A Guide to Die Cutting

Die cutting is an important part of the manufacturing industry that involves creating a blade in a specific shape and then using that blade to punch out specific shapes from pre-selected material. The best way to really describe the process is to think about how cookie cutters work.

Here’s how die cutting works:

1. The blade is bent into the proper shape for the job, thus creating the die.
2. The die is mounted to backing in preparation for cutting.
3. Workers place the material that the shapes will be cut from on a flat surface that has plenty of support. They often put several lays of the material on top of each other so that multiple shapes can be cut out in one step.
4. The machine presses the die down into the material, cutting the shape out of all the layers of the material.
5. The blanks that have been cut from the material are moved off to be finished.

A number of different materials can be cut with a die, including wood, paper, metal, plastic, foam, cork, and more. The applications for this type of are endless. In manufacturing, almost any kind of product can be made via the die cutting process. Also the dies that are used can be of almost any size, even large enough to cut out components for automobiles or large machinery.

Companies looking for a manufacturer to handle their die cutting should consider a number of things before making a selection. For example, you should ask about the process for professionally laying out the dies and burning them. Also ask how the knifing is done so that you can make sure the company is using the latest technology.

Die cutting has been around for many years, and there is no sign of the process going anywhere. In fact, constant innovations have made the process simpler and faster than ever before. This is the standard for mass production of some items, so it is important that you have a trusted company handling all of your die cutting.