Thermoplastic foams that melt cleanly:
- EPS (expanded polystyrene): the white "packaging" foam. Cheap. Cuts beautifully.
- XPS (extruded polystyrene): pink/blue insulation board. Denser, smoother surface, no bead-line pattern.
- EPP (expanded polypropylene): tough flexible foam for RC bumpers. Cuts but needs low temp + slow speed.
- EVA: floor mats, costumes. Cuts cleanly but burns at higher temps than EPS.
- PE (polyethylene foam): similar to EPP, slightly stiffer.
DO NOT cut polyurethane (PU) foam — it chars instead of melting, and releases isocyanates + HCN. PU is mostly used in mattresses and rigid insulation panels with bumpy/yellow texture.
- EPS (expanded polystyrene): the white "packaging" foam. Cheap. Cuts beautifully.
- XPS (extruded polystyrene): pink/blue insulation board. Denser, smoother surface, no bead-line pattern.
- EPP (expanded polypropylene): tough flexible foam for RC bumpers. Cuts but needs low temp + slow speed.
- EVA: floor mats, costumes. Cuts cleanly but burns at higher temps than EPS.
- PE (polyethylene foam): similar to EPP, slightly stiffer.
DO NOT cut polyurethane (PU) foam — it chars instead of melting, and releases isocyanates + HCN. PU is mostly used in mattresses and rigid insulation panels with bumpy/yellow texture.