Waterjet Pump Increases Operating Life

The EnduroMAX pump, which is designed for Omax JetMachining Centers, is said to double operating life, decrease part processing time, lower operating costs and ease maintenance. When run at 55,000 psi (3,793 bar), operating time between required pump rebuilds is 1,000 hours, maximizing machine uptime. However, the pump runs continuously at 60,000 psi (4,138 bar), and its mean time between required rebuilds is said to be double that of previous pump technology.

The company says it improved pump operating life by upgrading the design of static and dynamic seals. Seals are the elements of a pump that wear out the quickest, forcing shops to rebuild pumps more frequently, the company says. By improving the design of the seals, the pump’s operating life increases, leading to less maintenance time.

To lower overall operating cost, the pump uses less horsepower to generate given power levels at the waterjet machine nozzle. According to the company, the pump operates at 90-percent efficiency as opposed to the 60- to 70-percent range of common pump designs. It also uses less water and eliminates energy costs associated with chilling/cooling pump hydraulics, the company says.

The combination of continuous 60,000-psi operation and 90-percent efficiency enable machines using the pump to process parts faster. All pump models deliver 60,000 psi and are offered in various horsepower ratings: The 3060 model is rated at 30 hp, the 4060 model at 40 hp and the 5060 model at 50 hp.

To simplify maintenance, the pump is designed with independent cylinders. As opposed to manifold-style, wet-end assembly designs, this enables rebuilding individual cylinders rather than completely disassembling the unit and replacing all seals, the company says. The pump is said to have fewer soft static seals, so shops can work on only the cylinders that need maintenance without having to disassemble the whole unit.