A hot-wire foam cutter is a tool used to cut polystyrene foam and similar materials. The device consists of a thin, taut metal wire, often made of nichrome or stainless steel, or a thicker wire preformed into a desired shape, which is heated via electrical resistance to approximately 200°C. As the wire is passed through the material to be cut, the heat from the wire vaporizes the material just in advance of contact. The depth of the cut is limited only by the wire length. Width of cut is limited by throat, if any.
School Fab Lab provides stations such as this and others to aid students in learning about digital fabrication. Using virtual reality, students are more engaged and retain the knowledge even better! Fab Lab VR is an immersive environment where one can test out machines such as 3D Printers, Laser Cutters, Vinyl Cutters, as well as drones and robotics.
