A hot wire foam cutter is a special piece of equipment that is used for foam cutting. One example of materials this machine can be utilized to cut is polystyrene foam. It has various components which include a taut metal wire which is thin and is heated via electrical resistance for it to cut through materials. Depending on the make of the machine, the temperature of foam cutting wires normally reaches 200 degrees Celsius or more.
Various materials can be used to make the wire although it is made from nichrome or stainless steel in most cases. This wire can be pre-formed to any shape a person wishes to produce. The wire is normally very hot that there is no need to touch the material for it to be cut. The material gets vaporized before it is even touched by the wire.
Tensioning of the wire can be done using a bow or a frame that has springs. Many people tend to favor a single strand of stainless steel wire over nichrome wire if diameters range from 0.008 inches to 0.020 inches. This diameter is suitable for frame-tensioned cutters. Commercially, a nickel-based alloy wire Rene 41 is often preferred. This nickel-based alloy is preferred because is maintains its tensile strength at cutting temperatures.
The machine is appropriate for cutting of a wide variety of materials. Particularly, it is preferable for cutting through all forms of thermofusible expanded foams. Normally, these are materials which need low temperatures in order to melt. Polymethacrylimide, extruded polystyrene, expanded polystyrene blocks, custom materials, and flexible expanded polypropylene foams are examples of material that can be cut using the equipment.
There are several types of these cutters in use today. They include performed wires, handheld devices, simple manual cutting tables, template-guided manual tables, push through slicers, and computer numerically controlled cutters among others. Preformed wires are usually attached to handles and the operator has to guide them manually in order to cut. They are utilized to cut free shapes. Handheld cutters also operate in the same manner where the operator guides them manually to cut freehand shapes.
Hot wire foam cutting tables normally have tables that are horizontal and they are used in securing the work piece in position. The wire might be vertical or horizontal and it cuts through work pieces that are secured on the table. Vertical wires are usually used in cutting small, complex shapes like letters by hobbyists. Vertical tables can only be used in making prismatic members.
Horizontal tables find most use in the construction and packaging industries. The table contains tracks on either side, which are used to hold the wire. The tracks enable the wire to be moved with a great level of precision. The tracks allow both upward and downward motion. Angular cuts can also be produced by horizontal tables.
Today, CNC capabilities have been integrated into foam cutting. This gives even more capability to cut extremely sophisticated shapes with great accuracy. However, factors like stiffness of races used for supporting end effectors, stepper motors, and backlash of drive systems can affect accuracy. Usually, tensioned wires are held by the end effectors.
Various materials can be used to make the wire although it is made from nichrome or stainless steel in most cases. This wire can be pre-formed to any shape a person wishes to produce. The wire is normally very hot that there is no need to touch the material for it to be cut. The material gets vaporized before it is even touched by the wire.
Tensioning of the wire can be done using a bow or a frame that has springs. Many people tend to favor a single strand of stainless steel wire over nichrome wire if diameters range from 0.008 inches to 0.020 inches. This diameter is suitable for frame-tensioned cutters. Commercially, a nickel-based alloy wire Rene 41 is often preferred. This nickel-based alloy is preferred because is maintains its tensile strength at cutting temperatures.
The machine is appropriate for cutting of a wide variety of materials. Particularly, it is preferable for cutting through all forms of thermofusible expanded foams. Normally, these are materials which need low temperatures in order to melt. Polymethacrylimide, extruded polystyrene, expanded polystyrene blocks, custom materials, and flexible expanded polypropylene foams are examples of material that can be cut using the equipment.
There are several types of these cutters in use today. They include performed wires, handheld devices, simple manual cutting tables, template-guided manual tables, push through slicers, and computer numerically controlled cutters among others. Preformed wires are usually attached to handles and the operator has to guide them manually in order to cut. They are utilized to cut free shapes. Handheld cutters also operate in the same manner where the operator guides them manually to cut freehand shapes.
Hot wire foam cutting tables normally have tables that are horizontal and they are used in securing the work piece in position. The wire might be vertical or horizontal and it cuts through work pieces that are secured on the table. Vertical wires are usually used in cutting small, complex shapes like letters by hobbyists. Vertical tables can only be used in making prismatic members.
Horizontal tables find most use in the construction and packaging industries. The table contains tracks on either side, which are used to hold the wire. The tracks enable the wire to be moved with a great level of precision. The tracks allow both upward and downward motion. Angular cuts can also be produced by horizontal tables.
Today, CNC capabilities have been integrated into foam cutting. This gives even more capability to cut extremely sophisticated shapes with great accuracy. However, factors like stiffness of races used for supporting end effectors, stepper motors, and backlash of drive systems can affect accuracy. Usually, tensioned wires are held by the end effectors.
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