As the saying goes: “Neither money can be paid for foreknowledge, nor you can’t help but don’t know.” I have heard many clients say helplessly: “If I knew xxx earlier, I would change the original decision”. Our company has been dedicated involved in the post-press packaging equipment industry for 54 years (Die cutting, Folder gluer, Hot foil stamper), and we have seen too many enterprise cases, or has helped many customers solve the problems of other companies in the production of post-press equipment. Many of these problems can be avoided or reduced by doing more research or preparation in the early stage of purchase.
The editor decides to share the 4 things that customers most likely to regret when purchasing “Die Cutting Machine” because they did not consider and evaluate clearly. First, to help everyone choose a die cutting machine that is more suitable for their own needs, and second, to help you avoid falling into traps or myths when purchasing die cutting machines. I firmly believe that if you have referred to the following 4 things before purchasing, you can greatly reduce the chance of going the wrong way.
With competitive price and timely delivery, MK sincerely hope to be your supplier and partner.
“Max. punching speed”, (or call Max. cutting speed)
This specification is usually in the unit of hours,
When this value raises to the limit,
The total number of sheets cut by the die cutting is the “Max. punching speed”.
For example, if the technical specification value is sheets,
That is, the speed of rolling and cutting sheets of paper per hour,
Converted to a speed of about 100 sheets of paper in 1 minute.
Of course, the die cutting machine is usually the same as the car,
Client operation will not and is not recommended,
Excessive ratios continue to operate at top speed for extended periods of time,
It will damage the mechanism of the machine itself and reduce the life of parts and consumables.
At present, the manufacturers of die cutting machines in the world,
From the lower technical level sheets/ h~ sheets/h,
Manufacturers can produce up to sheets/h of the highest technical level.
Converted at the highest technical level of sheets/h,
That is about cutting 2.5 sheets per second,
It is the physical limit that can be reached under the operating principle of this type of mechanism using paper as the working object.
Nowadays, the die cutting manufacturers in the world who can reach sheets/h,
The number of this kind of manufacturers can be counted with only one hand.
e.g., Bobst, Heidelberg, SBL…etc.
Most manufacturers have the same pricing mindset.
Faster models usually cost more.
And the editor wants to put forward an important concept: “The level of cutting speed also symbolizes the technical level of the manufacturer.”
Because the high-speed model needs motor speed to match the high-speed operation,
Other related mechanisms such as belts, chains, gripper bar, knives and other linkage mechanisms,
At the same time, also need to cooperate with this high-speed operation mode.
How to keep running at such a high speed,
And also taking into account the accuracy, product yield and mechanism durability is a very difficult test.
This is in response to what I said earlier,
The level of this specification also tests the technical level of the manufacturer.
At the beginning, due to budget considerations,
Many customers use the product price and the cutting speed as the basis for calculation,
Finally, choose a model or manufacturer with a lower cutting and cutting speed,
e.g., Purchasing 3 set with slower cutting speed and lower total budget also higher total number of sheets than purchasing 2 machines with faster speed.
But in fact, such an evaluation method will fall into a myth or be inaccurate for the following reasons:
When the company in the early stage of development,
There may be enough space for planning or idling the machine.
But in the later stage of accelerated expansion,
The available space of many customer workshops is quite tight.
At this time, it was believed that purchasing multiple slower machines may not have higher benefits.
First, you should consider whether your own factory space is a limited resource, (unless the company has multiple idle factories or bases)
It is an important factor that allows customers to avoid making regrettable decisions.
The needs of clients are actually changing rapidly.
If clients suddenly receive urgent orders from upstream to have mass production,
However, because most of the models in the workshop are low-speed models,
It is impossible to complete a large number of orders with urgent delivery in a short period of time.
This kind of regret about messing up the sure thing,
It can be said that it is not uncommon on the client side.
Summarizing the above 4 points,
It is recommended that when customers choose a die cutting machine,
Also while the item corresponding to the maximum punching speed is selected,
Try to choose the model that the manufacturer can produce with the highest speed,
Or try to increase the budget as much as possible and choose the fastest model within the budget,
In order to greatly reduce the probability of regret after purchasing.
The models of various die cutting machine manufacturers are so dazzling and make you confused? In fact, the naming rules of the model code of each die cutting machine are quite close. The editor uses the description of the SBL die cutting machine to let everyone understand that the size or function of the die cutting machine can be seen from the model, and teach you how to choose the suitable die cutting machine model.
No matter which manufacturer you buy,
There will be different sizes and models to choose from,
Its model name code is usually a combination of “numbers + English words”.
The front 3 to 4 yards range 【number】 to represent 【size】, (Note: 3 yards are cm, 4 yards are mm)
The following【English word】stands for【functionality】.
Taking SBL as an example,
There are 5 options for the size of the die cutting machine: (The number represents the maximum width of the paper that can be rolled/mm)
The composition of the “model”,
It is composed of the two aspects of “size” and “function” mentioned in 2-1.
After the cross combination, there will be many different models to choose from.
As for how customers should choose and evaluate before they can buy a model that suits their needs?
Or not buy a model that will regret in the future?
The editor provides the following model evaluation methods:
Model selection,
Some customers will rely on previous purchase experience,
Some customers will rely on budget or functional considerations.
But there is a very important pre-work,
That is, to confirm the “space size” of the pre-installation plant for the “installation machine position approach line” of the plant.
There have been several cases of customers because the “factory space” or “entry line” is very narrow,
It takes a lot of extra work to install the machine,
If necessary, it may even need to have lead time to customize to solve the problem.
It’s like before buying a car,
Instead of spending a lot of time collecting information on various car models of various brands,
You should first confirm the size and restrictions of the parking space or garage where you plan to park your vehicle.
This is the correct step to improve the timeliness of follow-up communication with manufacturers and efficient procurement.
The order types customers often receive (small and diverse) or because of limited space,
They choose a smaller size machine (e.g.,820SE);
However, some customers will have sufficient space and need to produce quickly in large quantities,
Choose a larger size machine (e.g.,SEB).
“Size” or “Function”,
I don’t have any guidelines to recommend.
However, it is recommended to prepare the following information before purchasing:
E.g., Type of paper in operation, special needs of the client, order type, restrictions, etc.,
Preparing the above information is definitely a bonus option for any die cutting manufacturer to purchase.
Some functions are not available in all sizes of models.
And just some unique models can be equipped with some unique fittings,
For example, the function of SBL mechanical single-sheet feeding, (single-sheet feeding is convenient for customers to install additional visual inspection equipment)
This fitting is only available for or inch models.
The two factors of “model” and “fittings” are related to each other.
You don’t fully understand at the moment of purchase,
When you want to install it in the future, only to find that the wrong model was selected and cannot be installed.
It’s just a matter of regret.
Take my favorite example, seeing a doctor.
When we go to the doctor,
If you explain your condition to the doctor in more detail, (e.g., current physical or psychological problems, duration of the disease, frequency of pain, recent changes in daily routine or diet, genetic history, etc.)
When doctors have more information,
Isn’t it easier to make the correct diagnosis, treatment and prescribe the medicine?
Die cutting is the same concept,
You must fully discuss with the original business,
E.g., Current customer types (customer size, order volume), type of paper that is often cut, problems often encountered before…etc.)
Provide information on your own needs and environmental conditions as much as possible,
As a result, you can purchase a die cutting machine that is more in line with your own needs,
Second, it can greatly reduce the possibility of regret in the future.
Taking SBL as an example, there are about 20 accessories for die cutting machines.I will write another article to explain in detail later.
But the editor wants to emphasize that the key point is whether to purchase a die cutting machine with SBL,please do take some time to prepare,
Or ask the salesperson about the ” applicable timing”, “functionality” and “restrictions” of these accessories.
Some people will hold the opposite view,i don’t think the accessories are too important.We can also install or purchase the accessories according to our own needs after purchasing it.The editor wants to clarify that this is a common myth of die cutting customers. The reasons are as follows:
Optional accessory is usually used to solve a problem, or to achieve an additional special need or function,
But as mentioned earlier,
If the company may require an optional accessory in the future to achieve special functional requirements,
However, because the original purchase model cannot be equipped with this optional accessory,
At this time, you may face the problem of not being able to install or need to spend high customization costs.
Before purchasing, you should find out the compatibility of these optional accessories and models.
So as not to cause regret in the future.
Some customers did not realize the importance of the optional accessories when purchasing the machine.
If added these accessories when the machine is installed at the factory or after a period of use.
It will be far better than purchasing these optional accessories before the machine leaves the factory.
The reasons for the cost that will increase to 50% or several times are as follows:
Maybe there are many questions in your mind ? Is the most important thing in purchasing machinery nothing more than the comprehensive selection of the price and function of each brand of machinery ? What is the relationship between “the second-hand market price of die cutting machines” and “the 4 most common regrets”?In fact, in the previous blog article “10 Selection Indicators That Machinery Manufacturers Won’t Disclose (Part 2)“,we mentioned the price comparison and the consideration can apply to the issue of avoiding the pitfalls when purchasing a die cutting.
The editor once again explained the last example to let you understand the importance of second-hand prices:
Based on the premise of similar machine performance,
Company A’s machine sells for $300,000, and Company B’s machine sells for $200,000.
But after 5 years of normal use,
Because A machine may have the high market share and brand awareness,
It can also be sold for $200,000 on the market,
The second-hand machine of the B machine has a low market share and poor machine durability.
Even the resale price of the market is $100,000, the B machine will go begging.
In such a situation, is there a higher chance of regretting buying machine A or machine B in the future?
The answer is very obvious.
Simultaneously, this example also echoes a key point emphasized by the editor,
Be sure to evaluate the second-hand price of the machine before purchasing.
Because no one can surely guarantee the next 3 years, 5 years or even 10 years,
There will be no possibility of resale or replacement of the machine,
Including the second-hand price factor can greatly reduce the chance of regret.
So you’ve got that shiny new die cut machine and now you’re just die-ing to cut all the things with it. But you look at the selection of dies and your head starts to spin. Thin metal? Steel rule? Nested? How do you know which one you need for your project – and more importantly, what is safe to put into your die cutting machine (sometimes also called a card making machine)? Plus, there are several manufacturers of machines like Sizzix, We R Memory Keepers and Spellbinders and even more manufacturers of dies. Which dies go with which machines and how do you sort through all of these products? Never fear - the Scrapbook.com die experts are here to guide you along!
One of the first things you probably noticed about dies is that there are two very distinct types. The first type, called a thin metal or wafer die, looks pretty much like a narrow ribbon of metal that has been twisted into the shape to be cut out. This one resembles a cookie cutter. The second type of die, called a steel rule die, looks at first like a large block of wood or plastic. The top of the block is foam, and hidden down in that foam is a twisted piece of metal – the steel rule - that forms the outline of the shape to be cut. These two types of dies don’t just look different, they function very differently and serve very different purposes as well.
Thin metal dies (also referred to as wafer thin dies) are smaller and more lightweight than their steel rule counterparts. This makes them easy to store, or to tote with you to crops. They can be stored on magnetic sheets, in plastic pockets, or even on binder rings. And since you don’t have to pay for a base, and foam, these dies are more affordable than their steel rule big brothers. Less expensive thin metal dies are perfect for trendy or special use designs that you won’t use over and over for many years.
Thin metal dies from Scrapbook.com's Exclusive lineThe open center of thin metal dies makes it possible to precisely place them for cutting photos or die cutting stamped images. Many stamp companies now make thin metal dies as companions to their stamp sets, to eliminate the need to fussy cut images after stamping. Just stamp, run it through the die cut machine, and you’re done!
As fabulous as thin metal dies are, however, they can’t do everything. The materials that you can cut with thin metal dies are limited to mostly single sheets of light and medium weight paper and similar materials. These dies are simply not strong enough to cut heavy materials like chipboard, fabric, and other craft products. There’s also size limitations to the designs that can be produced with thin metal die technology.
Many scrapbook and stamp companies sell thin metal dies using just the generic terms “die”, “thin metal”, or “wafer die”. Occasionally, you will come across different terminology, which we have listed and described below for you!
Wafer thin dies are also very versatile, as they are compatible with nearly any manual die cutting machine!
Machine Compatibility for Wafer Thin Dies: BIGkick, Vagabond, Big Shot machines, Platinum 6, Grand Calibur, Evolution Advanced, and if die is small enough in diameter (2.75" wide or smaller), the Sidekick and Prizm!
These Sizzix thin metal dies are intended for cutting more intricate designs. To get this intricacy, Thinlits have a back edge that extends into the center of the die. This makes precise alignment of the dies with cutting material a bit challenging.
This brand of thin metal dies from Sizzix has no edge extending over into the center frame of the die’s design. This makes it easy to “frame” items like stamp images for perfect die cutting placement.
Spellbinders uses this brand name for sets of border dies that are all the same basic shape (such as a scallop) but that each cut out different designs. Mixed and matched and then cut together along an edge, they can create a multitude of different border designs.
Are you interested in learning more about Die Cutting Equipment? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!
This collection is the name Spellbinders uses for its dies that don’t fall into their other collections (like Borderabilities). Many of the dies in this collection are quite intricate.
Many stampers and die cutters like to purchase correlating stamps and dies in order to create detailed stamped images without the pain of fussy cutting. Hero Arts calls their dies that are designed to cut out (frame) their stamp designs Frame Cuts. These dies have a completely open center, making it easy to align the die with the stamp design for cutting. For stampers who want their stamped impressions cut out beautifully, Frame Cuts are a popular die solution.
This collection is the name that Hero Arts uses for their designs that aren’t dies matched to cut out their stamps. Since this collection complements the stamps, you’ll find decorative shapes and elements to use on cards, like backgrounds.
Say you're looking for just the right word, name or phrase and it just can't be found for sale. That's where the beauty and simplicity of Alphabet Dies come in. You can choose from uppercase, lowercase, thin, or bold letters for every project you're working on.
The Lawn Fawn “Lawn Cuts” collection includes both dies that cut out their stamp designs, as well as dies to create other elements for papercrafting. These include scenic elements to use with their adorable animal stamps as well as 3-D items like candy boxes to make.
This brand name encompasses an entire collection from DoCrafts that includes thin metal dies, embossing folders, and materials for cutting. Because this brand is European, some of these items are sized in A4/A5/A6 standard stationery sizes instead of the standard American sizes.
Many brands, including Scrapbook.com sell dies using this term. These dies come in sets containing the same shape in multiple steps of sizes. When two of these dies are used together, they create a frame that can be used to highlight a photo or frame a card front. You can also cut two different sizes from two different papers to create perfectly matched layers for photo mats or a card design.
Since nesting dies are considered "basics" in your die cutting arsenal (meaning they're must-have commodities), they oftentimes can be found paired with popular die cutting machines to get all-inclusive "starter" or "upgrade" kits.
As Nesting dies are wafer thin metal, they have the same machine compatibility as the wafer thin dies unless noted otherwise.
If you're a fan of die cutting & pocket page scrapbooking then this next die type is right up your crafty alley. Pocket card dies are designed to be your new best friend in pocket page scrapbooking. Create customized cards & perfectly-sized photographs with these dies. Cut out 3" x 4" and 4" x 6" rectangles to fill your pocket page protectors to perfection.
This is the Spellbinders collection name for its nested dies (sets of shapes that come in sets of stepped sizes) that make easy layered card fronts and frames. There are a wide variety of designs, shapes, and sizes and are popular among card makers.
Hero Arts sells its nested dies under this collection name. Like other nested dies, these are great for making layered or framed card fronts.
This is yet another term for nested dies, used by Lawn Fawn for them in its collection of thin metal dies, called Lawn Cuts.
The big advantage of using steel rule dies is that word “steel” right in their name. Since their cutting edge is steel and thicker than aluminum thin metal dies, steel rule dies can cut a huge variety of heavy materials. If you want to cut fabric, felt, chipboard, mat board, magnet, leather, wood veneer, craft foam, and other heavy materials, a steel rule die is what you need. Steel rule dies can also produce cuts from multiple stacked sheets of paper, for quicker mass production of items like cards and invitations. These dies can also cut larger items like card bases and 3D items that are too large for thin wafer dies.
This steel rule die is part of the Sizzix Originals family with Echo ParkYou’ll also love the simplicity of cutting steel rule dies, compared to having to make complicated “sandwiches” to cut thin metal dies. With steel rule, you just slap your cutting pads on your die and you’re ready to cut! And you can use these durable dies over and over with very little fear that you will love them to “death” and have to replace them.
The durability and strength of steel rule dies comes with a cost. First, there is the actual price that you’ll pay for these. Unlike less expensive thin metal dies, a steel rule die is an investment piece for your die cutting collection. The price is higher, but these dies if purchased in classic designs will serve you reliably for years.
One side of your steel rule die will look almost like a case. When you flip it over, you'll see the black foam with the cut design. This is a steel rule die from Tim Holtz' Alterations with SizzixThe other price you pay for getting the cutting strength of steel rule is design limitation. Because the cutting edge is literally a ribbon of steel that has been bent and shaped to make the die, there are limitations to what shapes can be made in these dies. If you want to cut doilies or other intricate shapes, you will need to look for those shapes in thin metal dies.
Two primary companies, Sizzix and Spellbinders, currently make steel rule dies for the craft market. But you might see some different names used for different sizes and types of the dies that they make.
These dies are the first Sizzix line of steel rule dies. The small, medium, large and border sizes are compatible with Sizzix’s Big Shot, Big Kick, and Vagabond machines.
These Sizzix steel rule dies are compatible with any of the Sizzix machines that have “Big” in the name, plus the Tim Holtz Vagabond. They are also compatible with both models of the Spellbinders Platinum machine.
These Sizzix steel rule dies are larger than the standard Bigz dies. But they still fit into any of the Sizzix machines that have “Big” in their name, as well as the Tim Holtz Vagabond and both Spellbinders Platinum Machine models. Bigz L and Bigz XL are typically used for larger projects, such as albums, or for cutting heavier material, like leather and balsa wood.
Another line of large sized steel rule dies from Sizzix, these only fit in the Big Shot Plus and Big Shot Pro machines. They will also fit into the Spellbinders Platinum Machine.
These massive Sizzix steel rule dies only fit into the Sizzix Big Shot Pro machine. They're often used for larger, thicker, and/or more complex projects, such as home decor pieces and albums.
This brand name is the designation that Spellbinders uses for its steel rule dies. These dies are intended for use with Spellbinders’ Platinum Machine. The standard sizes also work with all of the Sizzix “Big” named machines, as well as the Vagabond. The large sizes work with the Big Shot Plus and the Big Shot Pro.
Just like there are two different types of dies, there are also two primary types of die cutting machines. Which type of die cutting machine is best for you depends on what kind of dies and materials you want to cut.
First, there’s the die cutting machines like the Sizzix Sidekick and Spellbinders Prizm that can only cut thin metal dies and emboss. These are mostly small, affordable and easily portable machines that have small openings so they cannot cut larger designs. These machines are limited to cutting or embossing single sheets of paper with small designs. They’re a great budget die cutting solution for card makers.
There is a larger option available, however, for those interested in only cutting thin metal dies and embossing. The Spellbinders Grand Calibur has a platform that is a full 8.5” wide. This machine is the perfect solution for scrapbookers and card makers who want to cut larger sizes from paper, but have no interest in investing in steel rule dies.
For the crafter who’d like a die cut machine that can but both thin metal and steel rule dies, there are certainly plenty of options available. The 6” platforms on the Spellbinders Platinum 6 and Sizzix Big Shot can handle most projects for card makers. But for scrapbookers and crafters making 3D objects, the Sizzix Big Shot Pro or Sizzix Big Shot Plus are the answer for making larger projects.
For die cutters looking for a little help cranking those die cuts out, there are several electric machine options that will handle both thin metal and steel rule dies. Sizzix has two electric die cut machines, the Big Shot Express and the Tim Holtz Vagabond 2, that can handle dies up to 6” wide like Sizzix Bigz and Spellbinders Contour. Another creative addition to the list is the We R Memory Keepers Evolution machine. The Evolution is sold as a manual machine, but its optional accessory motor easily turns it into an electric die cut machine for the best of both worlds. An electric machine can be a great assist for those with hand problems or those who do large quantity die cut production, but you’ll pay for it - the motor does add to the price of the machine significantly.
Whether you call them Nestabilities, Stackables, or Infinity dies, one thing is certain – you’ll call these dies one of your most indispensable creative tools!
To learn more about die cutting, read this informative article: The Ultimate Guide to Die Cutting. Have a specific question? Check our Top Die Cutting Q&A to see if we can answer!
If you want to learn more, please visit our website China Cardboard Die Cutting Machine.