How to Choose the Right Die Cutter for Your Manufacturing Needs

Choosing the best die cutter can be complicated if you’re just starting to make things. A die cutter is a specialized machine that cuts and shapes various materials such as paper, cardboard or fabric into customizable shapes and sizes that you require for your projects. Writing this article will help you to decide which die cutter is right for what you want to create, so you can get crafty with confidence.

Know the Types of Die Cutters

It is a good idea to familiarize yourself with the different types available before deciding on a die cutter. Here are three different types of die cutters that you need to know about: manual, semi-automatic, and fully automatic.

If you are not familiar with die cutting machines, a manual die cutter letters is a machine, operated by hand. It applies pressure in the form of a blade which cuts and shapes materials via a hand crank. Machines like these tend to be cheaper than the others, so they're an excellent pick for small businesses and home projects. For simple or small volume work, a manual die cutter can be all you need.

Semi-automatic die cutters are an upgrade from manual ones. They are equipped with unique hydraulic mechanisms to process materials faster and more effectively. Meaning, they can do more than manual die cutters do in lesser time. If your projects are getting larger or if you need to make cuts more quickly, a semi-automatic die cutter might suit you nicely.

The full automatic die cutter is the most advanced die cutter type. Instead, they control the entire cutting process with computers which makes them very precise and helps to increase diversity and efficiency. These machines are ideal for large business having URL type products to manufacture in bulk quantity. For those who want to produce lots of items, a fully automatic die cutter could be the right investment to make.

Important Things to Consider When Choosing a Die Cutter

Here are a few important considerations to keep in mind when selecting a die cutter that will lead you to the right decision:

Materials: Various materials require different cutting tools. Such are cardboard, which requires sharper knives to go through it; and regular paper, which can be taken down with less sharp cut out tools. For fabric, you'll want to make sure you have tools specifically designed for cutting fabric. Be sure to consider what materials you will use most often.

Cutting Size: This is a very important factor that indicates the size and shape of cuts that you must make. If you only need to make a few small cuts, a manual die cutter might be all you need. But if you need to cut with larger or more complex designs, you would likely need a semi-automatic or a fully automatic machine to get the job done right and efficiently.

Production Volume: This is an important criteria to consider while selecting a die cutter because you need to know how much you need to produce. Meanwhile, if you have a high production volume,  you need to make a large number of items in a short time, a fully automatic machine would probably be the best choice. They are designed to tackle high workloads and save time and effort.

How to Find the Best Die Cutter for Your Budget

When choosing a die cutter, your budget is another crucial consideration. The most common types, however, are the manual die cutters, which are usually cheaper compared to semi or fully automatic machines. But remember, manual machines do not allow you to cut using as many materials in a short period as the others. While an investment in a fully automatic machine is more expensive up front, if you can afford it, you can produce many more cuts in less time, allowing you to work more quickly and efficiently.

What does the above mean for the capacity vs performance equation?

Choose a die cutter that strikes a balance between capacity and performance. The die cutting dies machine capacity indicates how large materials the machine can cut. A machine with a larger capacity, for instance, can accommodate larger sheets of cardboard or fabric.  In contrast, performance is about how quickly and effectively the machine can cut materials. With power and speed, you need to balance both to make sure the machine can do as much work as you need while NOT sacrificing quality of the cuts.

Improving the Efficiency and Productivity

Choosing the die cutter which works great on your project, can be a major productivity and efficiency booster. Simply put, you will work quicker and accomplish more. You’ll also want to consider how much it will cost you to run and maintain the machine over time. A fully automatic machine might seem more expensive but will help you save money over time, as it requires less labor and maintenance. Upgrading to a good die cutter is an investment that produces better results while saving your business money.

To sum it up, the choice of a die cutter to meet your requirement is a very important decision. A comprehensive yet simple guide to help you choose the best die cutter for your projects from among the many options available, each of which has its unique capabilities and tradeoffs. Nantai, we have die cutter tools to meet your needs. We can assist you to find either a simple manual die cutter, a semi-automatic die cutter, or fully automated die cutter. Get in touch with us today to find out more about our comprehensive range of die cutters and how we can help!