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Die cutters

Gotta do some die cut stuff, card stock and cardboard.

Naturally, I don't feel like paying someone else to do it :)

I'm thinking I can route some channels in peice of wood, then press fit some metal blades into it, grinding an edge on the blades beforehand. Then another peice of wood serves as the opposite cutting surface. I was thinking that four corner posts with springs would even make it a full "die set".

Anyone got an easer way ? One alternative that occured to me was to just get thin metal stock and pound it into the wood, but I figgure the cutting end might be beat up by the time I got it in.

Reply to
Scott Moore
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I've made simple dies, using knife edge band saw blade material.

Reply to
Gary A. Gorgen

You can get the knife stock from a steel-rule-die supply or shop.

Reply to
Tom Gardner

Usually the wood just acts to hold the metal straight- the metal goes right through to the back in most places (obviously not everywhere or the center would drop out).

I can send you a photo or two of a small professionally made one if you e-mail me. The shops who do this for a living are well-equipped (CNC laser cutters ) and have the bits and pieces (not just all the kinds of steel rule and circle dies etc, but various stripper materials etc.) and IME are very efficient (e-mail in the drawing, pop in and pick the die up next day), so you might want to get a quote before you start.

Best regards, Spehro Pefhany

Reply to
Spehro Pefhany

I use polypropylene 1/4" sheet for the backup plate. Normally the material is progressively applied to the die with a roller that moves across the pressure plate, forcing the die, material, and the backup plate together under a hinged steel lid that is closed by the roller. This provides the progressive action, starting from the hinge point outward. A small die would probably work fine in full contact mode, but just wanted to make you aware of at least one process used commercially. My dies are about 20 by 24 inches in size. The Rotomatic in the link is the one I use.

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RJ

Reply to
Backlash

This was done in the "old days" (and still is) on a letterpress with sharpened steel rules in wood panels.

Reply to
Richard J Kinch

Yhank you for the answers in this thread.

Reply to
Scott Moore

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