Minggu, 11 November 2018

Facts About Foam Cutting Wires

By Carol Smith


Form cutting is a procedure performed by use of special equipment known as hot-wire foam cutters. This machine is utilized to cut materials like polystyrene foam. Many components including a thin taut metal wire are included in the cutter. The metal wire is usually heated via electrical resistance so that it can cut through material. Usually, the temperature of foam cutting wires reaches over 200 degrees Celsius depending on the type of machine in use.

The wire can be made from various materials, but in most cases, it is made from stainless steel or nichrome. The wire can be pre-formed into any shape that one wants to produce. The wire is usually very hot that it does not need to make contact with the material in order to cut it. The material is vaporized prior to making contact with the wire.

By use of a frame with springs or a bow, the wire is tensioned. If the diameters range between 0.008 to 0.020 inches, most people seem to like single strands of stainless steel wires. For frame-tensioned cutters, this diameter is suitable. For commercial applications, nickel-based alloy wire Rene 41 is mostly preferred. The alloy is preferred in commercial applications since it maintains tensile strength after reaching cutting temperatures.

This machine is appropriate for cutting several different materials. It is specifically appropriate for cutting through any thermofusible expanded foam. These refer to materials that normally melt at moderately low temperatures. Custom materials, flexible expanded polypropylene foams, polymathacrylimide, extruded polystyrene, and expanded polystyrene blocks are some of the materials that this machine can cut.

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.

A horizontal table is used in securing foam work pieces in place when using hot wire foam cutting tables. The wire, either vertical or horizontal then cuts through work pieces placed on the table. These vertical wires are used by hobbyists for cutting small but sophisticate shapes such as letters. Only prismatic members can be cut using vertical tables.

Horizontal tables are mostly used in the packaging and construction industries. Tracks are contained on the sides of the table and they are used for holding the wire. The wire can be moved with great precision due to the tracks. Both downward and upward motion is allowed for by the track. Also, horizontal tables can produce angular cuts.

CNC capabilities have also been incorporated into foam cutting these days. This allows for even more accuracy and ability to cut extremely intricate shapes. However, accuracy of CNC machines can be affected by factors such as backlash of drive systems, stepper motors, and stiffness of races used to support end effectors. Tensioned wires are usually held by end effectors




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