Foam fabricators use many tools and techniques to cut, shape, and fabricate pieces of foam so that they can be used in custom applications. This allows the materials to be used in nearly any industry, making up components in many modern products. One of these fabrication techniques is CNC foam cutting, the process of cutting a piece of foam using state-of-the-art CNC machines. Is this type of fabrication right for your products? Answering this question is just one of the many ways we help our clients get the custom pieces of foam they need.
In the meantime, learn more about the capabilities of CNC foam fabrication and the different types of cutting available.
Water Jet Cutting
Water jet cutting uses high-pressure water jets to cut pieces of foam by technically eroding the material where the water comes in contact with it. This type of cutting is ideal for repeatable cuts that are identical to one another. The cuts are accurate and material waste is often kept to a minimal level. The foam edges made by this type of cutting are normally of high-quality, meaning that less time must be spent on secondary forms of finishing during the fabrication process.
Routing
CNC routing uses guided drill bits and other types of machine tools to carve pieces of foam into different shapes and depths. This process is ideal for creating custom packaging foam inserts for various products. It allows fabricators to cut various depths into foams, which can then be used to safely protect items while in transit.
Contouring Cutting
CNC contour cutting is an efficient and cost-effective way to cut foam into complex shapes. The process uses computer aided design (CAD) programs to layout intricate designs that the CNC machinery then follows to make the appropriate cuts. This allows for quick fabrication and repeatability, which reduces lead times during production. It can also help keep costs down as it reduces material waste.
The Benefits of CNC Foam Cutting
CNC foam cutting is highly suitable for foam fabrication in terms of high-speed low-volume production. When compared to processes like injection molding, which is useful for very high-volume manufacturing runs. Injection molding costs go up when orders include lower numbers of pieces produced.
CNC cutting can quickly produce highly precise custom foam products quickly and with little material waste. You can get more out of your investment using CNC cutting when production runs are lower, and when the shapes you need to create are complex.
At Amcon, we don’t limit ourselves to any one fabrication technique. We use whatever method gets you the best custom foam products at the price you can afford, regardless of how many you need. When you work with our team, we help you through the entire process. From choosing a type of foam to creating an intricate design, all the way to fabrication and more, we are your trusted foam supplier.
Get in touch with us today for a free sample or a quote on your next project!