If you are a creative person who likes to bring amazing designs to life, then you need to explore how die-cutting machines and shim tape work together.
The die-cutting process is a technique that helps you physically create multiple designs with a die tool. These machines use a die to make an impression or cut on the material being used for creative arts and designs. For example, your business card, a greeting card, or any other marketing collateral.
Since the die is reusable, you have the feasibility of creating multiple art pieces and designs using the same die multiple times. This saves time, money, and effort spent on creating these designs and collaterals.
This article will discuss the die-cutting machine, the process, and shim tapes.
What is a Die?
When you are designing something, you need to first finalize the shape or pattern that will be used on the material. Once this shape or design is finalized, a die is prepared with the design. This die is then used to emboss or engrave on resultant materials.
A die is a metal object or any other object with sharp edges used to cut the material. A shim tape keeps this die in place, which is how we can cut designs on different materials.
In the entire die-cutting process, dies play an imperative role and ensure that the required design is safely engraved on the material.
Die-Cutting Process and Applications
In the die-cutting process, a die is prepared with sharp edges to emboss or engrave the material. The material is usually low-tensile strength so perfect and smooth shapes and designs are engraved on the material.
The machine used for die-cutting contains different spaces for the die, in-built scales for appropriate cutting, and space for the material. You can manually operate the machine or purchase a mechanical one that automatically pushes the material in and cuts the design or shape using the die.
However, remember that the preparation of the die should take place separately on different machines. Creating one die costs a significant amount of money, hence, you need to ensure that you can utilize this die enough times to justify the pricing.
What are the applications of a die-cutting machine?
Ideally, There may be situations where you can use a die cutting equipment or you may need to engrave or cut a specific design on a low-tensile strength material. When you need to prepare thousands of these designs, a die-cutting tool is cost-effective and time-saving.
Some applications of die-cutting tools are:
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Stickers
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Business cards
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Stand-up cards
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Pillow boxes
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Envelopes
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Cards
What is Shim Tape?
Shim tape is a part of die-cutting supplies. This is a material that helps align, fill, or correctly space out the design on the die-cutting machine. Other than this, the shim tape also fixes the die in its appropriate place, puts the right amount of pressure on the setup, and helps you produce the right shape or design on the required material.
Using Die-Cutting and Shim Tap Together
Do you want to create perfect designs with your die-cutting machine and shim tape?
Here’s how you can achieve that:
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Select the right embossing plate and mat to create the right type of sandwich between the two. This will allow you to create just the perfect shape and design, and also ensure that your die-cutting machine functions well for longer.
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With the shim tape, put an appropriate amount of pressure on the selected material. This will offer a clean and neat emboss or cut on the product.
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If you want to shine or include texture in a shape, then stack your patterns and use a glossy accent to offer an edgy and shiny look.
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Remember to avoid putting any external pressure on the above sandwich between the embossing plate and mat. When the sandwich is passing through your machine, this pressure can damage your machine as well as the equipment.
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When you have prepared one design, you should use appropriate tools to clean the entire workstation. This will allow you to prepare accurate and innovative designs without any stickiness on the workstation.
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For accurate designs and shapes, you can use magnetic shim tape on your board. Now, allow this to run in the machine a couple of times.
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If you have accumulated different dies that are of no use, you can use these to make abstract designs. Create shapes of various colors with these dies on your material and see how a unique design or pattern is formed.
Conclusion
Die-cutting is an amazing process that helps you create beautiful and innovative designs on your material. This process is affordable and time-saving if you can create the right die and give it a professional touch. When the process involves the use of a shim tape, you are additionally able to get clean cuts and an accurate design.
Read the above information and understand how die-cutting tools work with shim tape to fully utilize this machine.
