Clearing the Dry Abrasive Hopper
In addition to the Dry Abrasive Hose, another area where an abrasive hose blockage can occur is in the abrasive hopper and/or mechanism at the bottom. If the abrasive still cannot be delivered to the cut area after clearing the dry abrasive hose and backflow sensor, the dry abrasive hopper will have to be cleared and worked on.
Tools Needed
Bucket to hold contaminated abrasive
Compressed air source
Flashlight
Small Allen Key
Gloves
Respiratory protection.
Safety goggles
Procedure
[CAUTION] Put on safety glasses/ goggles, put on gloves and respiratory protection.
1. Conduct an abrasive quick check
Remove the rubber catcher from the pinch valve assembly
Press in on the black button on the pinch valve. This will release the pinch on the drop tube.
If the abrasive is flowing out normally, you do not need to clear the abrasive hopper.
If the abrasive is flowing slowly or not flowing at all, you will need to empty the abrasive hopper and clear the clog.
If the catcher or drop tube is damp or wet, you need to empty the abrasive hopper and address the moisture contamination.
[NOTICE] If your abrasive valve does not look like the one pictured, please contact customer support through our ticketing system in order to have the upgrade sent to you. If you still have the older plug style and try to remove the head in this fashion, it will cause damage to your valve.
Good Abrasive Flow
No Abrasive Flow
2. Place an empty bucket under the WAZER, near the front of the hopper.
3. Locate the remove the abrasive hopper dump plug at the bottom of the hopper, near the front of the hopper. (If your Hopper does not have these feature, move to step 5)
After removing the plug, let the abrasive fall into the bucket underneath
4. Put your hand into the hopper and push the abrasive out if you see the flow is getting slower. Stop after you feel you can lift the rest of the abrasive in the hopper.
5. Disconnect vibration motor and pinch valve leads
These two connectors are JST connectors: push in on the tab and pull out the connector.
Use a small Allen Key to push onto the small tab helps quite a lot.
6. Untie cable ties holding the leads to the slider arm.
7. Pull out the dry abrasive hopper from WAZER unit.
8. Dump the remaining abrasives from the hopper into a clean dry bucket.
Observe carefully if any congregated sand falls off.
Vacuum the hopper if needed
9. Shine a flashlight from the plug hole, depress the pinch valve button and observe from the abrasive hopper outlet
If light from the flashlight is seen, pinch valve passage is clear and the abrasive clog/obstruction has been cleared
If no light is seen, pinch valve passage is blocked and you must continue with the rest of the procedure
[CAUTION] Safety glasses and dust mask required.
10. While keeping the button on the abrasive valve depressed, use a compressed air source (set to no more than 10 psi) to blow clear the passageway from the hopper to the outlet.
NEVER use a higher pressure or perform this step without the abrasive valve button depressed.
Notice: Keep the Pinch Valve Button pressed at ALL TIMES when blowing air through the drop tube. If the pinch valve is closed when air is pushed through, the drop tube will tear and need to be replaced
11. Repeat steps 9 and 10 until the passage is clear, and the Drop Tube is free of Wet Abrasive.
[NOTICE] You must press down on the pinch valve while blowing compressed air into the drop tube.
12. If the drop punctured or tear in the step 10, you have to replace it. There is a spare drop tube in your Black Tool Case
13. Slide dry abrasive hopper into WAZER, reconnect vibration motor leads and abrasive valve leads.
Reinstall the abrasive hose and abrasive catcher onto the pinch valve assembly.
Refill hopper with dry abrasive
14. Conduct an abrasive flow rate.
Ensure the flow rate is 130g-150g per minute for Barton HPA 80 abrasive
or 100g - 110g per minute for Longhe Mesh 80 Abrasive.
8. Refill hopper with dry abrasive. Continue the cutting.
If you notice used abrasive is piling around the nozzle during, it indicate the abrasive is flowing to the Nozzle Assembly properly.
Next time
Backflow can be prevented by upkeeping the high pressure system and following appropriate cut set up practices: utilize tabs, check cut path to avoid collisions, ensure work piece is securely fastened, and cut bed is level. .
Have a quick check of the high pressure system by performing a nozzle purge before a cut. Check the pressure gauge during the nozzle purge to ensure operation pressure stays in the green zone.
Performing the proper set up steps and checking the high pressure system can effectively prevent future backflows, increase cut performance, and reduce the frequency of cleanings.