A COMPACT WATERJET FOR ALL

OMAX partnered with Formation Design Group to develop the first high-performance abrasive waterjet designed for educators, students, hobbyists, and small businesses. ProtoMAX lowers the barrier to entry to waterjet cutting, an advanced manufacturing method capable of cutting through virtually every material from carbon fiber and glass, to stainless steel and marble. The process mixes a hard, sand-like abrasive with a high-pressure stream of water (30,000 psi) to cut through traditionally hard-to-cut materials. ProtoMAX aims to bring this powerful industrial technology into machine shops, classrooms, and garages around the world by maintaining a small footprint and running with standard electrical connections and water supplies.

WHAT DO GEARHEADS AND KINDERGARTENERS HAVE IN COMMON?

Adjacent to the technical challenge of shrinking an industrial manufacturing tool into a smaller form-factor was addressing the needs of the varied users of ProtoMAX. Our design process was driven by the idea that both a gearhead tooling on their motorcycle and a kindergarten teacher preparing craft materials for their class would love using ProtoMAX. The final design considers user experiences from all walks of life − from containing the wet cutting environment within the system to prioritizing user safety.

DESIGN FOR MANUFACTURING

ProtoMAX required a number of manufacturing processes unique to OMAX’s product line, such as rotational molding and large-scale vacuum-forming. Formation worked with OMAX to source US-based suppliers for these processes, in addition to working directly with suppliers to design within their capabilities while meeting OMAX’s performance and volume requirements.