What is a Die Cutting Machine?

A die-cutting machine (also called a card-creating machine to some crafters) will take several forms. The machine’s purpose is to use the die to the surface being cut (paper, chipboard, etc.), with enough force to chop or kind the form into the aforesaid surface. Die-cutting machines within the crafts trade will be manual or digital, and even at intervals, those sorts will have many various options. Most manual die-cutting machines have a cutting path that ends up in compression rollers through which the die and material are captive by either manual cranking of a lever or an electrical motor. With digital die-cutting machines, the fabric is placed on a cutting mat and fed into the machine to be cut by the machine’s blade.

What is a Die?

Nested DiesBoth varieties of die-cutting machines, manual or digital, cut styles supported dies. A die may be a pattern or kind that's used for making identical duplicates out of materials like paper, cork, fabric, leather, foam, skinny metal and wood, chipboard, and alternative materials. remember the kitchen utensil comparison.

For manual die-cut machines, there are 2 major varieties of dies: steel rule and skinny metal. skinny metal dies are made from incised metal with the centers cut out. they need a flat back and a skinny raised space that traces out the look and is the leading edge.

Steel rule dies are a lot of sort of steel kitchen utensils – a steel “rule” is made into the form to be cut. This rule or “cookie cutter” is then hooked up to a wood base with the steel edges enclosed by protecting foam that serves to defend the steel and to stop the cut items from obtaining stuck down within the die.

Steel rule dies are stronger and have a lot of cutting force than skinny metal dies so they will track tougher materials (such as mat board or leather) or a lot of layers of fabric promptly (such as multiple layers of material for making quilt pieces). However, it's doable to make way more elaborated styles with skinny metal dies, and skinny metal dies are way more reasonable. skinny metal dies also are lightweight and take up less area to store.

For digital die-cut machines, the “dies” are digital files that function patterns to inform the machine what to chop. totally different machine makers use proprietary file formats for their machines, however, several machines can even use wide-out SVG files or maybe import files like .jpeg files for conversion to use in their code.

Manual Die Cut Machines vs. Digital Die Cut Machines

A lot of things go into considering whether or not a manual die cutter or digital die cutter (or a mixture of both) is best for a scrapbooker. to urge the simplest of each world, some crafters value investing in each variety of die cut machine.

Manual machines are more cost-effective as AN initial investment, however, the price of individual dies for them will build them dearer to use in the long haul. Stampers might love a manual die-cut machine for the convenience of operating with the massive kind of dies out there that match their favorite stamps. Manual die-cut machines even have a capability that digital machines don’t – they will additionally boss paper and skinny metal exploitation plastic embossing folders. exploitation steel rule dies, manual machines can even simply cut a large array of materials.

You place your die of alternative along with your paper of alternative on the board, however you wish it cut, then you cowl it with a protecting, clear board (usually stated as a mat). Next, flip the lever, and also the mat can return out the opposite facet. you'll be able to take the clear mat off and pop the clean-cut paper right out of your die. Voila!

Digital machines have the advantage of the pliability of digital–style files will be resized and even changed to suit the look variety of the creator. Digital machines even have the advantage of 24/7 access to online stores to buy simply the look that you simply would like for the project that you simply are functioning on. however digital machines aren't as moveable as manual machines, particularly as a result of they need the power to work.

We're massive proponents of ability by hand and we encourage crafters to urge out from behind their computers and to the table to physically produce, by hand, as usually as doable. There are several health and emotional advantages of handstitched expressive style. For this reason, if you are really on the fence, and unsure which sort of machine is best for you, you will need to travel with a manual machine. it'll keep you off of your digital device and at the inventive table longer.