Hot wire cutter especially useful for shaping polystyrene foam insulation on-site in the building trade

摘要

A novel device for shaping, e.g. polystyrene foam, is based on a cutter (1) heated by a low voltage supply. A series switch is included. The switch comprises only two components, the cutter itself (1) as an active contact, and a passive, permanently-connected contact (2). These are brought together by pressure against the material being cut. The cutter passes through an opening in the passive contact, only touching it when the cutter is deflected, to make contact. Preferably, the cutter is a spring-tensioned heater wire in iron, copper or constan tan.