Innovative development of die-cutting process

(A MOVING CUT--New technologies are showing that the old tried and tested methods are not always best) The emergence of new technologies is gradually proving that old methods and old processes that were once considered correct and reliable are not the best, Innovation brings new processes and methods. Die-cutting in the field of post-press processing is undergoing an innovative change. Innovative die-cutting equipment enables die-cutting of printed products in a different way than ever before. The device is compact in design and capable of die-cutting paper, plastic or corrugated paper. Even without alignment rules, it can die-cut the desired print pattern very accurately and at high speed. Originally, Bill Knott invented the die-cutting equipment and thought that the equipment was cheap and full-featured. With this equipment, he could earn money and many people would come to the door. The fact did not disappoint him too much. The buyer will not be able to flock in the next few years, of course, as he imagined. People are still accustomed to relying on traditional equipment. Until now, people have begun to pay more attention to new die-cutting equipment as the new die-cutting equipment has gradually formed its climate in the market. The new die-cutting equipment, named Spartanics M500 Decorated Materials and Diecutting System, is die-cut in different ways. This is evident from the name of the device. Traditional die-cutting systems all require a positioning point, after the die-cutting reaches the die-cut position, it is positioned to the precise die-cut point by pushing or pulling it. This traditional die-cutting system is clearly outdated and replaced by sophisticated, sophisticated, high-tech and efficient new systems. At the heart of this new system is an optical sensor and a dynamic die-cut system called the Way Block. The Way Block uses a set of servo micro-drive systems and includes all the components necessary to ensure precise positioning. The servo drive moves the moving paper or paper to a predetermined preset position of the optical reading device and achieves extremely accurate positioning by the following method. At approximately 13 mm from the die-cut position, the optical sensor reads the pre-printed alignment mark on the die cut and issues a series of commands to the servo drive motor on the Way Block to indicate the correct position. The amount of movement required. In order to position the die cutting part in the X direction (left or right), the positioning device grasps one end of the paper by a pair of roller rollers. The lower roller in the roller is driven by a servo motor, and the upper roller is equipped with a phase encoder. A software program in the encoder can measure the amount of movement of the die cut in the roller and measure it in micrometers. This process is very similar to the adjustment in a shaftless drive printer. The movement in the Y direction (advance or retreat, similar to the pre-specified position) is achieved through the Way Block. The diecuts on the Way Block (which includes the X-direction-adjusted coder roller) are also adjusted by the servo drive of the motor. This is very similar to the moving drive of the imaging laser heads in the in-house drum platesetters, but the more complicated point is that they can also be rotated in planes. They are all combined in the device called Flexure on Spartanics. Flexure actually resembles a rigid spring that is easy to move in one direction but hard to move in other directions. After the Flexure is fitted with a drive motor, the Way Block can achieve limited rotation in the plane. The optical sensor is in the corresponding position on the die cut surface, and the software is used to calculate the amount of adjustment required by the die cut. Adjustments can be made in any direction of the plane on the adjustment platform, and the die cutting device can still be at 180 times per minute (10000 Times/hour) work at speed. Although all this sounds so complicated that some people are daunting, there is no need to worry so much. Because this technology is now mature and has a good reputation, one example is the mirror in the platesetter. The Agfa Avantra mirror can be rotated at 68,000 rpm, and on B1-size films, dot registration accuracy of 14 microns can be achieved at any position. Although, Spartanics M500 is unlikely to change the entire die-cutting world, we are still full of confidence because this new set of equipment provides a choice that expands our choice of die-cutting methods and can reach previously impossible. The function achieved. In order to understand this further, it is necessary to first understand how die-cutting is performed in packaging printing. No matter what system is used for die-cutting, whether it is platform-based or rotary die-cutting equipment, it needs positioning rules to achieve first-class die-cutting level. It is difficult to meet the requirements of die-cutting precision for die-cut without positioning. of. If the equipment used for die-cutting, such as the rotary die-cutting system on a narrow web press, cannot achieve precise-positioned die-cutting, the range of print jobs that can be used to complete die-cutting will be greatly limited. With more and more short-run prints on the market, more types of prints and more tight deadlines for processing make the die-cutting process facing fierce competition. Therefore, the use of several types of equipment with different specifications can certainly achieve greater processing maneuverability. Of course, this must be reflected in the processing cost, so this method is not the best choice. When die-cutting large-format printed sheets, in order to ensure true accurate positioning, the relationship between the die-cut image and the mold is often controlled by a third factor, that is, the relationship between the die-cut image and the two edges of the printed sheet. decided. When using the rules for positioning, it depends on the edge of the printed sheet to ensure the accuracy of die-cutting positioning. However, when die-cutting is performed on different devices, problems may arise and are reflected in die-cutting. For example, in the printing press offset printing, and then in the die-cutting equipment die-cutting processing, when the die-cutting parts reach the cutting rules, at this time relative to the printed image on the paper, positioning accuracy depends mainly on the die-cutting parts On the image location. In most cases, die cutting is aimed at multiple images. Due to the relative relationship between the printed image and the printed sheet, the position of the die cut can not be accurately predicted. Therefore, the cropped image may not be consistent in each stack or between the stack and the stack. Although the difference in the die cutting position is small, it may cause uneven cutting edges, graphic patterns, and other problems in the entire die cutting product, which is sometimes very serious. It is already very clear that even if different equipments, big and small, are used together, they are not necessarily mobile in post-press processing. What kinds of die-cutting equipment should be used for certain types of print jobs must be selected when they have just received print, and there is almost no more time for selection. In addition, the way in which India should work in the most economical way is to urge people to print as many images as possible on a given web. Although many production managers know this idea is not necessarily correct, they still act accordingly. The Spartanics M500 system is a challenge to the entire printing industry workflow. Now, M500 has been widely used in the edge applications of the mainstream printing industry, such as the production of bank cards and credit cards, and decal printing. However, the printing and packaging industry does not seem to have noticed the principles applied in the Spartanics device. It is perhaps more appropriate to say that they have not noticed and neglected. For example, the status of Spartanics in Europe is still low. The principle of positioning using optical identification devices has long been used in a large number of applications. The application of the optical positioning system can eliminate for you an annoying third factor, namely the impact of the two edges of the diecut on the position of the die cut, especially in the case of multiple image die cuts. In addition, the preparation before processing and the choice of mold are equally important. A regular job that requires a long processing cycle is generally printed in bulk and needs to be stored. The cost of storage and corresponding management is naturally related to economies of scale. But if the die-cutting equipment can be chosen properly, in most cases the additional cost of storage and management will be only the general management fee of the company. The Spartanics method provides selectivity. First, according to what type of processing and choose a more appropriate mold, you can use steel mold or Yin Yang mold. Although expensive yin and yang molds have many advantages and have a longer service life, it is difficult to have large-size molds when performing die-cutting on large sheets. The small-area die-cutting preparation time may be shorter, so no matter how long or short the print job can be die-cut on demand. In addition, the die cutting of a smaller size print is relatively simple. As long as the goal of profitability is positioned throughout the entire process, not just the size of the print, such a company will soon become a winner in the market. Through the technical innovation of the die-cutting positioning system, Spartanics provides a more advanced and more practical die-cutting processing method for the post-press processing. This not only enables the traditional die-cutting process to reach a level, but also enables the organic integration of die-cutting processing and printing. together. Due to the introduction of advanced optical identification devices, sensing devices and independent drive, software technology, and easy to further upgrade, so that the die-cutting process has a better prospect for innovation and development.