[Karl_T]

My son recently bought a used Omax 55100 waterjet at auction.

I had a thread about getting him a 240 to 480 transformer with some background info. https://www.hobby-machinist.com/thre...sformer.99660/

Went to my son's place to check out the transformer. we got it running a 440 volt 3 phase motor, all looks great here. He's all set to permanently wire it in to the waterjet.

Spent most of the time looking over the machine and especially the control.

The control is a PC based stepper controller. it has a proprietary USB control box. This device then feeds proprietary driver cards that converts steps to DC servo drive. The servos are tiny by CNC standards. the control just has a few outputs from the USB control box. Looks like this box also has just a few inputs - servo fault being the most important one. the whole thing looks a lot like a Mach 3 stepper control.

Did a bit of power wire tracing. It looks like the PC, servos, etc. all take 120 VAC power from a 480 to 120 transformer. It sure looks to me like the kid can buy a PC, install the software. then remove these two wires and connect to a wall outlet. I think he will be able to jog the machine around at this point. Does anyone know for sure???

OK, his job for the week is install all power wiring, get a PC and install software.

My job is read all the manuals and try to learn all I can about starting up a water jet.

By chance, if anyone out there is expert on this machine, I'd sure like to hear from you. Neither of us have done more than just watch one run.

[neil76]

Hi There Karl

This will run on a windows based PC but the system you have is called the 5 axis USB controller, this will only run on a 32Bit operating system.
the two cables from PC the black box power the axis controller, this Omax part number 305772.
Feel free to PM for more info.
Thanks.

[Karl_T]

Thanks for your reply. I am SURE to have many questions once we get a PC up and running.

[neil76]

Hi Karl

No problem, if you send me your email address via the private message I can send you over the the relevant schematic/ information on the USB power supply.
Thanks

[Karl_T]

Thank you so much for the very kind offer. I just PMed my email.

Karl

[Karl_T]

Just for the record here, Neil has been EXTREMELY helpful by email. he really knows these machines.

My son will be installing power supplies for the USB controller and getting a PC all set up this week. Hope to jog the machine soon.

[Karl_T]

Say would somebody please double check me here?

The molex connector to the USB controller is an obsolete four pin style. We checked around and none of our running computers have one of these. These were used in every computer back in the IDE hard drive days. I am almost sure the red wire is +5 volt, the yellow +12 volt, and the two blacks are common. But the cost of a mistake is HUGE.

The pic is of the connector to the USB controller in the waterjet. We are installing two new power supplies to run this USB controller.

[Jim Dawson]

Check for sure with a volt meter, but yes, red=+5V, yellow = +12V, and black = common

[Karl_T]

Its breathing!!!

Just need to add water and garnet

[Karl_T]

Here is part 1. just a piece of scrap metal laying around the shop.

SPECIAL THANKS TO NEIL76!!!!
He is a pro on these machines and was incredibly helpful.

[Jim Dawson]

That's awesome! Wish you were closer to me, could have given you some work a few days ago.

[neil76]

Thanks Brother

Happy Machining