Die Cutting/Kiss-Cutting

Can-Do has a broad range of die-cutting capabilities for a variety of adhesive materials. These materials can include fabrics, foils, foams, and other substrates with or without adhesive backing. We operate high-speed rotary and flat bed die presses in order to produce large quantities and tight tolerance precision parts. Almost any shape and size may be die cut to individual pieces or kiss cut to the liner allowing the parts to remain on a roll.

Rotary Die Cutting

Rotary die cutting uses a cylindrical die on a rotary press. Rolls of material will be fed through the press, and the die will rotate, cutting out shapes, making perforations or creases, or even cutting the material into smaller parts. Dies used in rotary die cutting are either solid engraved dies or some form of adjustable die. Engraved dies have a much higher tolerance and are machined out of a solid steel bar. Adjustable dies have removable blades that can be easily replaced with new blades, either due to wear or to cut a different material.

Flat Bed (Steel Rule) Die Cutting

Can-Do operates several flatbed die cutting presses from 30Tons to 350Tons. Steel rule die cutting is used for shorter run quantities and thicker materials. Flatbed presses use less expensive steel-rule dies and are similar in form and function to a cookie cutter. Steel rule blades are bent and formed to the shape to be cut. These steel blades are held in place with a plywood board or steel braces. Steel rule dies are ideal for shorter runs where the cost of a rotary tool is prohibitive. Can-Do is also capable of using male /female die sets or hard tooling when it comes to cutting dense, hard to cut materials. Hard tooling is usually more expensive than a traditional steel rule or rotary die, but last much longer and hold a tighter tolerance. It is not uncommon to get 1 million impressions or more from a Male/Female die set.

Die Cutting Application Success Stories

Reducing costs for an appliance manufacturer
An appliance manufacturer required a sound dampening material that would come into contact with other moveable components on the appliance that was being designed. Our sales person worked with the company's engineers to design a part that would meet these technical specifications. The sales person identified a low density, closed cell foam and a high quality acrylic adhesive to laminate to the foam. Working with Can-Do's converting manager, the customer and sales person designed a process to die cut the foam, laminate an adhesive product with a low co-efficient of friction surface, and re-register the product to be die cut again on a second pass. The pieces perform the required function, and Can-Do has been able to reduce cost to the customer by improving production processes and identifying less expensive materials.

Finding solutions for customers
Can-Do's customer had a problem with their process of making molded parts out of styrofoam impressions in molten metal. The customer was searching for a product to bond to a casting that could withstand high temperatures and not lose adhesion when exposed to liquids. We recommended a styrene material laminated with a high temperature acrylic adhesive. The foam was laminated and slit to width; and then, the material was die cut to the appropriate shape and put-up in roll form for ease of application. The problem was solved.