The Most Useful Dieboards That Manufacturers Require
Die-cutting is at the center of leading industries like shipping, automobiles, packaging, and more, and one of the most essential tool in diecutting are dieboards.
However, for effecient and fast diecutting you require superior-quality dieboards. And choosing the best dieboard is often challenging. It’s a purpose-driven process, and every dieboard has its fair share of merits and shortcomings.
In this article, we will tell you all about selecting the best dieboard to fast-track your manufacturing.
Understanding Dieboards 101
At the outset, dieboards are of two main types — flat and rotary.
Now, die-cutting is a process where accuracy and precision rule the roost. A professional die-cutter cuts through stock material sheets into smaller units to get the desired shape. The tool they use is essentially a dieboard, and the process is a classic one dating back to the mid-19th century. It was originally invented to revamp the shoe-making industry, create progressive designs, and meet increasing demand.
A typical die-cutting process has three integral steps; feeding, cutting, and tripping. These steps are common for any dieboard. Also, flatboard die-cutting machines use a cutting assembly to cut through the stock material precisely. These dedicated machines operate at high pressure for more profound, precise cuts.
The press does the heavy lifting here using a combination of the lower plate and the main dieboard, which houses the tools for punching and cutting. The lower plate supports the stock material during the cutting process. A dieboard also has multiple configurations (simple, progressive, compound, and combination) and generally depends on the cutting steps involved.
Flat Dieboards Vs. Rotary Die Boards
As mentioned before, it’s time to classify flat and rotary dieboards. For flat die boards, we have different options, from Rayform Duracore to Premium Maple. Let’s take a closer look at them.
- Rayform Duracore: These are extremely strong flat dieboards that offer excellent stability. Thanks to high-grade thermostat resins, they can withstand multiple re-knifings. They are also heat resistant, which makes them a great choice for gasket dies and thermal die cutting.
- Rayform Polycore: This hybrid dieboard boasts similar traits to Rayform Duracore but is lighter. Still, it can withstand multiple re-knifing and is a great pick for any application where blanking and stripping are involved.
- Rayform Duraply: This is one of the most inexpensive options for a flat dieboard comprising rayform faces and birch cores. This makes it an ideal choice for high-speed applications. Rayform Duraply can also take on multiple knifing before one starts to notice wear and tear marks.
- Rayform Klean Kerf: This one’s a special flat dieboard catering to the exclusive needs of route-based manufacturing systems. It retains characteristics similar to a wooden dieboard and rule-holding strength that matches Rayform Duracore. Thus, it can also take on multiple re-knifing over extended periods.
- Premium Maple and Euro Birch: These two flat dieboards are among the strongest, with hard faces of maple that alternate between hard and soft piles. From supreme rule holding power to stability, these two flat dieboards check all the boxes.
Now, it’s time to explore the different types of rotary dieboards.
- Rayform Rotary: One of the toughest kinds of rotary dieboards used commercially and is recommended for the highest stability and size control.
- Premium Beech Rotary: If you are specifically looking for top-class quality, premium beech rotary dieboards are one-of-a-kind, promising superior performance and persistent quality.
- Premium Maple Rotary: This particular dieboard is manufactured via a controlled process, which adds to the natural strength and makes it an excellent option for high-precision die-cutting. Maple rotary dieboards come with exceptional bridge power, extended life, and slot wear resistance.
As a manufacturer, one must choose a dieboard that is suitable for your application and line of work.
The Kinds of Die Cutting Process
It’s not only the dieboards that are important for successful manufacturing, die-cutting too has an important role to play. Incorporating die-cutting technology into your production can significantly benefit industries that use single or multi-piece packaging. Here are some of the most popular die-cutting methods you need to know about.
Laser Cutting
A discrete die-cutting process that helps manufacturers create cuts with ±0.005% accuracy. It helps create duplicate positions across a set of dies and also repeats the use of dieboards. The laser die-cutting process is preferred for manufacturing needs with a quick turnaround time.
Stripping
Stripping is a special die-cutting process used to create intricate parts. In contrast to other methods, things operate here at high-press speeds allowing seamless blanking. Advanced stripping methods help manufacturers dramatically reduce labor expenses and boost efficiency.
Water Jet Cutting
This is another popular die-cutting process usually preferred for creating rubber dies. Here, the machinery is the hero balancing the dies and thereby reducing the cutting time. As this die-cutting process uses liquids, one can work with small and few carton nicks. Plus, the consistency of liquids allows high-speed manufacturing without any fuss.
Wrap Up
So, you see, dieboards hold the power to impact the course of die-making and die-cutting process. Thus as a manufacturer, you should invest in high-quality dieboards to reap maximum returns and meet your manufacturing goals faster.
