I did get a reply from Wazer. See below. I checked everything. Everything checks out ok. I’m thinking my problem is the bed not being leveled correctly. I still get that error code once in a while. I just press ok, and the machine keeps cutting with not issues. Hope this helps.
Thank you for reaching out to us with this issue.
To confirm our understanding, when you clear the abrasive hose after getting this error message did you see any moisture exit?
Water will always take the path easiest to travel. If the nozzle tip bottoms out as it travels across the bed or if the jewel orifice is in bad condition, the water can travel down the abrasive hose. Water traveling down the abrasive hose can be caused by these two common problems:
- If the nozzle tip collides with anything along the cut bed. To avoid this, please ensure the cut bed is level to the gantry.
Please note, the cut bed level is referring to it’s level with the machine tank and gantry. This is why the cutting head is used to level the cut bed. Please see the link for more information:
(Leveling the Cut Bed — WAZER Support | The First Desktop Waterjet.)
You can also try raising the nozzle height a little bit higher than the stand-off tool. This will make sure the tip has proper clearance, and the material does not collide into the tip.
- The condition of the jewel orifice. The jewel orifice is located inside the nozzle, and is responsible for creating the water stream needed to perform the cut. If the jewel orifice is clogged or damaged in any way, the water stream will be affected negatively. That means the water stream can spray around inside the nozzle assembly, building up water and moisture that will travel down the abrasive hose and create a clog.
When setting the Z height of the nozzle using the height adjustment tool, please make sure the nozzle is set to the highest point of the material. If the material has high spots, the nozzle may collide with it leading to backflows. When cutting very thin materials it is possible the water bubbling up can push up on the center of the material and bend it upward into the path of the nozzle.
If a feature of your design is cut without tabs, it can come loose during cutting and become wedged between the nozzle and material. Place tabs on all features when possible, to prevent pop-ups from occurring and causing a backflow.
If you believe the nozzle tip may be clogged of abrasive, please follow the instructions found here to unclog the tip of the nozzle
It is important that the nozzle tip is seated into the nozzle fully during operation. Make sure the tip is pushed up into the body of the nozzle, and hold it pressed upward with your finger while you tighten the knurled nut.
Finally, keep a close eye on your water pressure gauges located at the water inlet line and the left side of the pump. If these gauges dip drastically during any point in the duration of the cut, it could allow low pressure water into the nozzle which will exit through the abrasive hose.
When a backflow occurs, it is important to clear the abrasive hose of any clogs or moisture before cutting again. It is also good to check and make sure no moisture has entered the abrasive hopper. If you believe moisture has entered the hopper or if you cannot see abrasive flowing out of the pinch valve, please follow this page to clear the abrasive hopper.
Does this information help you to recover from and avoid these backflows? If you have any questions please feel free to ask here.
Thank you.
-WAZER Support Team
