If you’ve been part of the thriving economy, chances are you’re familiar with or have utilized die cutting services in your artistic endeavors. However, die cutting is not confined to the realm of creative pursuits alone. As a versatile material converter, Strouse employs rotary die cutting as a tool with numerous applications across vital industries such as healthcare, aerospace, and even the military.
Rotary die cutting stands out as one of the most efficient methods in these professions, significantly simplifying the tasks of professionals like doctors and engineers. But how does it achieve this?
Today, we’ll delve into the world of rotary die cutting, understanding what it entails, how it functions, and how it offers benefits across various products and industries.
The Basics of Die Cutting
In essence, a die is a tool used to cut materials into specific shapes. Typically crafted from metal, die tools cut through surfaces like paper, fabric, adhesive, and foam to create the desired shape, ensuring uniformity across multiple cuts.
Originally used by shoemakers in the 1800s to create identical leather shoes, die cutting has evolved with modern technology. Today, die cutting machines can effortlessly slice through various materials, producing multilayered or intricate parts at a rapid pace.
What Is Rotary Die Cutting?
Rotary die cutting, as the name implies, involves circular motion around a singular turning point. It utilizes a cylindrical die to cut shapes out of materials, moving in a circular motion with blades that cut around the entirety of the cylinder. This process is exceptionally efficient, generating many identical shapes as the cylinder rotates.
For industries requiring precise sizing of metal, plastic, or adhesive components, rotary die cutting is an ideal solution. The setup for die cut press machines involves minor adjustments, and after setup, operators monitor progress and restock materials as needed.
Rotary vs. Flatbed vs. Laser Die Cutting
Distinguishing rotary die cutting from other methods is crucial. Unlike flatbed die cutting, which uses a hydraulic flat bed press, and laser die cutting, which utilizes a laser to create shapes, rotary die cutting relies on a cylindrical die tool for efficient cutting. Rotary die cutting machines often outperform flatbed machines in high-volume projects.
Each cutting method has its advantages, and flexible material converters can offer guidance on the most suitable approach for a particular design.
Materials Compatible with Rotary Die Cutting
Rotary die cutting proves versatile, handling a broad spectrum of materials. Flexible material converters commonly provide services for cutting foam tape, industrial tape, medical adhesive, masking tape, thermal interface, surface protection, and more. While rotary die cutting can handle most flexible materials, achieving tight die cut tolerances on elastic, abrasive, thick, or unsupported materials may present challenges and higher costs.
For a detailed look at AccuShape Die Cutting’s capabilities in the world of die cutting processes, visit Die Cutting Capabilities.
