JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #55 - February/March 2010 - 48

KNOW-HOW Cutting tools Are lasers finally competing with rotary die cutters? Recent laser die cutting advancements now make tool-free cutting a superior alternative to rotary die cutters and other tool-based cutting machines for many plastic and composite applications. It is highly recommended to send samples to laser die cutting technology manufacturers for proof-of-concept confirmation that laser die cutting matches application requirements. Here are the main reasons why you will be well-served ensuring you have both laser die cutting and tool-based cutting systems in hand, as summarized in Table 1. MIKE BACON, VICE PRESIDENT, SPARTANICS 1. Laser die cutting is a tool-less technology that eliminates the time and cost associated with rotary, steel rule die or hard tools With the market trending towards short-run jobs with quick turnaround requirements, this is no trivial matter. The need to carry 500-1000 tools in inventory is eliminated. Removing the upfront tooling costs for any given job will give you a competitive advantage, not to mention the time that is no longer lost in designing and producing new dies. 2. Digital printing and digital die cutting If you go entirely digital, i.e. combining digital printing with digital die cutting (aka laser cutting or laser die cutting), even sizeable orders can go in and out the door in a matter of hours. This is a significant competitive edge to have in today’s market. 3. There are no layout limitations with laser die cutters The width of the laser beam, usually 210 microns for typical plastic or composite applications, is the only physical constraint. The bestin-class systems with superior control engineering provide unprecedented laser depth-of-cut control throughout varying geometries. This contrasts with the limitations of any physical die, where sharp angles are often unachievable in the crisp-cut lines that anufacturers of labels, plastic or composite products that have relied on rotary die cutter technology to finish their products now have an alternative that did not exist as little as two years ago. Single-head laser die cutters avoid defects such as burn-through marks and pinholes at the start/stop cutting points common in early-generation laser die cut technology. They can now cut at web speeds comparable to those of rotary die cutters – e.g. 100+ metres/ minute. Polycarbonates that were once considered beyond the reach of laser die cut technology are now routinely handled, as are composites made from polycarbonates and other plastics, polyester, metallized foils, paper, abrasive and other substrates. M The reasons for this should not be mysterious to anyone in the industry who has noted similar improvements in plastic processing and composite fabrication technologies that stem from more sophisticated algorithms in control engineering applications. The impacts of these types of software engineering improvements can be felt everywhere. The same sorts of engineering applications that allow today’s cars to handle sharp turns with greater ease can also guide laser beams with more accuracy. The major difference in the best-in-class laser die cutting systems is that the underlying software engineering is custom-designed for application requirements, in contrast to more primitive systems that use generic laser control software provided by the laser manufacturers. One might ask: if rotary die cutters or other tool-based cutters can do the job, why bother investing in and mastering a new technology such as laser die cutting? More information Spartanics manufactures the family of Spartanics Fineprint Laser Cutting Systems, as well as screen printing systems, tool-based die cutting equipment, and other equipment used by worldwide plastic and composite product manufacturers. A more technical explanation of how to match laser die cutting technology to application requirements is available at: http://www.spartanics.com/white_papers_list.cgi. jec composites magazine / No55 February - March 2010

http://www.spartanics.com/white_papers_list.cgi

JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #55 - February/March 2010

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #55 - February/March 2010