Die Cutting And Its Different Operations

A die is used in manufacturing industries to cut or shape an existing material. Each die matches a particular product it is deemed to create. It may start from small endeavors to those complex 

pieces for technological industries. In this regard the process known as die cutting had been coined.

Die cutting is done by the so-called tool and die makers. The dies are commonly mounted into a press to form other materials like metal sheets and plastic. The components of a die include the die block, blank and pierce punches, punch and stripper plates, pilot, dowel pin, back gage and the finger stop.

Die cutting operations

The terms associated with die cutting operations were made according to the type of die used. Here are explanations on each type:

Bending. As the term denotes, this operation involves bending dies at a pre-determined angle. One common technique produces the so-called L bracket after a piece of metal is bent at a 90-degree angle. It is used in order to form things such as a corner of a box.

Blanking. This makes use of a blanking die to produce flat pieces of material. With a single operation the desired shape is cut from the die. It results to accuracy, uniform appearance and flatness of the output.

Broaching. This is a die cutting operation where a material is removed through the use of a multiple cutting teeth. Instead of using a shaving method, broaching dies are employed to remove material thickness.

Bulging. Bulging dies are used to expand the closed ends of a tube. It has two types namely: the bulging fluid die making use of water or oil in the expansion process; and the bulging rubber die utilizing rubber pads under pressure to move the wall of a particular material.

There are other die cutting operations like coining, curling, drawing, extruding, forming, horning, piercing, shaving, swaging and trimming. The most common applications for these several die operations are metal spoons, forks and knives, aluminum cans and clothing zipper and buttons. Car products such as car fenders, bumpers, doors, hoods, rods, frames and pistons are also results of the process.