Need some help

[CNCadmin]

I bought a die cutting machine and steel rule 2pt and now I want to make a die. What type of material is good for the die board? I plan on using maple ply and cutting the slot with a special die cutting bit. How about the board that is above the die, what should that be made from? I'm die cutting balsa and thin plywood. Any info would be great, I'm new and I have spent hours surfing and can't find much usefully info on this topic.

[cnctoolman]

Try looking up steel rule dies, or rule dies if you have not tried these yet. I will see if I can find one of my diemaking handbooks that explain about these, and post some info for you. I know a very little about them.

[txcowdog]

Birch. I am in the leather goods industry and we use the type of die you are referring to and birch is the only wood that will withstand the constant pounding the die will endure over its life.

[bryanrabb]

I run cutting dies all day on two machines. They are steel rule and cut corrugated. All of our dies are maple, there may be some birch, but maple has performed well. WE pound the crap out of our 66" rotary on heavy board and the only time we break rule or a bridge is when we run large circles, or the operator does something stupid.

Depending on the thickness of the balsa wood, the rule should be at least twice the thickness. You will need to put rubber inside the die to balance and eject the part. Since it is wood, make sure to use inside bevel or center bevel, otherwise it will never come out. You will want to use serrated rule also, this will not cut as smooth, but will take less pressure to cut, and your d/c won't need to be as accurate to cut all the way through.

What type of d/c do you have? Roller press, platen, clamshell?

[lakeside]

Also plywood is also good where you have grain going in right angle to each other but as bryanrabb said the rubber is very important as it absorb shock and transfer force

[chip1964]

I am a cutting die maker with over twenty years experience. email me and i will tell you what you need

[chan luci]

I bought a die cutting machine and steel rule 2pt and now I want to make a die. What type of material is good for the die board? I plan on using maple ply and cutting the slot with a special die cutting bit. How about the board that is above the die, what should that be made from? I'm die cutting balsa and thin plywood. Any info would be great, I'm new and I have spent hours surfing and can't find much usefully info on this topic.

Too long a subject title isn't it? It is called UHMHDPE in short. This is a rigd thick plastics sheet made of Polyolefins, and can withstand blade cuts and load for very long life. This can be the back up for your die, as well as the absorbing plate which faces the cutter too! I think "Solidur" is the brand that sells in US. Pls check. Inform if this worked better. Thanks