Terms associated with Custom die cutting

Custom die cutting is a process directly inspired from the cookie cutting and stencil matching patterns of yesteryears. In fact, cookies and use of stencils are still very much in vogue and so is the process of custom die cutting. Stamps, envelopes, labels, stickers and other three dimensional objects that are created in multiple copies are created using the die cutting procedures. Yes, you guessed it right. Even the currency notes and coins are created in the mint through custom dies which is developed and used by only by the treasury, central bank and the government personnel designated for the task. Let us take a look at the various kinds of die cutting procedures and some technical terms associated with them.

Rotary die cutting: It can be easily considered as the earliest form of die cutting or shearing procedure which was developed in 19th century in Europe. Rotary is now widely used to create labels, envelopes and all those products that require sharp edged two dimensional and three dimensional cutting along with in-line printing. The only problem with rotary die cutting is that the material changeover time is on the higher side as the process moves only in forward direction.

Medical die cutting: medical die cutting involves the use of all the die cutting processes for specific products that are used in the medical industry or so to say in hospitals and other medical establishments. Dressings and other products made of medically converted materials are first cut into proper and prescribed shape and sizes using die cutting procedures. Strictly, clean room die cutting processes are used in this case because sterilizing and maintaining proper temperature and pressure conditions are imperative for the desired results.

Clean room die cutting: This term was used in the discussion of medical die cutting and so it becomes imperative that you have an idea about what it means and what other procedures it comprises in addition to the regular die cutting ones. Basically, when the die cutting procedures are carried out under strictly controlled conditions with proper attention to hygiene situations at the workshop or the lab where the process is taking place, we refer to that as clean room cutting. As stated and explained earlier, this process is used for medical products that require die cutting.

Web die cutting or web shearing: This process was developed in Europe, mainly to cut/shear leather material for the purpose of shoe soles. As against rotary die cutting that requires in line printing along with cutting, web shearing only involves cutting the material according as per the die specifications. It further consists of two processes: clicking and dinking. Clicking is different from rotary die cutting and there are wide differences between them. Dinking is simply using a hollowed die to cut or carve chunks of the material, particularly wood or plastic. The chips then cut out are further processed as per the clients' requirements.