How to choose a die-cutting blade based on product features?

In the die-cutting industry, a die is an essential tool composed of a die board and blades. It is generally used to cut the desired shape for stamped products, and there are various types of blades available.

Today, we will share how to choose a die-cutting blade based on three aspects of the product: precision, material, and production quantity.

Precision:

The inherent error of the die is usually between ±0.05mm to ±0.2mm.

1. If the product precision is within ±0.05mm, you can use corrosion dies, engraving dies, or hardware dies for baking paint molds.

2. If the product precision is within ±0.1mm, you should use wood dies or plywood dies (you can also use the previous three types, but they are more expensive).

If you cannot relax the product tolerance, then don't consider using lower-cost dies.

Material:

1. Common cardboard, including common cardboard and corrugated paper. For die-cutting such materials, use a standard laser die with a blade angle of 52°. If the shape is complex, choose a die with a lower blade hardness and better bending performance. If you need low die-cutting pressure, you can use a die with a blade angle of 42°. Lower die-cutting pressure can reduce blade wear and prolong the die's lifespan.

2. Hard rubber board, including PVC, PET, electronic boards, high-density materials, gaskets, etc. For die-cutting such materials, choose a die with high hardness. A regular laser die has a blade hardness of 39HRC and a cutting edge hardness of 57HRC. If you are die-cutting hard rubber boards, you need a die with a blade hardness of 59HRC and a cutting edge hardness of 47HRC. The smaller the blade angle and the greater the hardness, the better the wear resistance.

3. Flexible materials, including aluminum foil, membrane materials, and flexible plastics. For die-cutting such materials, choose finely ground blades. These blades have smooth cutting surfaces, require less die-cutting pressure, and can easily cut through adhesive materials while reducing burrs and tearing.

Production Quantity:

Choose based on the die's lifespan. For large-scale production and easily stampable products, use wood dies or plywood dies. For high precision and easily stampable products, use corrosion dies. If the product requires high precision but cannot be fully released in one step, you can use engraving dies or hardware dies to achieve one-piece waste removal (as they can be angled in a way based on your imagination).

If the product is complex and involves multiple processes, you can use QDC dies, which have convenient location holes for alignment and ensure dimensional accuracy within ±5 threads.

Things to consider when choosing a die-cutting blade:

1. After considering the material's thickness, hardness, and complexity, choose a high-peak blade, low-peak blade, wood die, or plywood die. The high-peak blade is adjustable and is generally 2mm to 6mm high. Corrosion dies are usually 1mm to 1.5mm high, engraving dies are 1mm to 2mm high, and hardware dies are used for punching.

2. Pay attention to the cross-grain or straight-grain treatment of the blade's peak when selecting a die. The cross-grain treated blades are more durable, provide better cutting results for die-cutting paper, have higher accuracy, and are less likely to crack under bending. Straight-grain treated blades may seem sharp initially but become dull quickly when cutting on a steel plate surface. They are also more prone to cracking under bending. Therefore, for die-cutting paper products, it is best to choose a die-cutting blade with cross-grain treatment, while straight-grain blades are more suitable for cutting film products.

Note: It is important to consult and follow the recommendations of experts or manufacturers for specific materials and die-cutting requirements to achieve optimal results.