Die Cutting

wykrawanie | die cutting

What is die cutting?

Die cutting machines made by Zemat TG are designed for cutting different patterns from hard films, corrugated and solid cardboard, leather, foam, PP multiwall boards and paper. They are also perfect machines to used in packaging industry for cutting out blister / clamshell thermoformed shapes, especially from PET, PVC films. It enables the so-called cardboard bending (making incisions) and perforation used in the production of foil and cardboard packing.

Two types of die cutter shafts are used: either two steel shafts or an upper shaft covered with a special material. Using the first type of shafts, the material that is to be cut out and a separator made of a special plastic is placed on the punching die, which is a very impractical solution for large sizes of cut-out elements. 

Using the second type of shafts, a punching die with a cut-out material is placed directly between die cutter shafts. This method increases the output of the machine. Die cutter shafts are driven by transmission belt, which enables noiseless and steady work. Tables are equipped with transmission belts, placing the punching die between two die cutter shafts. 

The machine can be controlled in two ways. The first way is to place the punching die between two die cutter shafts manually. This causes the shaft drive to switch on and shifting of the punching die to the other side of the machine. The punching die stops right behind the shafts. There is also the possibility of manual control from the operator’s desk.

In this case, the tables are equipped with rolls. The other way is to control the machine automatically by means of a modern MITSUBISHI controller. 

There are three control modes: manual control from the operator’s desk; cyclic control in which after preparing the material for cutting out the operator presses the START button on the die cutter’s table. After passing through shafts, the punching die stops on the other table and the machine waits for the START signal from the other operator. The third control mode is a serial mode in which having prepared the material for cutting out, the operator presses the START button on the die cutter’s table. After passing through shafts, the punching die stops on the other table. After the allotted time has passed, the machine starts and the punching die is shifted by shafts to the other operator’s table. 

The cycle is repeated until the program counter starts operating, or the STOP button is pressed. In cyclic and serial control modes, before power transmission system starts, an audible signal is activated. In both cases it is possible to determine the place where the punching die and the program counter, which stops the machine after the required number of cycles, are to stop on the table.