10 Best Die-cutting Equipment Necessary for the Diecutting Process
Cereal boxes, tissues, stickers, birthday cards, file dividers, and many more such items of everyday use are manufactured in bulk using different die cutting equipment and the process involved is called die cutting. The die-cutting process is a common manufacturing technique used across various industries. Die-cutting helps create precise and accurate designs for the final product, to be cut and printed for sale.
Die-cutting equipment and machine are generally used to cut materials having low tensile strength like rubber, foil, fiber, paper, cloth, paperboard, corrugated fiberboard, pressure-sensitive adhesive tapes, sheet metal, and more. This manufacturing process uses several die-cutting equipment, apart from the machine, to make the final product.
Die-Cut Equipment that is Important for the Die-Cutting Process
Here, we will be discussing the different types of die-cutting equipment used during the die-cutting process.
Reverse Bend Matrix:
The reverse bend matrix is a self-locating creasing matrix that can be used for creasing both sides of the board. This matrix can also be used for projects where a creasing bead inside the matrix is not required. The two creasing rules of the reverse bend matrix are inserted into the die to create a channel. The matrix ridge, on the other hand, functions as a creasing rule.
Dieboards:
Dieboards are one of the most important and indispensable die-cutting equipment used during the production process. the boards can be made from a wide range of wood species and are mostly used at the steel rule carried when cutting the dies. It is crucial to use high-quality die boards for efficient, accurate, and fast die cutting.
There are two kinds of dieboards – rotary and flat. Rotary dieboards consist of rayform, premium maple, and premium beech. Rayform duracore, rayform duraply, rayform polycore, premium euro birch, premium maple, and rayfrom klean kerf are different types of flat die boards.
Profitape:
The profitape is a pressure-sensitive plastic adhesive with high moisture and tear resistance. This die-cut makeready supply is well suited for repeated use on spot sheets and long runs, due to its high tensile strength. Using the profitape not only saves time but also produces less waste during the die-cutting process. This makeready supply is easy to apply and also prevents rusting in the cutting plates.
Glue Removers:
Adhesive removers are essential in the die-cutting process as they keep the steel plates and the various die-cutting equipment clean. The glue removers eliminate adhesive from laminators, flexo folder gluers, machines, floors, hydraulic pumps, and several tools. Glue removers and cleanup solvents are also used to clean adhesive from the matrix counters and cutting plates.
Stripping Pins:
Using stripping pins in the die-cutting process is one of the most efficient ways of removing scrap. These pins are placed on the anvil to pierce the slug and carry it to the comb system. The comb system then goes on to remove the scrap from the anvil. If you want to eliminate scrap at high speeds, then stripping pins are your best option as they remove scrap from the external matrix as well. There are various advantages of using stripping pins for scrap removal. Some of them have been mentioned below:
-
Eliminating scrap with the help of stripping pins does not obstruct the press speed.
-
Stripping pins are removable. The old ones can be replaced with newer, sharper pins.
-
Stripping pins guarantee 100 percent scrap removal, creating a highly accurate end product.
Plotter and Sample Marker Pens:
The sample marker and plotter pens have been gas-pressurized for plotting and marking points. These plotters and sample marker pens are compatible with Datatech, Alphanumeric, Elcede, Misomex, Kongsberg, ZUND, and many other tables. These plotting pens are available in various colors blue, black, red, light blue, silver, green, gold, orange, and brown.
Phenolic Countamat Material:
This is an excellent substitute for expensive steel counter plates, matrix, and hand-cut counterbored. This die-cutting equipment is durable and undergoes long runs during the die-cutting process. The phenolic countamat material comes with useful features such as an extended impression life and excellent film adhesion. It is lighter than steel counter plates and can be easily reused or removed. It also takes less downtime while changing phenolic countamat material.
Counter-plate Locator and Pin Washer:
The pin washer and counter plate locator have been designed to pinpoint and transfer the phenolic counterplates with accurate registration. These types of die-cutting equipment are made from durable plastic, washers, and aluminum pins and can be reused again and again.
Die Cutting Machine
Die cutting machine is another one of the most important die cutting equipment which is designed to cut out different custom shapes and designs from a variety of materials which includes paper and fabric. You can also use a die cutting machine as a paper crafter. A die cutting machine is a handy tool which provides you an option to create unique cut-outs using their collection of thin metal dies. You would find several tools available with the machine like cutting plates. Shim ( metal, plastic, or magnetic), shim tapes, embossing mat, and platform. These tools would help you to create different die products.
Die Cutting Plates
In addition, die cutting machine, you also need to use die cutting plates. Die cutting plates are like sandwiches which you would feed into the die cutting machine that you are using. The plates are clear and are made out of thick, high-quality plastic like polycarbonate plastic or are made out from clear acrylic. You can use both the plates, but out of the two die cutting plates which are present with a die cutting machine. One of the best ways by which you can make use of the two die cutting plates is that you can use the thick plate as a cutting surface as it would provide a rough surface for cutting the materials, while you are making any die products.
Conclusion:
The die-cutting equipment mentioned in this article is essential for the die-cutting process and lends a professional look to the final products. While these are just some of the equipment used, many more without which the die-cutting process cannot be carried out effectively.