Tips For Using An Industrial Plastic Die Cutting Machine For The First Time

If you are new to the sign making business and have just purchased your first plastic die cutting machine, then you likely have a million questions about what you can do with it and how to do so. Thankfully, this type of machinery is fairly simple to use, and you can create a wide variety of plastic signs using your favorite industrial design software and some high-quality dies. To help you get started, here are some tips for using your industrial plastic die cutting machine for the first time:

Tip: Make Absolutely Sure You Have Removed All of the Packaging Plastic, Tape, and Cardboard Pieces

Just as with computer printers, your new plastic die cutting machine will have a lot of small cardboard pieces, plastic sheets, and tape sections inside of it that were used to keep its parts safe during the shipping process. Before you attempt to cut any plastic, make sure that you have removed all of these pieces of the packaging. Sometimes these things can be hard to find, and you need to look over the machine at least twice to ensure you have cleared them all away. 

Tip: Only Cut Plastics Your Die Cutting Machine is Rated to Cut

Today's plastic die cutting machines each come with a rating that tells you what types of plastic they can cut and what the maximum thickness of the plastic can be. You should look up this information in the owner's manual, and make sure that you never try to cut the wrong material or one that is too thick. Doing so can harm your die cutting machine and will waste plastic material in the process.

Tip: Use the Double Cut Function for Intricate Designs

If you have designed a sign that requires dies that have very intricate designs, then you should set your plastic die cutting machine on its double cut setting. As the name implies, when you use the double cutting function, your cutting machine will cut through the plastic twice before ejecting the waste material. This ensures that each area of the sign has been completely cut and will prevent you from having to cut fresh material if something didn't strike well.

Tip: Only Use Very Sharp Dies

Finally, always ensure that each die you use to cut rigid plastic blanks is as sharp as possible. As you make many cuts with your new machine, your dies will become dull. Even slightly dulled dies will produce lower-quality edges on your cut surfaces and can lead to waste from cuts that do not clear the plastic completely and need to be recut. For more information, contact a company like Accurate  Products Inc.


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