Foam wing cutter newbie!!

[Myzee]

I need to build a set of foam wings. Is there any info or sources for plans for a foam wing cutter? I have a general idea of what's invloved but I have never done it before so I would stepping into the unknown here!
What power supply, wire, types of foam, Etc.?
The construction and elctronic construction assemblies are not an issue, I just need help on how to do go about building one.
I have heard that some people lay the templtes horizontally, and some place them vertical and let gravity push the wire through the foam. of course I'm not sure how this is done! :shock: How do you hold templates?
ANY help is appreciated on this issue!
THANKS :rock:
Myles :oops:

[Dennis 9412]

Hi Myles:

I have built one in the past, and here's the link below. Some of the guys tell me that the parts are no longer available from Radio Shack, but as long as you know what they are you should be able to get them from any Electronics warehouse. You might want to try a search on here using the keywords "foam wing cutter".

Here's the link:

http://nsrca.org/technical/tip_tricks/foam_cutter/foam_cutting_power_supply.htm

Regards,

[Myzee]

Wow Dennis, thanks for the link! Looks like a great source!!
:D How does yours work that you made from these instructions?
Myles

[Dennis 9412]

Hi Myles:

Just finished cutting a set of wings tonight. Works great!

This is the first time I have really used it since I built it, other than initially setting it up with both a long and short bow to find out the best cutting temperatures.

I'm really happy with it. Hope you can find the parts, as apparently Radio Shack has discontinued a few of them. Let me know how you make out.

[Myzee]

Hi Dennis, I have all the instructions printed out and I am going to get the items together this week for it!
What did you use to make your bows? What type of wire did you use and where did you get it? How do you hold the templates?
Hope you don't mind all the questions but I just want the teething aspect of all this to be as easy as possible!:D
THANKS!
Myles

[Dennis 9412]

Hi Myles>

Here's another link that might interest you.

http://webpages.charter.net/rcfu/ConstGuide/FoamWing.html

I made my bow out of an old hockey stick about 30" long. Drill a hole at both ends on a 30 degree angle with a 5/32 drill. Hammer a piece of 5/32 music wire about 12 inches long into the holes and cut a notch in the wire to keep the cutting wire from sliding off. Solder a wire to both music wires and connect them up to your new power supply. Get yourself some stainless steel fishing leader wire and tie it to your music wire at one end, then compress the music wires together slightly to put some tension on the cutting wire and tie up the other end. If this is not clear, let me know, but the above link should explain it for you.

[rcpilot]

Myles,
How is your power supply coming along. Have you found the parts??
I started on mine as well. Had alot of problem finding the parts. However, I am pretty close to it. If you need any help in locating parts, let me know.

[Myzee]

Hey!:)
Been sidetracked with other projects at the moment but I want to try to get the parts together this Saturday. There is a good electronics store in Belleville that may have something. Where abouts did you get some of your parts?
Thanx! :D
Myles

[rcpilot]

My name is Maqsood, not HEY :o

I started to get the parts from Radio shack, but they did not have most of them. So I went down to a big electronics store and picked up the 2 resistors, switches, 5K Pot, speaker connectors, fuse holder and fuse. Could not get Triac, Capacitor and 470 ohm resistor.

Then found the transformer at one of the radio shack stores. Ordered Capacitor from radio shack website that came in today.

Started calling all the electronics stores for Triac, finally found the replacement NTE56008 at one store which only had one left.

Dennis was kind enough to bring his to my place when he came to pickup a plane and I looked at it. He has done an excellent job putting it together. Nice and neat. He was able to get all the parts from radio shack's website, but right now, the only thing you can order is the .22 capacitor, rest, you have to search for yourself. The Triac is ancient, but you should be able to find the NTE56008 for its replacement.

If you get stuck, and can't find anything, let me know, as I have spent alot of time and pretty much know where to find what.

[Flypaper]

Myles:
I have a featherlite cutter but to cumbersome to use. I built a bow from plastic 5/8 od hot water pipe. with .020 piano wire for cutting. coat hanger wire end fittings bent into S shape to fit into one hole drilled into the end of the water pipe to hold it. Unhooked when I dont use it, otherwise it would take a permanent bend.