A die-cutter or paper trimmer is used to cut or trim the paper. This type of machine uses blades to make cuts in the paper. If not handled properly, it can cause injuries. Therefore, it is essential to know how to safely use a die-cutter and avoid any injury.
One of the most important things you can do while die cutting is wearing protective gear like gloves, safety glasses, and earplugs. This will help protect your hands and eyes from any accidents with the machine by keeping them safe from cuts and scratches. This article lists some of the most common errors in this activity.
Using the wrong side of the die-cutter blade for cutting
When you use the wrong blade for cutting, you will need to exert more force than using the right blade. The die-cutter blades come in different sizes and shapes. So make sure that you are using one that is compatible with your specific project.
If you are cutting something that is relatively thin, it might be tough to cut through with the wrong blade because it will require a lot of pushing force. The wrong side of the die-cutting blade will have a rougher edge. This will result in a less clean-cut in some materials like foam board or craft paper.
Using an unsuitable type of paper
The die cutting process requires the correct type of paper for cutting. The wrong kind will not give an accurate cut or cause excessive tearing when you try to remove the shape from the sheet of paper. This may be because the paper is too soft or thin, and the blade will push it out of shape. Using a wrong type of paper for cutting can cause a lot of noise but also cause damage to the blade or machine blades.
Cutting a single layer only
The most common mistake that people make when cutting paper is to only cut one layer. This can lead to the paper tearing, or it can cause rippling in the paper. The best way to cut paper is to use a die-cutter machine, which will cut through all sheet layers at once.
To have an accurate die-cut piece, you have to cut out the entire area of the cutting mat so that the paper can fall through it. If you don’t do this, you risk not getting any cuts in your design.
Using the wrong type of die
The correct die for your project will depend on what you are cutting and the thickness of the material you want to cut it with. Some examples of wrong dies are a circle-shaped die on a straight line cutting job; a thick metal stamping on thin paper; a thin plastic film on a thick cardstock; or a photo paper with a thick acrylic coating. The wrong type of die can result in a distorted shape, an imperfect cut, and a loss in productivity.
Overlapping blades
The blades in a die cutter are generally mounted in a V-shaped frame to form a V-groove which is the two blades that come together. If the blades are not correctly positioned in this V-groove, the cut material will be too thick at some point and too thin at another point. Consequently, there will be overlapping blades.
The land blade should not have overlapping blades with other blades because this will increase the chance of cutting into each other. In addition, this will result in chewing up one or both of the blades, which will cause it to fail. To avoid overlapping blades, there are two options: either adjust how close together these two sets of blades are or rotate them, so they are opposite each other’s path.
The die-cutter is one of the most versatile tools used by advertising agencies, graphic designers, and anyone who needs to create precise cuts for their projects. But there are things you should keep in mind if you want to use one effectively. First, never compromise quality for speed. Second, always make sure that you are cutting with care and precision to reduce wasted time re-cutting or reprinting mistakes made during cutting.
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