How to use a hot wire (Kanthal) to cut a plastic bin containing a liquid

From: Lasse (lars.soderstrom_at_tfif.fi)
Date: 07/26/04 

Date: 26 Jul 2004 15:31:33 -0700

Hello,
has anybody any experience in cutting plastic bins using a hot wire
(e.g. Kanthal or Nicrode)? The bin is, in my application, 10 liter
size, not empty and contains a non flammable substance, in temperature
range -20 to +20 degrees centigrade.

The information I'm interested of is
- what kind of wire is suitable for the purpose
- what thickness the wire should be
- what wire temperature could be suitable

Is the needed currency a function of liquid temperature(liquid/solid
phase), bin wall thickness and wanted cutting speed or are other
factors involved too?

thanks in advance

Lars

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