picked up, causing the ma- merged cutting, according to the OMAX rather than plasma or laser cutting alterna- chine to shut off. “Any other type of website. A work envelope offers an X-Y cut- tives. From metals to plastics, OMAX machine was more expensive to operate ting travel of 168 in. by 80 in. Another Corp., Kent, Wash., provides the tools to than the waterjet, and we couldn’t use highlight with any OMAX machine is cus- cut parts for heavy-duty regenerators as well heat because we didn’t want the warpage tomers can purchase accessories developed as chisel intricate designs into statues and effect you get using heat. long after an initial purchase. “Wekeep that monuments. Today’s manufacturers rely on “We didn’t realize how precise it would in mind when we design our accessories,” the latest software to meet customer de- be and how much easier it makes fabricat- says Sandra McLain, vice president of mar- mands in an expeditious manner. ing,” Thompson continues. “Wedo a lot of keting at OMAX. “We have a saying, For heavy-duty regenerators, gas tur- structural steel as well and you don’t even ‘Obsolescence is obsolete.’” bines and pipelines for gas and electrical have to use a square,” he says. Originally, applications, Randy Thompson, presi- the company purchased the waterjet for cut- Online resources dent, Pal-Con Ltd., Stephenville, Texas, ting parts for its regenerator core, but after “One of the biggest drivers for us purchas- needed a waterjet cutter to cut fins. The seeing its success, “we were able to use it ing an OMAX system was the ease of use company purchased three OMAX 80160 elsewhere in our shop,” says Thompson. in jumping from the one- to two-piece or- waterjet cutters. According to Thompson, The OMAX 80160 JetMachining Cen- ders to multiple-sheet production orders fins are corrugated pieces of metal that ter is a bridge-style model that uses a very easily and very quickly,” says Dan

FFJournal® July/August 2011 Left: A Fusion Tech-completed part for a pharmaceutical pill machine sorting station. Below: A finalized auger on the Fusion Tech shop floor.

Bentz, general manager at Fusion Tech In- tegrated Inc., Roseville, Ill., which has two 80160 waterjets. “The programming soft- ware is very easy to use, and all of the cutting parameters are spot on,” he says. The company wanted a machine capable of cutting a variety of material thicknesses ranging from thin-gauge material through 6 in. thick without having to reinvent the wheel. “If you want a certain edge quality, no matter what commodity you are cut- ting, with a simple click of a button, the pre-loaded parameters give you the results tles customers to “free software for life to the Because of the struggling economy, Fu- you want every time,” he says. original machine owner and as many sets of sion Tech set aside a group of employees to Pal-Con was aware of OMAX’s software this software as needed,” McLain says. focus on other markets, according to Bentz. when the company first purchased the wa- OMAX first manufactured abrasivejet cut- “Since November, we’ve been doing a va- terjet machines. “Their software could do ting in 1993, and it is now in its third riety of projects, including war memorials, more than most of the other [providers Pal- generation. The complete systems are man- personal memorials and statues.” By using Con looked at],” says Thompson. “They ufactured at OMAX’s Kent, Wash., factory, the waterjet process, Fusion Tech is able to upgrade it, and as long as you’re hooked where machines and software also are achieve a level of detail that cannot be pro- up to the Internet, you can get it updated. tested. “Weare not an integrator but a total duced using a laser or plasma cutter. “You can cut the materials manually,” solution provider,” says McLain. “People are really beginning to grasp the Thompson continues. “But that takes a In addition to field support, OMAX of- idea of customization and are using stain- tremendous amount of time. We can cut fers free training at its headquarters for both less steel in an industry that has previously a piece over 13 in. thick of stainless steel. the OMAX and MAXIEM lines. “The bet- only known brass and bronze to exist. It I don’t know of anything that can cut that ter trained the customer, the more satisfied gives our clients a whole new level of mak- thick of material.” OMAX software allows the customer,” McLain says. “Wealso offer ing something truly unique,” he says. Pal-Con to cut large thicknesses while cut- webinars and online tutorials, manuals and As the economy improves, Pal-Con’s ting production time significantly. drawings to our customers through our Thompson believes “business is on an up- “When we have a maintenance issue, password-protected support site.” ward swing. We’re busier than we’ve ever our maintenance guys call OMAX and our been.” Almost all the plate Pal-Con cuts, contact there knows us and we know Attention to detail whether stainless or otherwise, is cut nearly them,” Thompson adds. “As long as you According to Bentz, “On the architectural exclusively using the OMAX waterjet cut- keep up with the maintenance [of the ma- side of things, our lasers would not allow ter. “Using the waterjet is a lot better from chines], they’re pretty trustworthy. Getting us the kind of detail that the waterjets [are using a torch cut or any other type of cut,” on a routine maintenance schedule makes capable of]. With the waterjet, because of he says. “You can’t beat the accuracy.” FFJ the waterjets that much more dependable.” its cold-cutting process and no HAZ, we Fusion Tech OMAX doesn’t guess what its customers can obtain the sharp edges and fine detail , Roseville, Ill., 309/774-4130, fax: 309/774-4161, need, the company asks. OMAX often without the material melting or fusing www.ftiinc.org. conducts “meet the engineers” sessions at back together as it does [with] the laser trade shows where customers are invited to when trying to obtain this level of detail,” OMAX Corp., Kent, Wash., a luncheon to provide feedback, according Bentz says. This is especially important as 253/872-2300, fax: 253/872-6190, to McLain. “Weask customers for the top- Fusion Tech expands and services its sister www.omax.com. five problems they’re having, and we take company, Stainless Reflections, which is Pal-Con Ltd., Stephenville, Texas, their input,” she says. targeting the custom monuments, plaques, 254/968-3335, fax: 254/968-3353, The company’s software guarantee enti- statues and signs market. www.palconltd.com.

® FFJournal July/August 2011 ® Reprinted from FFJournal July/August 2011 Copyright Trend Publishing Inc.