APPLICATIONS:
Letters, logos and symbols - as if they were cast in one piece
In advertising as well as shop construction, the right lettering and logos made of Styropor® (Styrofoam) or Styrodur® can generate a lot of money. The trend towards sculptural decorations and 3D symbols of all kinds continues to grow unabated. The material polystyrene can here really demonstrate all of its strengths, such as the easy processing, low weight, individual design, paintable surface and high-quality appearance.
With a hot wire cutting machine from cnc-multitool, cutting letters, numbers, symbols and ornaments is literally as easy as child's play. Could this be a business idea for you? All you need is a little space and practice, to produce 3D letters and logos of high quality. Or are you already working with Styrofoam or Styrodur, and would you like to optimize your production? Here we show you how to get more out of your very own creativity for outdoor advertising or interior decoration. This is how you will acquire new customers: the foundation of a growing success.
From the assignment to the solution
Tasks
You would like to cut the following or similar sculptures from polystyrene:
- Letters, Lettering
- Numbers
- Special characters
- Logos
- Signatures
- Pictograms
- Symbols
- Ornaments
- Decorative spandrels
- Other sculptures
Basic Requirements
For this task, the machine should fulfill at least these requirements:
- Cut Styrofoam and Styrodur
- Control via computer (CNC)
- Importing EPS files from a standard software such as CorelDraw® or AI or AutoCAD®
- Produce 2D and 3D objects
- 4 independent cutting axes
- Simple disconnecting and re-engaging the cutting wire
- Monolithic cuts without entry or exit marks
Extensions
Work even more flexible and more productive with the following extensions:
- Easy to use and still a very powerful software - from the design all the way to the price calculation
- Horizontally rotating axis (Lathe)
- Vertically rotating axis (Rotation table)
- Plunge Cutter
- Sculpture cutting wire (shapeable wire)
- Styrofoam shaping
The Obvious Difference
What exactly is the difference between an ordinary CNC Styrofoam cutting machine and the perfect combination of hardware and software, such as a machine by cnc-multitool would offer you? We would like to tell you more about this difference. You are most welcome to have a look for yourself and visit our Concept Center in Ilmenau, Germany. We are looking forward to your message or your phone call.
Contact»What is most impressive about cnc-multitool is the way how
the machine and the software are synchronized and how they work together so
flawlessly. That really is a smooth concept and it enables us to react to
our client's wishes faster as well as staying competitive in the market. «
Bernhard Ludinger (Advertising Agency Ludinger & Koch)
MACHINES:
Which machine fits your needs best?
Every professional knows: with the right tools any job can be done faster and better. Before selecting the machine, the first step is to analyze your very own production requirements. Where are your priorities? The size of the letters and logos that are to be produced is obviously also important: is a machine for standard boards sufficient or will it have to be suitable for Styrofoam blocks? Will rotary axes be necessary to produce the required variety of shapes and sculptures? Do you only produce small batches or sometimes also larger quantities within a short period of time? Therefore, for your machine selection, please consider both - the quantity and the quality of your products.
With a wire length of 1,300 mm, you are well-equipped to cut letters and logos made of Styrodur (XPS) or Styrofoam (EPS). The largest side length of standard boards and Styrofoam blocks is namely at 1,250 mm. This also means that machines with shorter wire are therefore unsuitable for letters and logos.
And what happens, if the wire is much longer? Then you will risk irregular and uneven cuts. Or you will have to cut very slowly, which increases both the time and the costs.
The following three machines are ideal for cutting letters and logos:
With these our clients create magic
CUT 1610S
Compact, easy to use CNC Styrofoam cutting machine for cuts made from boards. It is also possible to cut multiple Styrodur or Styrofoam boards at the same time in (sandwich cut).
Application
- Optimized for Styrodur boards (XPS) and Styrofoam blocks (EPS)
- For cuts up to 1,250 x 600mm
- Simultaneous cutting of multiple stacked boards
- Only needs very little space
- Sturdy steel construction (no Aluminum)
CUT 2500S
CNC Styrofoam cutting machine for cuts from standard Styrodur boards as well as large Styrofoam blocks. Universal machine, especially suited for those trying to start up a business in the commercial processing of XPS and EPS.
Application
- Optimized working area for standard boards and large blocks
- Cuts for up to 1,250 x 1,000mm
- Simultaneous cutting of multiple stacked boards
- Variable wire length up to 5,000 mm!
- Sturdy steel construction (no Aluminum)
CUT 3000S
The work horse of our CNC Styrofoam cutting machines. Large cutting area for Styrodur boards and Styrofoam blocks, 4 axes, easy operation, strong performance.
Application
- Large work table for boards and blocks
- For cuts up to 5,000 x 1,600 mm
- Fast cutting even of larger blocks
- Simultaneous cutting of multiple stacked boards
- Variable wire length up to 5,000 mm!
MATERIALS:
Which kind of material is suitable for letters and logos?
Styropor® (EPS)
White
The protected brand name Styropor® refers to expanded polystyrene (EPS) or otherwise also known as Styrofoam. You can get the white material as boards or large blocks. Boards usually come in sizes of 1,000 x 500 mm and with a thickness of up to 300 mm. The standard size of polystyrene blocks is usually 1,250 x 1,050 mm. They are available in a length of up to 5,000 mm. EPS is ideal for making large 3D letters, lettering and logos. We do generally recommend material with a volumetric weight of 30 - 40 kg/m3 (without recycling content). Styropor® is considered to be fire-resistant material according to building material class B1 (according to the European Standard Norm (EN) und DIN).
Highlights
- Large blocks up to 1,250 x 1,050 x 5,000mm
- Finely pearled, white surface
- Can be cut thermally very easily
- Application: large logos, 3D letters, symbols and lettering
Styrodur® (XPS)
Standard
The name Styrodur® is also protected and it describes extruded Polystyrene (XPS). This material is only available in boards of the standard size 1,250 x 650 mm and in a maximum thickness of 160 mm. The different colors identify the various manufacturers: BASF (green), URSA (yellow), JACKON Insulation (purple), Austrotherm (pink), and Dow Chemical (blue). Compared to the somewhat rougher EPS, XPS has finer pores, is homogeneous and smooth. The high quality finish is especially suitable for smaller 3D letters, logos and lettering. Styrodur (XPS) also meets all criteria for a fire-resistant material according to building material class B1 (according to the European Standard Norm (EN) und DIN)..
Highlights
- Boards up to 1,250 x 650 x 160 mm
- Surface has fine pores, is homogeneous and smooth
- Can be cut thermally extremely well
- Application: small to medium logos, 3D letters, symbols and lettering
Styrodur® (XPS)
white
XPS-Polystyrene (see previous) is also available in white. Just like with the colored material, the XPS is available as boards and in the standard size 3,100 x 1,000 mm and with a maximum thickness of 120 mm. The colorless XPS combines the benefits of the white Styrofoam (Styropor®) with the advantages of Styrodur® (finer pores, homogeneous and smooth). Due to its high quality finish, the white XPS is especially suitable for the production of smaller to medium sized 3D letters, logos and lettering. Obviously, also the white Styrodur® meets all criteria for a fire-resistant material according to building material class B1 (according to the European Standard Norm (EN) und DIN).
Highlights
- Boards up to 3,100 x 1.000 x 120 mm
- Surface has fine pores, is homogeneous and smooth white
- Can be cut thermally extremely well
- Application: small to medium logos, 3D letters, symbols and lettering
Polystyrene by cnc-multitool
Our company manufactures all kinds of various different XPS and EPS sculptures for our clients and customers. Hence the reason, why we have a well-equipped material warehouse available. We will be happy to supply you with white XPS or other polystyrene foams. For more information, please contact us directly and give us a call or send us a message with your request.
Contact Software:
Clever bits for the hot wire
Whether a Styrofoam cutting machine is cut out for the job literally depends on the Software. The wires of hot wire cutting machine all look the same after all, but it's the initial programming that brings these tools to life and makes them more - or less - "intelligent". The Software is the brain behind the calculations that will create the cutting data from a graphical design. Other modules with control the moving machine parts. And then there are also the parts in the program that will help with the pricing and calculating potential offers. For the cutting of letters, logos, lettering and symbols we recommend the following Software.
Corel Draw®
Easy to use vector drawing software for letters and logos. For the calculation of the cutting data, the desired layout is exported into multiCut-Software. The Software generated data will then control the production.
Highlights
- This vector drawing program has proven itself a Million times over
- Fast creation of letters, logos, symbols, lettering etc.
- Import of EPS data
- Access to all standard computer fonts
- Export as DXF or PLT file
Adobe Illustrator® (AI)
Vector based graphic program for a fast creation of letters, logos, symbols and lettering. With our StyroCAM-Software the layout will be calculated and than sent to the machine to be cut …
Highlights
- Extremely popular and frequently used vector graphic program
- Simple creation of letters, logos, symbols, lettering etc.
- All standard computer fonts available
- Import from EPS data files
- Export as DXF data files
multiSALES
Cloud based software (SaaS) for the price calculation of letters and logos (painted, unpainted, coated or on Plexiglas).
Highlights
- Calculation of material costs, cutting price, painting and coating
- Easy to use
- Runs in modern internet browsers as a Cloud based software service (SaaS)
- Direct import of DWG/DXF/PLT data files from CorelDraw, AI, CAD and others
- Can be configured and used individually
multiCUT - standard
Software to create numerical control data for letters and logos with entry and exit cuts. Runs via the Cloud (SaaS).
Highlights
- Calculation of the cutting data for standard letters and logos
- Extremely easy to use
- G-code calculation from DWG/DXF/PLT data files from CorelDraw, AI, AutoCAD etc.
- Runs in modern internet browsers as a Cloud based software service (SaaS)
- Sculptures with entry and exit cuts
multiCUT - mono
This Cloud based Software (SaaS) will calculate numerical control data for letters and logos without any entry and exit cuts (monolithic).
Highlights
- Calculation of cutting data for monolithic symbols, letters, logos etc.
- Extremely easy to use
- G-code calculation from DWG/DXF/PLT data files from CorelDraw, AI, AutoCAD
- Sculptures without any entry or exit "wounds"
- Runs in modern internet browsers as a Cloud based software service (SaaS)
multiCUT - 2D Nest
Cloud based software (SaaS) for the creation of numerical control data for standard 2D cuts with and without entry and exit cuts.
Highlights
- Calculation of cutting data for standard 2D cuts
- Extremely easy to use
- G-code calculation from DWG/DXF/PLT data files from CorelDraw, AI, AutoCAD
- Sculptures with and without entry and exit "wounds"
- Runs on modern internet browsers as a Cloud based software service (SaaS)
FINISH:
Improve - Beautify - Refine
The lettering or logo that has just been freshly cut from Styrofoam or Styrodur is just a blank work piece. More often than not, the clients and customers want these letters or symbols to be enhanced visually. Another reason to treat the material would be the protection against premature aging and damage. There are several different processes available to finish the product:
Painting
For the painting of symbols made from Styrofoam or Styrodur we highly recommend high-quality acrylic paint without any solvents. These paints are widely available in almost any color and ready to use. With an additional mixing bench you can even create your very own color yourself. The plastic dispersion is especially suitable for the one-sided, visible side as well as the complete painting of the letters, symbols and logos.
Acrylic Covering
The most elegant way to display letters and logos is via an acrylic plate on the front side. For this, the contours of the symbols have to be cut from an acrylic sheet. cnc-multitool offers a specific milling and cutting machine for this very purpose - the ML 3000F , or the shaping extension for the Styrofoam cutting machine CUT 2500S.
Coating
For the outdoor use of any Styrofoam logos and/or lettering, the sculptures should be coated with Polyurethan (PU oder PUR) . This PU coating is very hard and offers symbols great protection against weather effects. The applied PU coating dries rather quickly within just a few minutes. Depending on the actual use of the symbols, letters or logos, the product will then have to be sanded, spackled, leveled out, sanded again and then painted.
The Proof is in the Pudding
So, have we whet your appetite? Would you like to see and experience our machines live? Maybe even the process of creating your very own lettering or logo from start to finish? We will be happy to show you all suitable models in our plant. Visit us for a "test drive" in Ilmenau, Germany. Our professional staff will gladly answer all of your questions. Would you like to discuss anything with us prior to your visit? Just write to us your questions and concerns and we will get back to you as soon as we can. Or simply give us a call.
ContactOther interesting products for you
EPS Wire Recycler
EPS Hot Wire Block Recycler. Cost effective recycling of Styrofoam waste into a re-usable packaging product. Transform your waste product into packaging foam, without dust or static charge.
Highlights
- Recycling size: 1.000 x 1.000 mm
- Infinitely adjustable cutting temperature
- 40 wires simultaneously
- Individual cutting grid pattern