Your die-cutting machine either came with a set of dies or has compatible sets for sale. Also consider what materials you have available when designing your project. Sandwich your die and material between foam layers. Follow a layered sandwich pattern for what gets cranked through your machine.
You will have a thick rubber or foam layer at the bottom that came with the machine. Follow the instructions on your particular machine for creating your die cut sandwich. Turn the crank slowly. Once you have your die cut sandwich assembled, begin turning the crank in the direction of the press. The tray of materials will move through the press, and the die will cut your paper or other material. Continue cranking until the tray is all the way through the other side.
Check to see that the material cut all the way through. Gently lift the top layers of foam and see if your shape cut fully on your paper or other material. Turn the crank the other way if you need to cut the shape again.
Without reassembling the layers of your sandwich, but simply laying the pieces back down how they were, begin turning your crank in the opposite direction. You can continue cranking the die cut back and forth through the machine.
Method 2. Cut shapes out of card stock for basic cards or sign letters. Find card stock of various colors at your local craft store. If you are making intricate designs for a card, choose heavy card stock so that it holds your cut shape without tearing. Layer them or arrange them on your card in a way that you like and glue them in place.
Teachers often use die cut letters when making wall and door decorations for their classrooms. Use patterned paper or vellum for an elegant handmade card. Choose any style of patterned paper for creating layers on a handmade card. Share Articles via Email. Copy link of Article. Copied to clipboard ssdhfdskfhs. What Is Die-Cutting? A freshly cut die-cut ready to be glued to a card Dies were first used in making shoes , they were created for cutting out the leather more efficiently and accurately than by hand.
Join for free and explore CraftWorld for a huge archive of die-cutting projects and tutorials to try - Die-cutting inspiration Sewing machine card created from multiple die-cut elements What are die-cutting machines? Manual die-cutting machines The simplest form of die-cutting machine is essentially like a mangle. Electronic die-cutting machines You can also buy die-cutting machines which don't have a handle, the process of cutting is automated.
A Cricut die-cutting machine Computerised die-cutting machines Computerised die-cutting machines are not in reality die-cutting machines at all! Die-cutting basics for manual machines Die-cutting Basics Create the 'sandwich' using the plates that come with your machine.
With each machine this will vary, refer to your machine instructions to get your sandwich correct. You may want to tap down your die to keep it from moving around. Turn the handle until the whole die has passed through your machine. Meanwhile, manual and digital die cutting equipment are utilized to create simple and accessory parts.
Its production rate is relatively slower and therefore suitable for low volume orders. Flatbed die cutting is also known as steel rule die cutting. A flatbed die cutting machine uses a hydraulic press or a mechanical or electrical system to press down the custom-designed steel rule die to the material.
A variety of materials can be processed using a flatbed die cutter, ranging from soft to semi-rigid materials with varying thickness. Flatbed die cutters can operate in batch or semi-batch wherein products are collected periodically production and are suitable for processing small production orders and larger parts.
This machinery involves the following sub-processes to produce the finished part from the substrate sheet:. The stock material is transferred from the feed tray, or a roll, to the flatbed through a suctioning, pushing, or pulling system. In this section, it is important to control the feed rate and positioning of the sheet to achieve a precise cut and prevent cutting errors. The cutting assembly is composed of a die board and a lower counter plate. The die board is the flat and rigid upper plate which contains a series of knives used to cut the stock material into finished parts.
It is designed to be shock-absorbent and warp-resistant to withstand high pressures, to produce a precise cut, and prevent the material from deformation. Customized tools are attached to the die board to define the form of the finished part.
The steel rule, or the cutting edge, is a piece of metal bent to form the outline of the finished part. The pressing of the steel rule into the material may induce full cutting or partial cutting.
In full cutting, the cut extends to the entire thickness of the material, extending to all layers. This process causes the part, an enclosed area, or the hole to be separated from its remainder. Partial cutting is done through the use of a lower rule blade. The lower rule may not be sharp to create folds. Punches are inserted on the upper plate to form internal cut-outs which come in standard shapes circle, oval or square and sizes.
Punches that are the self-ejecting type usually have a larger diameter than the holes they created. These strips are self-adhesive rubber placed around the rule to remove the finished part after cutting. To complete the cutting assembly, a lower counter plate is placed wherein the stock material is mounted and supported during the cutting process.
This pressure compresses the material, causing the edges of the die to penetrate against it. The die board comes in different configurations, depending on the cutting and punching steps involved:.
In a single stroke of the press, the compound die creates more than one cut or impression on the web. A typical example of this die type is found in the production of a washer. With this type of die, cutting the outline and piercing of the inner hole is done in a single stroke. A progressive die is used when there are a series of cutting and secondary steps involved to create a finished product. Each stroke creates a different cut or impression, and in between strokes, the sheet is transferred to the next operation.
This process requires precise set-up and alignment of the stock material. The part remains in the stock material until it comes to the last station where it is fully separated. The more operation the die performs, the more complex design the die must have; also, the more difficult to optimize the pressure to be used. A combination die performs multiple cutting and forming operations such as extruding and bending using a single stroke.
To achieve a good cut, the properties of the material to be processed must be considered. Thicker and more rigid materials must require thicker dies and higher pressure. In this step, a single finished part is separated from the excess material and other parts produced in the batch, either manually or by mechanical means. The excess material may be reprocessed or recycled. Rotary die cutting machines operate in continuous production mode.
It operates at a lower cutting pressure and constant speed, which is ideal to be located directly downstream of a preceding process. Hence, rotary die cutting machines are used to produce simpler and lighter parts. It is suitable for a variety of materials and gives a faster turnaround time than a flatbed die cutter.
The stock material, or referred to as web, in the form of an individual sheet or roll, passes through the cutting assembly. The cutting assembly is composed of a rotating cylindrical die affixed to a rotary press and an anvil cylinder pressed against the rotary press. The two cylinders are continuously rotating in opposite directions along the horizontal axis.
Although, clicking cutters can also employ electricity or hydraulics to be used. These die cutters have a cylindrical die which is mounted on heavy anvils called a rotary press. A sheet of paper or any other material to be used is fed into the machine. The die moves with the sheet to cut the shape as the sheet moves through the cutter. Rotary dies can be used in any kind of cutter, and the results are much more precise as compared to the clicking cutters.
Laser cutters are used where precision is the key, such as when cutting machine parts or very intricate designs. A highly focused beam of light is used to cut the material in the exact shape of the design. For homes, generally a CO2 laser is used, whereas for industrial applications, neodymium or neodymium-yttrium-aluminium-garnet lasers can also be used.
The beam is generated in the cutter itself, by stimulating a lasing material with a lamp or electrical discharges. Its power is increased using mirrors, and then the high-powered beam is focused on the area that needs to be cut, using either fiber optics or mirrors. These, like the laser cutters, use CAD to guide a stream of water through a material. The material is cut due to the pressure of the water that is flowing at a speed two and a half times the speed of sound.
It is usually used for industrial processes, where precision is important, and the material can get damaged by the high temperature of lasers.
It is also referred to as cold cutting, and can be used for materials ranging from textiles to various metals. In these cutters, the cutting is done of a flatbed.
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