Cutting Die Maintenance Essentials and Its Importance in Business

Machine maintenance is necessary for continuous functioning, especially where production is always a critical part of the business. For rotary die cutting system, lack of station care can spell not only loss of equipment investment. It can also disrupt production and profit. We came with a discussion of the essentials of cutting die maintenance and its importance.

 

Maintenance practices

  • Problem identification
    The most obvious indicator that a rotary die cutting station requires maintenance is the occurrence of a problem. While it is not advisable to wait for problems to arise, part of station care is to immediately determine operation or functionality issues. With the machine’s complex components, it is vital to address station problems through proper and speedy problem identification.
  • Downtime measurement
    Preventive measures for rotary die cutting care involves downtime monitoring. Station operator should ensure that there is limited to zero downtime to prevent affecting product distribution flow. This enables the business to hit inventory and the sales targets period after period.
  • Regular lubrication
    Working with different materials against the steel parts of the rotary die station exposes the machine to friction problems. Friction often leads to heat that complicates the whole die cutting process. The key to counter this hazardous heat is lubrication. Station operators should perform lubrication on vital components to prevent heat build-up.
  • Pressure adjustment
    Aside from the heat, rotary die cutting station is regularly subjected to pressure, which is another source of friction. The station operator is responsible for controlling the pressure used and applied by and to the machine. It requires a proper balance to apply enough pressure for cutting while preventing heat to ensue.

 

Benefits of Conducting Die Cutting Maintenance

  • Extends the life of your dies
    Proper and regular care of your die cutting stations helps you extend its life and function. What separates a good operator from a bad one is not just the capacity to buy top-of-the-line die brands, but as well as the ability to take good care of it.
  • Ensures proper functionality
    Your business relies on the proper functioning of the die cutter. Conducting thorough proper care on a regular basis keeps its operations as effective as your production needs require. Downtime, whether short or long, can mean bad costs you can’t profit.
  • Meets OEM Specifications
    It’s not enough to have your cutting stations working. It should be working according to the standards of OEM specifications. This will support your distribution strategies while creating a reputation for high-quality manufacturing processes.

 

To keep you rotary die cutting stations in good working conditions, have only an experienced professional conduct regular maintenance and repair.

Die Cutting, its Importance in the Industry

New Developments are made to improve production speeds, quality and customer satisfaction. Increasing demand comes to a rapidly growing need for better and faster technology in all trade sectors. Die Cutting, a constantly evolving finishing technique that relied heavily on its field relevance.

Die Cutting Machines are used to cut/emboss different materials from paper, vinyl, vellum, and cardstock to fabric, plastics, thin metals, and leather in order to give a definite shape. These machines that use dies to help cut, shape, and design materials help save time and cost compared to traditional cutting methods.

It has greatly increased the efficiency of a number of industries, including packaging, automotive manufacturing and mobile phone assembly in particular. It allows workers to cut crisp, clear shapes directly from substrates, it is a fantastic option to create sleek and impactful packaging.

Integrating die cutting in production strategy benefits both single and multi-piece packaging designs.

Why do manufacturers adopt processes die cutting?

  • Technology advances in both the manufacturing process and the commodities created by die cutting have made it a more and more efficient way to incorporate oddly shaped or delicate parts into product designs. For this reason, die cutting especially benefits applications in the electronics and medical industries, improving products from headphones to hearing aids.
  • Growing populations mean growing markets for all kinds of products. It enables factories to achieve high-volume production runs for sensitive components that used to take longer or cost more to assemble using other techniques.
  • Growing disposable incomes have driven the growth of specialty item manufacturers of specialty seeking to cater for those wishing to associate with unique brands. It enables even small businesses to achieve high-volume production runs as required without sacrificing each item’s quality.

Die cutting continues to grow as an essential method of manufacturing products that consumers use every day. It is capable of operating any type of metals, allowing manufacturers to produce sleek, stylish products without sacrificing efficiency or affordability.

There are many Cutting Dies Industry, but who will help keep your business thriving and make sure provide excellent service to all? The answer is International Cutting Die (ICD). Skilled Professional Staff and Industry Experts, hosts Leading-edge Machinery and Equipment and guarantees high quality of products and services locally and internationally.

Contact us at 708-343-3333 or email your queries to info@icd-inc.com.
Our Services: www.icd-inc.com/services/

Understanding Rotary Die Cutting

Die cutting is often used to make unique shapes from plastic, foam and rubber materials.

It’s important to consider all specific project requirements before starting a die cutting project since there are several different types of services. Whether it’s Flatbed, Digital and Rotary Die Cutting, look for the best fit for the project because each service has its own distinct advantages based on production output, material capabilities, costs, etc.

What is Rotary Die Cutting?

Rotary Die Cutting is die cutting that uses cylindrical dies attached to a rotary press to convert flexible material for example web. A highly accurate and precise cutting method, very cost effective on high volume orders and less waste produced compared to other methods.

Types of Rotary Cutting Dies

Flexible cylindrical rotary dies are composed of a thin sheet of engraved metal that is usually tool steel affixed to a separate magnetic cylinder while solid cylindrical rotary dies are composed solely of an engraved solid metal cylinder. Both are flexible and solid dies are capable of cutting most types of materials, each carries its advantages and disadvantages in regard to manufacturing applications.

A comprehensive approach is required in choosing the right type of die for a rotary die cutting operation. Aside from the material being cut and the required specifications you also need to consider the initial and overall investment costs, and the optimal lead and turnaround time.

Flexible vs. Solid Dies

Flexible dies are suitable for easier, less abrasive materials and shorter runs, while solid dies are more for harder, abrasive materials and long-term and large production run. Flexible die machine’s initial investment is more expensive than solid dies due to costly magnetic cylinders, re-purchasing the cheaply manufactured flexible die component can prove to be more economical in the long-term. Solid dies may be more expensive to manufacture, but when cutting consistent designs in large quantities, the cost of it may be justified as the dies are less likely to need replacement mid-production. And it does not require a large investment in supplementary components as with the magnetic cylinders necessary for flexible dies. Flexible dies may be simpler and faster to obtain, but they are more prone to experiencing fatigue and need replacement. Solid dies may take longer turnaround times, but it’s more durable and likely to last through more production cycles.

These are just some things to consider when choosing between flexible or solid rotary dies for a rotary die cutting application.

rotary die

Benefits of Rotary Die Cutting

It offers several advantages including consistent and uniform precision cuts, reduction of material waste, decreased lead times, rapid turnaround times and high volume production.

Rotary Die cutting consists primarily of heavy cylindrical anvils and customized rotary die sets, geared towards high a volume of tight tolerance applications. International Cutting Die (ICD) employs state-of-the-art-servo-driven press solutions. The versatile nature of rotary solutions proves to be a core competency for ICD with different modules and operations.

ICD, a world leader in rotary die making. Contact us at (708) 343 3333 or email your queries to info@icd-inc.com.