New cutting method

Hi,

I was just reading about a new way of cutting 'awkward' materials which may
interest some. The article is in the current issue of 'New Scientist'. The
method uses a jet of water containing ice crystals and is claimed to be very
efficient on such materials as carbon fibre, plastics, wood, magnesium,
titanium etc. The technology relies on the fact that such materials, which
can be dangerous to cut by 'hot' methods such as laser, can be worked safely
and without edge corruption effects if kept cold. The jet of ice, however,
does not work quite like a water jet as the nozzle also incorporates a
system for directing a jet of liquid nitrogen just ahead of the ice jet and
this freezes the workpiece which is then cracked apart by the force of the
ice jet. The inventors are apparently looking at a number of different uses
from normal engineering applications to microchip production and dentistry.
So, who's going to be first to fill the family freezer with pipes leading to
the old cnc laser?

Ian
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Ian W. Wright
Sheffield UK