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.