What is Steel Rule Die Cutting?
Steel rule die cutting is a special kind of custom cutting that uses steel blades to cut materials like paper, vinyl, leather, plastic, and fabric. The method is perfect for complex shapes, and is often considered the gold standard for cutting intricate shapes. If you’re looking for Steel Rule Die Cutting in Virginia, then look no further then Golden Valley Products.
What Is It?
The Die
A specially shaped piece of steel called a die is used to cut material and create whatever unique shape you desire – whether your business needs tags and labels, lettering, or even multiple pieces that interlock. The die consists of hardened tool steel rule, which when pressed into a material, will slice through it leaving a high quality cut edge. The process involves placing a piece of material on the flat board and pressing the die down with enough force to punch through the material, leaving a cut shape behind.
The shape of the finished part is cut into a die board, which typically uses a laser-cutting system. The width of the laser cut is slightly less than the width of cutting blade so that it fits perfectly into place—otherwise, this could cause problems during operation.
The steel cutting rule will then be bent into shape, either by hand, machine, or even both depending on the project and the complexity of the die. Afterwards, it will be placed into the “kerf”, a small slot that was cut out using a laser. The die will be pounded into place to ensure it doesn’t come loose during production before finally being ready to begin cutting.
Underneath the die, a pad of foam or rubber is placed to help eject finished products after the cutting process is complete. Selecting the perfect material and width of material here can make a big impact on how successful the steel rule die cutting process will go.
What Can We Do With It?
If you need large volumes of products to be cut in exactly the same way using the same pattern, then steel rule die cutting is likely a great option for your project. The process of die cutting can produce a wide variety of simple and complex shapes. It is a great way to create custom products from any material, including paper, plastic, foil, cardboard and more. The process can be used to cut out shapes with clean edges or even embossed lines in them. Steel rule die cutting can also be used to create circular patterns that are perfectly round and uniform in shape.
Why was it Invented?
Steel Rule Die Cutting was invented for the same reasons it still excels today- for its ability to mass-produce products with intricate detail and impressive uniformity. Before steel rule die cutting, the time it took to mass-produce products was prohibitively long. It would often take hours to manually cut each piece of the product, which could lead to mistakes and inconsistencies in the finished product. Steel rule die cutting solved this problem by allowing manufacturers to create a pattern for their product and then cut it with precision over and over again using mechanical means.
What is it Good For?
Steel Rule Die Cutting is perfect for mass-producing products, especially when these products need to maintain a high level of similarity between pieces. Because steel rule die cutting uses one perfectly molded steel die to cut a large number of products, it’s a great option for businesses that need to produce large quantities. Steel rule die cutting can also be used to cut intricate designs into materials such as cardboard or foam board, making it a popular choice among businesses that make foam puzzles and other similar products.
Now that you know more about Steel Rule Die Cutting, you may be wondering what other services there are to further enhance your product. Steel Rule Die Cutting can be combined with other processes to further customize your project. You can apply any number of color schemes or even embossing patterns for an even more eye-catching end product. Graphic Overlays can help communicate the functionality of your product and increase safety, while decorative patterns can add a unique touch to your design. Whether you’re looking for a way to increase safety or just want to make your product stand out, Steel Rule Die Cutting and other services provided at Golden Valley Products are the perfect solution.
At Golden Valley Products, we offer a wide range of services including: Digital printing, Screen printing, Pad printing, Laser cutting, Steel rule die cutting, Waterjet cutting, Laminating, Embossing, Membrane switches, Medical sensors (pressure sensors), Graphic overlays, and more! We’d be happy to support you on your next product project.