Dies and tooling

Laser-cut dies, and the tooling that goes with them

What each one is and what it's for, in plain words. When you're ready, send us the drawing.

Send us your die drawing Call 09 269 0090

Rotary dies

A rotary die is a curved plywood shell, laser cut and set with steel cutting and creasing rules. It bolts onto the die cylinder of a rotary die-cutter, and the sheet is cut as it runs between the die and the anvil.

Because it turns rather than stamps, a rotary die suits long runs at production speed. Rubber fitted beside the rules pushes the sheet off the blades as it comes through.

Rotary die on a stand in the workshop, set with steel rules and white ejection rubber — Rotary die in the workshop

Rotary die on a cylinder, steel rules set into the curved plywood — Rules set in the curved shell

Rotary die fitted with grey and blue ejection rubber, the Ryco mark etched on the shell — Rubber fitted, Ryco mark etched

Flat forme die board with cutting rules and brown ejection rubber along each rule — Flat forme die, rubbered

Auto platen die board laid out with rows of cutting rules, the Ryco mark etched in one corner — Auto platen die

Flat forme dies

A flat forme die is a flat plywood board, laser cut to hold steel cutting, creasing and perforating rules. It runs on platen and flatbed die-cutters, cutting and creasing a whole sheet with each stroke.

Rubber along the rules pushes the sheet clear after each cut.

Auto platen dies

Flat forme dies made for automatic platen die-cutters.

03 to 05

The tooling around the die

Close-up of stripping tooling: steel blades set into a plywood board

Die and stripping

A die with its stripping tooling. On an automatic platen, the stripping tools push the waste out of each cut sheet, so only the job goes on down the line.

Phenolic counter plates laid out on the bed of a die-cutting press

Phenolic counters

Counter plates in phenolic board that sit opposite the creasing rules. Each one is grooved to match the creases, so the board folds cleanly where it should.

A milling head working over a sheet of stainless steel

Milled stainless steel

Stainless steel, milled to your drawing.

How a laser-cut die is made

From your drawing to a die that's ready for the press, in three steps.

Photo to comeThe laser cutting a die board
Step 01
The board is laser cut
A laser cuts narrow slots through the plywood wherever your drawing puts a cut, a crease or a perforation.
Photo to comeSteel rule being bent and set into a board
Step 02
The rules are bent and set
Steel cutting, creasing and perforating rules are bent to the shape of each slot and pressed into the board.
Step 03
The rubber goes on
Ejection rubber is fitted along the rules, so the sheet comes away from the die cleanly on every cut.

Send us your die drawing

Email it to orders@rycodies.co.nz, or call to talk it through.

Email your drawing Call 09 269 0090