we have a recurring problem with our waterjet, we are sure it's not anything to do with Mach3, but this is about the only CNC forum I have really gotten any help from, and I'm hoping some of you have some suggestions or even maybe have had something like this happen before
the problem is that the nozzle frequently clogs when we're cutting ring shaped parts out of "haysite?" fiberglass (not sure how it's spelled)
it RARELY clogs on anything else we cut, but it's not a matter of the head getting too close, since it was about a 1/4" away from the highest point of the material on the last job, and still clogged more often than it ever has, even on this haysite stuff
the only guesses I haven't been able to disprove completely are...
1) the abrasive is getting wet and clumping, or otherwise getting some larger debris, when we put it into the hopper
but...we've devoted 2-3x the attention to that step when on this job, as compared to normal
2) the haysite gets inside the head somehow, when the water stream stops, since the stuff does tend to bubble up, as the dust forms bubbles, sometimes up around the nozzle
but...I distinctly remember at least a couple times watching it as it stopped, no bubbles even close to it, and it still clogged
3) the nozzle itself siezes up due to heat, and the orifice closes
but...wouldn't heat make it EXPAND, not contract?
I'm relatively sure yall are going to want our .xml file, and maybe a code sample, so I'll do what I can to get them posted, but not in a position to do so at the moment...hopefully tonight if I can remember