Effortless Cutting Blades? 20
knewter asks: "I've recently come across an application in a machine that my company is building in which we need to be able to cut a piece of hardened plastic without jolting the item from which we're cutting it. We've researched (mildly) some alternatives, and right now we're looking at ultrasonic knives. Unfortunately, these tend to be rather expensive, and as we're a robotics engineering firm, we'd like to keep the cost of the extraneous pieces of machinery negligible (this is a convenience feature). We've also looked at cutting it with a hot wire, but I personally am worried that this would taint the test results (it's in a sort of a plastic vial that is drained for testing purposes). Does anyone here have any ideas on what would be proper for this, or even some ideas on cheap nano-machinery (not in the sense of manipulating small particles, but in the sense that the blade has been refined to an extremely small point and will not require repeated sharpening)?" Of course, the obvious answer is a laser of some sort, but lasers aren't necessarily cost effective. How about high pressure water cutters?
I got one on my desk... (Score:1)
It was a dream. My company was working on a contract for NASA. We were cutting open part of a shuttle that still had some flamable compound in it. I took the machine home for an hour to cut up an old computer case I had sitting around.
Dont worry, I gave it a deserving burial.
Ginsu 2000 (Score:1)
Wait a second... (Score:2)
Just use 10Kv across the chassis.
- A.P. (it's a joke, a sly one)
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* CmdrTaco is an idiot.
Re:Careful about the burial (Score:2)
Re:Careful about the burial (Score:1)
Re:Ginsu 2000 (Score:1)
Re:there is no knife... (Score:1)
ceramic blades (Score:1)
There is also something called "amorphous metal" or "met-glass" which does not need sharpening.
I guess the important thing is that you did not indicate whether you were trying to shear the material or cross cut it. This makes a difference in the materials and the methods.
Your honor... (Score:1)
We present to you, exibit B, that the above prosecuting attorney is actually a troll. The defense rests.
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Glass beads (Score:2)
ALL YOUR BASE ARE BELONG TO US!
Re:Wait a second... (Score:2)
ALL YOUR BASE ARE BELONG TO US!
there is no knife... (Score:3)
They teach a plethora of cutting techniques. I strongly recommend Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon for a further demonstration of the Wudan's cutting techniques.
One word of advice: if you do attend the Wudan school of martial arts then stay away from the edge of the bridge. The railing isn't very high and it's easy to jump/fall/float off.
high pressure water jets (Score:1)
Laser (Score:1)
Re:Glass beads / Aluminium Oxide (Score:1)
Links here: http://www.google.com/search?q=dentist+air+abrasi
So far I've not needed anesthetic for any filling, and this is after 18 years of neglect, so you can see that it's fast and very precise.
Matt (with a lovely new grin)
Acid? (Score:1)
Of course, this might not be as time-efficient as a cutting method, but it might do the trick.
Re:ceramic blades (Score:1)
Another idea might be a "diamond wheel". It's almost like a saw, except instead of a blade along the wheel it's studded with tiny diamonds - these are commonly used for slicing through granite. Perhaps you might be able to use something like this. I'm pretty sure it won't wear out on you.
Careful about the burial (Score:1)
As for having fun with the tool, I envy you
Abrasive Water Jet (Score:2)
Abrasive (or non-abrasive depending on the material you're trying to cut) water jet would do what you want quite well. These are not cheap systems either, though. check out http://www.usjetting.com or http://www.woma.de for systems (I've not purchased from them nor am I affiliated with them).
There are also very thin abrasive cutting blades that might do what you want. The problem with water jet cutting is the water, which for some applications produces unacceptable contamination (not all materials like water). Abrasive cutting blades are easy to replace and have good cutting life on softer materials. Check out http://www.dynacut.com
Using cut wires is probably the cheapest solution provided that you have the capability to produce those. If you're using hot wire cutting, it might not be worth it depending on the material your trying to cut.
Lastly and out on a limb, if the plastic is conductive (or if you wanted to try your hand at fabricating a microwave torch instead... all the one's I've used are DC but I've seen specs for microwave torches for chemical applications) you could try using a plasma torch on it. You can get a .01" kerf on
a good one (for cutting 1/4" plate steel) and
they are a dream to cut with -- as good as a laser
with the convienence of a torch.
Turn Up the Heat (Score:1)