Foam Cutting Machine

erco

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oE3LhvZKAQE&NR=1

The final product is very cool (not durable, but cool) especially since the phasing of the two different gears changes the arm & claw motion. Watch it for a while.

But also, the idea to make a robotic hot-wire foam cutter is interesting, since the speeds and forces are low. Heck, a well-calibrated S2 with a hotwire blade below could drive a path on a foam sheet and cut that as it drove a path!

Martin_H

That's a neat idea. Cutting foam is actually more than a novelty. I've seen foam used in lost foam metal casting. It's fairly impressive when the hot metal hits the foam packed in sand.

kwinn

Martin_H wrote: »

That's a neat idea. Cutting foam is actually more than a novelty. I've seen foam used in lost foam metal casting. It's fairly impressive when the hot metal hits the foam packed in sand.

I agree. It is also a good way to check that all the parts fit without binding before committing the design to metal.

wjsteele

Martin_H wrote: »

Cutting foam is actually more than a novelty.

Oh, it sure is. Composite airplanes and boats are built using it.

Bill

Heater.

Martin_H,

I've seen foam used in lost foam metal casting.

I've done it with aluminium. In school circa 1971 aged 15. I'm sure there is not a school left in the western world that would let kids do such things. Fantastic what you can do with it.

kwinn

Heater. wrote: »

Martin_H,
I'm sure there is not a school left in the western world that would let kids do such things.

And look at how many young people are injured when they first start working as a result. Teach them how to safely deal with things instead of hiding from them.