Glossary

BRIDGING - the placement of notches in steel rule blade so that the blade can fit into its relative place in a die board which leaves an equal bridge of die board along the knifed path.

CHASE BOARD SIZES - These are boards that have a pre-determined size to accommodate certain presses with bolt patterns, locking systems, or presses that have the chase board placed into a frame that is already bolted down to increase change over speed between dies.

CHOPPER KNIVES - Steel rule in a die to cut up scrap in smaller pieces. (Also know as stripping knife)

CUTTING PRESSURE - this refers to the amount of pressure that a cutting press exerts in the downward stroke of the cutting press. The pressure is normally identified in tons of cutting pressure. Generally a common rule of thumb states that it takes about 500 pounds per lineal inch of blade to accomplish a clean die cut, but that figure varies according to the material being cut and other conditions.

DIEBOARD - this is the foundation of the die. All knife is bridged and insert into the Die board usually hardwood plywood.

DIE SIDE - the view looking down on the sharp edges of the knife, also called the "inside view" in Corrugated material. (Outside view would be considered the printed side)

DIGITIZE - This is a method used to create a 2D drawing from a 3D part or sample. Also used when trying to recreate an exact drawing of a complicated part that would normally take hours to measure and enter coordinates in a CAD program.

DXF File - "Data Exchange File". A type of file used to store CAD images. This type of file is typically used as a common language file that enables two different CAD programs to interpret each other when opening files. (Other formats: DWG,PDF,DDS,AI,EPS)

EPOXY - Epoxy is typically used as an alternative to welding when trying to prevent rule and miter joints from splitting apart.

EXPANDABLE GLUE - Typically used in dies boards that have been re-knifed several times and are starting to loosen which result in the knife pulling out. The expandable glue is applied on both sides of the knife then it seeks and fills the voids that are causing the knife to pull out. Also used in new dies when small pieces are made and could possibly pull out during production runs.

HINGE RULE - Often confused as kiss kut knife but is meant to be in foam dies when cutting a part in half to maximize material yield. The part is then folded back on itself and glued to create a full piece.

KISS-KUT RULE - Any knife that sits lower than surrounding knife in the die. Usually this is used in foam dies where an area requires the foam to fold back at a 90 degree angle to create legs. Also used in printing when cutting adhesive strip backing.

KNIFE BEVELS - In reference to cutting die blades, the bevel or bevels of the cutting edge determine how a blade penetrates the material being die cut. The bevel on a die blade is identified by the number of degrees on the bevel or as an inside bevel or outside bevel. Some steel rule blades have a double bevel for certain cutting applications.

CENTER BEVEL (Double bevel) - Most popular bevel for conventional paperboard cutting. There is a bevel on each side of the blade and the cut is centered.
LONG CENTER BEVEL - This rule is especially effective when cutting hard or thick materials. It helps reduce cutting pressure by deflecting pressure with the first bevel supported by the second bevel.
SIDE BEVEL Produces a square finish. It's also used to produce tighter bends, compared to Center Bevel rule.
LONG SIDE BEVEL (Double Double Bevel) Used for cutting thicker and/or harder materials. The long single bevel design reduces the crush to the finish die cut product when the bevel faces away from the piece.

NESTING - The nesting of similar or different parts to be die cut on a printed sheet or layout to maximize the material yield.

MITER JOINT - This type of joint is used when one knife intersects another knife and a bend is not possible to do. Also used if a sharp corner is desired rather than a slightly rounded corner.

NICKS - Nicks can be several different sizes and varying depths. These are used to keep multiple parts within a die together to ease the shipping and handling process in the die cutting plant. Also for creating optional tear out locations to accommodate similar parts with slightly different attachments on them. Another reason for nicks is to keep scrap attached to the product so that it is not floating around loose in the production press.

OUTSIDE VIEW - This is usually referred to as the print side of the product.

PUNCH - There is a wide variety of cutting punches used in the die cutting process. Different types of punches are used in different types of cutting dies to cut out round holes, ovals, squares, rectangles and other shapes in a die cut piece. Typical types of cutting punches are: Center bevel punches, Inside bevel punches, Outside bevel punches, Feed thru punches, Cup punches, Straight wall punches, Side outlet punches.

PRESS TYPES - While there are several different types of presses with several different functions on the market these days there are a few listed here that are commonly know among the die cutting industry.

Auto Platen: (Large presses) These presses are designed for high speed long run cutting of paper, paper board and corrugated in the 24" x 35" to 50" x 79"

(click here to view a video of one type of Auto Platen press)

Brands: Bobst, Brausse, Iberica, Iijima, Maramatsu, Sheridan, Shung Fa, Sugano, and Wupa
Uses: Long run die cutting of sheet fed paper, paperboard, corrugated.
Styles: Semi-auto or full automatic feed of substrates into mechanically actuated die cutters.
Speed: Typically 3,000 to 10,000 impressions per hour.

Auto Platen: (Small presses) These presses are the platen / clamshell style but with the added feature of a continuous run automatic fed die cutter.

Brands: Brausse, Heidelberg windmill, Kluge, Sargolia, Thomson, and Tosi
Uses: Lower cost automatic feed of paper / stationary, paperboard, thinner corrugated for short to moderate run cutting and embossing.
Styles: Fixed mounted rotating style feed, roll-in / out top to bottom vacuum feed.
Speed: Typically 600 - 1,100 impressions per hour.

Clamshell: Used to die cut large format sheets of various materials automatically or hand fed. These presses are used for paper, plastic, corrugated and foam core. The primary purpose of this machine is for materials that cannot be fed into high speed presses because of the thickness or large size of the material.

Brands: Cauhe, Consolidated, Crosland, Imperia, Kluge, Marvi, Standard, Thomson, and Titan
Uses: This style of press is used for everything from embossing and debossing of stationary, cutting solid fiber, corrugated and plastic corrugated to being able to cut plywood. Depending on features these machines can be used for either through cutting and or "kiss" cutting.
Styles: All known units are dual fly wheel driven and are equipped with either air clutch or electromagnetic clutch for braking. Sizes range from 11 x 13 to over 60 x 110" with tonnage ranging from 5 tons to over 550 tons. Features can be limited to exotic.
Speed: The speed of this style of machine is most impacted by the size of the substrate that is being converted. The larger the sheet the slower the process but the overall range would be 200 to 1,300 impressions per hour.

Clicker: Used to die cut various thin and thick materials.

Brands: Associated Pacific, Atom, and Schwabe
Uses: For materials that can't be fed into an automatic feed press or materials too thick for an automatic feed press. Use for short runs or to economically die cut the material surface area.
Styles: They come in a hydraulic style or the older presses have a flywheel and brake system.
Common Users: Gasket companies, leather companies, cloth or any unique material other than paper.
Speed: Typically 200 to 500 impressions an hour.

Cylinder Style Auto-Feed Press: These presses while utilizing a flat die cut against a cylinder style soft metal cutting anvil and are used principally for paper or paperboard / corrugated substrates.

Brands: Cuir, Heidelberg, Johannisberg, Kelly, Meihle, Miller, Victoria, and Yawa
Uses: Moderate speed die cutting of paper & paper board for short to moderate run production volumes.
Styles: Manual feed / gravity delivery, manual feed / automatic delivery, auto feed / auto delivery in sizes ranging from 14 x 17 to 51 x 71".
Speed: Typical speeds range from 500 - 2,000 impressions per hour.

Hydraulic: These presses are typically used when cutting large material that is in a roll or sheet. Such materials are plastics, foam, and neoprene while the cutting die is mounted above and cuts downward either in a stationary position or has a traveling head.

Brands: Bruno, Hudson, Samco, Schwabe,
Uses: Moderate to High speed die cutting of felt, foam, gaskets, plastic, leather, neoprene, rubber, and sponge. Also meets special needs such as Kiss Cutting.
Styles: Manual feed / Clamp feed/ Single and Dual sliding tables / Manual and Powered Tables/ Pneumatic pinch rolls / Inboard and outboard motorized convery belts/ Sheet feeds. Sizes can range from 20" x 20" to 60" x 80"
Speed: Speeds vary greatly depending on the brand and model of press used. A Roll feed press can be up to 83 strokes per minute.

Rollerbed: These presses are used for fast set up through cutting of a wide range of substrates and because of their ability to cut through anything that will not bend the steel rule first, are a useful low cost way to cut large substrates though this comes at a cost in terms of low production rates.

Brands: Baysek, Dufrene, Edwards, Femco, General, H.E.D, Kirby, Kwickset, Sherline, and Team USA
Uses: Through cutting of a wide range of substrates from solid plastic, coroplast, corrugated, rubber, carpet, thinner foams and any other substrate that will not deflect at the nip or where the deflection does not adversely impact the usability of the end product.
Styles: Manual through feed, powered through feed, automatic feed / delivery and equipped with manually applied cutting plate, PVC cutting anvil roller or polyurethane covered cutting anvil roller. Sizes can range from 24" to 120" compression area by almost any length.
Speed: Typical speeds are from 50 - 300 impressions per hour for one operator but can be doubled with a second operator.

RE-RULING - Re-ruling refers to the re-knifing of a steel rule die to replace any dull or damaged knife that is causing material to not cut through 100% and causing production down time.

RUBBER EJECTION - Rubber used to eject the finished product from a cutting die.

RULE, PERFORATING - Steel rule die blades that make perforated cuts in the material to allow for tearing or improved folding in corrugated material.

SCORING or CREASING RULE - Designed to make the impression in the die cut product where folds will occur.

STRIPPING DIE - A two piece die normally used on an automatic platen press (BOBST press) to mechanically remove scrap from a die cut sheet.

TONNAGE - Each die cutting press has a specific capacity or tonnage or pressure available on the down stroke of the head of the press. One ton equals 2000 pounds of downward pressure.