A die is a tool with sharp edges used to mass fabricate cut-out parts from stock materials. A plastic, chipboard, rubber, metal sheet, or paper material, is fitted to a press where the die shapes and cuts out valuable designs. Die-cutting has broad applications, and sorting die-cutting services could make things easier in your automotive, packaging, and consumer goods industries, or even your home and office.
A die-cutting machine is versatile and can perform other operations such as scoring, perforating, and broaching. Read on to learn what you need to know about die-cutting.
Die-Cutting Operational Capabilities
Die-cutting capabilities refer to various functions performed by a die. They include:
- Perforating. This capability entails puncturing a series of small holes on the stock material. A unique die under pressure is used to make holes in your material so that the material remains intact and can only come apart under your directions.
- Broaching. Broaching is a piercing capability that employs special dies fitted with several combined teeth to pierce through thick stock materials.
- Kiss Cutting. Entails cutting through a stock material lined with adhesive and backing material, save for the backing material layer. Thus, the backing material layer holds the cut design in place and can be easily removed.
- Through Cutting. As the name suggests, through cutting entails making an incision through a stock material. You can also refer to through cutting as thru cutting or metal-to-metal die-cutting. When through cutting a stock material with adhesive backing, the die cuts through the entire material and backing material layers. Therefore, your die-cut design is entirely detached from the stock material.
- Scoring. When scoring, the die makes a partial cut, indent, or impression on the stock material. The score made on the stock material has a relative depth of 50 percent of material thickness. Such depth allows you to make square profile folds.
Die-Cutting Types
Die-cutting comes in a variety of types that have specific uses. Some of these include:
Rotary Die-Cutting
Rotary die-cutting is a fast method to produce die cuts. Whenever you have complex and highly detailed die-cut designs, rotary die-cutting works best. However, rotary die-cutting tends to be more expensive than other die-cutting methods.
Waterjet and Laser Cutting
Waterjet cutting is universally preferred to make die-cut designs, which have various specifications. Waterjet and laser cutting tend to be suitable options for die cuts of the same design from different materials. Waterjet cutting supports the cutting of materials with varying thicknesses and hardness. The laser cutting method works like a water jet, and only a laserjet can be used in place of a waterjet.
Flatbed Cutting
Flatbed cutting saves time and is widely used in situations where many stock materials are to be die-cut in a short amount of time. Flatbed cutting can be performed from many angles, which allows your designs to be made out of any material.
Selection of Die-Cutting Method
Die-cutting is compatible with various materials such as rubber, plastics, foam, composites, paper, wood, and fabric. However, their properties regulate the suitable die-cutting process, die design, and the proper machine configuration for your die-cut. The hardness of your stock material is the fundamental determinant of the die-cutting method to be used.
Hard material requires extreme force when die-cutting. Therefore, flatbed die-cutting is the most suitable method to shape and die-cut your design on hard material. Hard stock materials range from thin metal sheets to hardwoods.
Soft stock material requires less force to die cut. Consequently, laser and waterjet cutting are used to die cut your design on soft stock materials. Soft stock materials include plastics, foam, and rubber.
Die-cutting is the most developed, though there might be other ways of creating a design out of stock materials. Therefore, should you require die-cutting services, Accurate Products is your best place for quality services.