Broaching, Grinding, Welding

The production of steel rule dies also requires the following technologies:

• Broaching: This process involves reducing the thickness of the steel rule by removing material from the cutting rule in the areas where it will be bent. This ensures the rule maintains a consistent height and allows for a tighter bending radius.

• Grinding: The two most common grinding steps in die-making are: (1) grinding nicks or holding points (small interruptions ground into the bevel of the cutting edge to control material flow), and (2) grinding precise right angles to miter two cutting rules together seamlessly.

• Welding in Die-Making: Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG) welding is the preferred method in the die-making industry due to its precision and reliability. It is primarily used to securely join cutting rules, ensuring stability during the die-cutting process. Additionally, TIG welding is employed to construct the blanking grid, a critical component used in the third station of an automatic die-cutter. Since 2024, fiber-laser welding has gained popularity for its efficiency; however, it remains a high-risk process that demands stringent safety protocols to ensure safe integration into daily operations.