Acoustic Mesh
Thin fabrics used in die cutting that either block sound (to make things quieter) or let sound pass through (so you can still hear clearly). They can also help control airflow and protect against wind, water, moisture, dust, and small particles.
Adhesive, Pressure Sensitive
A sticky material that feels tacky even when dry and sticks easily to different surfaces just by pressing it down — no heat or water needed.
Adhesive, Removable
A type of adhesive that sticks well but can be peeled off easily without damaging the surface. Sometimes, a little adhesive might stay behind depending on what surface it’s used on.
Adhesive Strike-Through
When the adhesive leaks through the top layer of a material instead of staying underneath where it belongs.
Air Ejection
Some cutting dies have tiny air jets that blow out the cut pieces or leftover scraps after cutting.
Air Holes
Small holes made in the die to let trapped air escape during die cutting. Without them, the air could get stuck inside and mess up the cutting or make it harder to remove the finished piece.
All-Steel Die
A die that’s made completely from steel — no other materials like wood or plastic involved. It’s very strong and durable.
Annealed Die Steel
Soft, untreated steel that’s easy to bend into shape before it’s hardened by heat. This makes it easier to create custom-shaped dies.
ANSI
Short for American National Standards Institute. It’s the organization that creates important rules and guidelines for how products and processes should work in the U.S.
Anvil
The hard surface where the die presses down to make the cut.
In rotary die cutting, it can be a soft urethane surface or a steel roll that supports the die during cutting.
Anvil Drum
A heavy steel or cast iron cylinder used in rotary die cutting. It holds the urethane blanket and the cutting die in place.
Arbor Press
A small hand-operated press with a long handle, used to apply strong downward pressure for die cutting.
Arc Welding
A method of welding where an electric stick (electrode) is used to melt and join metal parts together — often used to build die blades.
Automatic Feed Systems
Systems that automatically move material into position for die cutting, saving time and reducing manual work. They can use belts, rollers, or air tables to feed the material.
Backer Plates
A metal plate attached to the back of a clicker die. Foam is usually added to help push out the cut parts. Also used to hold the die securely in automatic die cutting machines.
Backplate Dies
Dies with a metal plate on the back. This plate supports the stripping material inside the die, helping remove cut parts smoothly.
Back Up Plate
A support plate placed behind a die to provide extra strength or stability.
Balancing Knives
Also called Leveling Knives, they are used to spread out the cutting pressure evenly in a die cutting press.
Bevels
The slanted edge on a cutting blade that helps it slice through materials. The angle and direction of the bevel affect how the material is cut.
Blanking Die
A two-part die used mostly for cutting metal. One part pushes down (female), and the other supports it from below (male), creating a clean shear cut. Also used to remove finished pieces from leftover scrap sheets.
Bonded Steel Rule Die
A strong type of steel rule die where top and bottom metal plates match and are separated by spacers. The cutting shape is carved into both plates and filled with bonding material for added strength.
Breaker Rules
Also called Chopper Rules, they help break off outer scraps from the main cutout during die cutting, reducing pressure and making cutting easier.
Bridging
Small gaps left in the die board where the blade is notched, so the blade can sit properly while still keeping the die board stable.
Cavity
A section within a die that makes a specific shape. A die can have many cavities to make multiple pieces at once.
In lasers, it’s the tube where the laser beam forms.
In rotary dies, it refers to the engraved part that cuts out one shape.
Center Bevel Rule
A type of cutting blade where the edge is perfectly centered in the middle of the blade’s thickness, providing a balanced cut.
Chisel
A die blade that slices or tears the material instead of making a full cut. Used to help remove material or reduce cutting pressure in tricky areas.
Cleanroom Manufacturing
Production done in a super clean environment, with strict control of temperature, humidity, dust, and particles — great for sensitive products like electronics or medical parts.
Closed Cell Foams
Foam materials that don’t let air or water pass through them. They’re dense, moisture-resistant, and good for sealing or insulation.
Chopper Knives
Blades placed in a die to cut scrap material into smaller pieces for easier handling or disposal.
Combo Die
A die that mixes steel rule cutting and male/female blanking parts. For example, outer shapes may use steel blades, while tight-tolerance details use more precise male/female parts.
It can also mean a die layout that includes several different box shapes in one run.
Compression Set Resistance
How well a soft material (like foam) can spring back after being squeezed. Materials with good resistance, like Poron, don’t stay flattened and hold their shape better over time.
Contract Die Cutting
A service where a die cutting company does cutting work for a customer’s specific project, based on an agreement or contract.
Custom Gaskets
Gaskets made to fit a specific shape or need, used to seal gaps between two surfaces. These are usually made from rubber, foam, or PTFE to prevent leaks or protect from dust and moisture.
Customer Supplied Materials
When customers provide their own materials for die cutting, manufacturers store and track the material carefully for each job, ensuring it doesn’t get mixed up.
Cutting And/Or Creasing Plate
A base plate made from hardened metal, used under the die to support the cutting or creasing process — usually made of flat stainless steel.
Cutting Head
The part of the die cutting machine where the die is installed. It moves down to press the die into the material and make the cut.
Cutting Pressure
The amount of force used by the cutting machine. Usually measured in tons. A general rule: about 500 pounds of force per inch of blade are needed, but that changes depending on the material.
Cutting Surface
The surface below the material that supports the die during cutting. It can be soft (to allow a bit of die penetration) or hard (to provide resistance for a sharp cut).
Dieboard
The base that holds the steel rule in a cutting die. It’s usually made from strong plywood and acts as the main support.
Die Adapter
A device that allows a die made for one type of cutting press to be used on a different kind of press.
Die Assembly
The complete cutting tool setup. It can include both the male and female parts used in a die to cut or shape materials.
Die Base Material
The material used to hold the steel blades in place. It can be plywood, plastic, metal, or a mix of materials.
Die Cutting
A method of cutting shapes out of materials using sharp-edged dies. It works on many materials from soft to semi-rigid, using presses to make parts from larger sheets.
Die Edge Bevels
The angled edge on a die blade. It affects how the blade cuts. There are different types of bevels (short, long, center, multi) based on the cutting needs. Some blades have an extra bevel (counter bevel), but clicker and high die blades often skip this for longer life and better cutting strength.
Die Side
The top view of the die where you can see the sharp cutting edges. In packaging, it’s called the “inside view.”
Die Stop
A metal block placed near the press columns to limit how far the press moves down. It stops the die from pressing too deep into the material.
Digital Die-Less Cutting
A high-tech cutting method that doesn’t use traditional dies. Instead, it uses computer-guided tools to cut precise shapes directly from sheets or rolls.
Dimensional Stability
The ability of a material (like paper or film) to stay the same size, even when temperature or moisture levels change.
DXF
Short for Data Exchange File. A digital file format that stores CAD drawings. It’s used to send design shapes to plotters or cutting machines.
EDM
Electronic Discharge Machining is a process used to remove metal. It’s commonly used in creating rotary dies, where electrical sparks are used to shape or cut the material.
Electrical Insulation
Materials used to protect electrical components from electric current. Examples of materials include fish paper, aramid paper, Mylar®, and ITW Formex® GK. These materials are used in devices like power supplies, appliances, computers, and telecommunications equipment.
EMI/ RFI Shielding
Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) and Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) are types of electromagnetic waves that can disrupt the operation of electronic devices. Shielding is used to block these waves and protect sensitive electronics from interference. Special materials are used to shield devices from EMI and RFI.
Fabric Supported
This refers to a material that has a scrim (a strong, loose weave of fibers) laminated into it. This scrim adds extra strength and stability to the material.
Feed Thru Punches
These are cutting punches used in die cutting. They are designed with clearance, so the material being cut can flow through the punch and be ejected from the back.
Female Stripping System
A system used in die cutting, consisting of both male and female stripping die components. It is placed in an auto platen die cutting press after the die cutting stage to remove the scrap sections from the die cut blank.
High Tonnage Beam Press
This is a type of die cutting equipment that provides full-width cutting. It is capable of handling large dies and ensures an accurate and uniform distribution of cutting power across the entire cutting area.
Hydraulic Beam Press
A cutting press that typically has two or four hydraulic cylinders. It is used for “into” cutting, especially for materials like leather, fabrics, and others. The cutting die can be mounted either on the head or the base of the press.
In Nick
A small “V” shape, half-round shape, or square shape cut into the edge of the die. It removes a small section from the die cut piece. This is used to help align different die-cut sections during assembly.
Incremental Feed
This is a feed system for a cutting press that feeds material in small increments. Each increment corresponds to the depth of the cutting bed of the press. It is also known as progressive feed, as seen in P-Feed Dies.
Insulation
Materials that have high dielectric strength and resistances to factors like heat, cold, moisture, chemicals, and radiation. These materials are commonly used for electrical components.
ISO 13485
An international standard for quality management systems in the design and manufacture of medical devices. It was published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) in 2003.
Just In Time Delivery
A methodology focused on reducing production flow times and improving response times from suppliers to customers. It ensures that materials and products are delivered only when they are needed, minimizing excess inventory and improving efficiency.
Kiss Cutting
A type of die cutting where a light impression is made with the cutting rule, cutting through the component material but not through the backing material. This technique is often used to create stickers or labels.
Knock-Out
A device used to remove scrap material from a die cut. It “knocks out” the leftover material after the cutting process is completed, helping to clear the die for the next cycle.
Laminate
A material made by bonding two or more layers together, often used in pressure-sensitive constructions. This process involves applying one layer of material over another to create a stronger or more durable composite.
Master Roll
A full-width roll of material that has completed the primary manufacturing process. It is typically untrimmed and unslit, serving as the original roll before further processing.
Matrix (Waste Selection)
The surrounding face material and adhesive of a self-adhesive label that are removed after the die cutting process. The matrix typically includes the waste areas that are no longer needed.
Membranes
Partially permeable filters that allow certain molecules to pass through while blocking others. The selectivity is determined by the pore size. Membranes can be made from materials like nylon, polypropylene, cellulose, nitrocellulose, glass fiber, and PTFE.
Metal Blanking Die
A type of die, also known as a male/female die, where the male section fits into the female section of the die, creating a shearing action that cuts through both soft and rigid materials.
Multi-Layer Cutting
A technique where several layers of material are stacked together before die cutting. It’s common to stack multiple layers of fabric (e.g., 3 or 4 inches in height) and cut through all layers in a single stroke of the press.
Nesting
The arrangement of similar or different parts on a printed sheet or layout in such a way that maximizes the use of material during the die cutting process. This helps reduce waste and improve efficiency by optimizing the layout.
Off Press Makeready
The preparation of a die and its cutting plate outside of the press, ensuring that everything is set up and ready for a perfect cut with no additional setup time once the die assembly is placed into the cutting press.
Open Cell Foams
Foams that have interconnected cells, making them permeable to moisture but not to air. These foams are often used for cushioning, insulation, or filtration.
Perforating Rule
A cutting rule that creates perforations in the material to be die-cut. These perforations help improve glue adherence in the folding and gluing process of folding cartons.
Pneumatic Press
An air-operated cutting press.
Porex®
A manufacturer of porous plastics and polymers with controlled pore sizes, used for filtering, wicking, venting, muffling, diffusing, and membrane support.
Porex® Chromatography Frits
Porous plastic frits made by Porex®, approved by USP23, non-cytotoxic, and sterilizable. Used in laboratory filtration, such as in liquid chromatographic systems, these frits control pore size and distribution while resisting pore closure under pressure.
Poron Foam
Microcellular urethanes by Rogers Corporation, ranging from soft to firm. They are used for sealing and impact management and support various adhesives. Ideal for long-term applications.
Power Strippers
A pneumatic tool used to pierce into stacks of die-cut blanks to strip away excess materials from finished parts.
Precision Die Cutting
The process of producing cut parts with tight tolerances and extreme accuracy, using methods like Steel Rule, Rotary, Matched Metal, or Digital Knife Cutting.
Press Head
The platen (upper) part of a press where you print or die cut against.
Press Plate
The cutting surface under which makeready is positioned.
Press Set-Up
Often called makeready. The preparation of a die or press for production.
Pressure Sensitive Adhesives
PSAs are adhesives that stick to surfaces without heat or solvent. They are used in multi-layer laminated systems and can be applied in specific zones or areas on a die-cut part, often by slitting or kiss-cutting.
Programmable Feeding
Computer-controlled automatic advancement of material into the cutting area of a press for die cutting.
Progressive Dies
Dies with multiple cutting stations, used for complex or multi-step die cutting and stripping operations.
Progressive Feed Dies
Long steel rule dies, sometimes up to 30 feet, used to cut multiple components of a product, fed incrementally under the head of a press to die cut each section cleanly.
Punch
Various cutting punches used in die cutting to create different shapes, such as holes, ovals, or squares. Types include center bevel, feed thru, cup, hang hole, inside wall, seamless, serrated, side outlet, threaded screw, and tube punches.
Quality Assurance
ISO 13485:2016 and ISO 9001:2015 certifications ensure that your parts will meet your specifications and exceed expectations. We use a quality management system that embraces lean manufacturing and utilizes the latest technology in non-contact laser inspection, ensuring acceptable quality levels for every project and part.
Quick Release Mechanisms
Fixtures and assemblies designed into the heads of cutting presses for the rapid removal and insertion of cutting dies, aimed at drastically reducing downtime during tooling changeovers.
Receding Head Cutting Press
A type of cutting press where the head moves back out of the die cutting area after completing its downward and upward stroke. The advantage is that an operator has a full view of the work area, allowing for easier material advancement and die placement for the next cut.
Release Liner
The component of pressure-sensitive label stock that functions as a carrier for the pressure-sensitive label. Before application, it protects the adhesive and easily separates from the label just before the label is applied to a product.
Repeatability
The ability of a cutting die to reproduce an exact duplicate cut part after each cutting action. It also refers to a system’s ability to duplicate its actions precisely, such as a plotter or sample maker returning to a previous position accurately.
Re-Ruling
Re-ruling refers to the process of re-knifing a steel rule die to replace a dull or worn cutting blade, restoring the die to its sharp condition for continued effective use.
Resharpening
Clicker and high dies can be resharpened multiple times. During resharpening, a small amount of height is lost as the edge is flattened and made parallel. The cutting edge is then filed back to its original condition. If overall height is critical, the back of the die may be spot-welded to add height, then ground back to the original height.
Rotary Die
A curved cutting die used in a rotary die cutter. It can be constructed using curved steel rule blades, machined by CNC or EDM methods from a solid cylinder blank. Flexible etched magnetic rotary dies are turned around a magnetic cylinder.
Rotary Die Cutter
A cutting press that uses rotating dies to cut and score soft to semi-rigid materials. Its principal benefits include speed and long die life.
Rotary Die Cutting
A form of die cutting that uses a cylindrical die on a rotary press. A web of material is fed through the press, where a cylindrical tool cuts out shapes, creates perforations or creases, or cuts the web into smaller parts.
Rubber Ejection
Rubber used to eject the finished product from a cutting die.
Rule, Perforating
Steel rule die blades that create perforated cuts in the material being die cut.
Scoring Rule
A steel blade that leaves an impression in a blank without cutting—usually a fold line.
Shim
A thin strip of steel, plastic, or even hard paper used as filler to build up the height of cutouts in a cutting die.
Shore Hardness
The hardness of plastics is most commonly measured by the Shore® (Durometer) test. The Shore A scale is used for ‘softer’ rubbers, while the Shore D scale is used for ‘harder’ ones. The hardness value is determined by the penetration of the Durometer indenter foot into the sample.
Shoulder Cutting Punch
A cutting punch with a shoulder machined onto the base of the punch.
Side Outlet Punch
A cutting punch that ejects the die cut pill or slug out the side of the punch, rather than flowing directly through the punch and out the back of the die.
Silicone Membrane
Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is used as a barrier to liquids and a permeable path for gaseous elements and compounds. Applications include laboratory products and medical devices such as catheters, implants, valves, gaskets, and thin silicone films.
Slitting and Laminating
Complete in-line production for multi-layer/multi-step components.
Solid Milled Clicker Die
A close-tolerance clicker type die manufactured from a solid piece of tool steel. It can be milled on a milling machine or wire cut on a Wire EDM machine. Normally, bent or forged clicker dies are made to a commercial tolerance of W0.015”, but when closer tolerances are required, a solid milled clicker die is often used.
Sponge and Foam
Used for gaskets, seals, pads, cushions, packaging, electrical, thermal, and acoustic insulators, and vibration isolation and damping to ensure a proper seal and protect against dust or environmental factors.
Static
Electrical charges generated in handling materials that cause materials to cling together. These charges can jump to humans or equipment, causing shocks or fire if solvents are present. With films, it causes them to cling to one another or to other insulating surfaces.
Steel Counterplate
A steel rule cutting plate with creasing channels that can be chemically etched, machined, or engraved into the surface.
Steel Rule
The cutting element of a steel rule die; it can be a cutting rule, creasing rule, perforating rule, or combination rule.
Steel-to-Steel
A die-cutting method where a steel-cutting die is cut against a steel-cutting base. It can also refer to a method where two rotary dies are cut against each other.
Stripping Die
A two-piece die normally used on an automatic platen press to mechanically remove scrap from a die-cut sheet.
Stroke
The upward or downward action of a cutting press.
Tolerances
Permissible limit or limits of variation in a physical dimension.
Tonnage
Each die cutting press has a specific capacity or tonnage, referring to the pressure available on the downstroke of the press head. One ton equals 2000 pounds of downward pressure.
Unwind Stands
Roller stands that unwind a coil of material just before a die cutting station.
Vents
Vents are openings designed to allow air or gases to escape or enter. They are important for maintaining proper airflow, temperature, and pressure within systems, ensuring they work reliably and efficiently.
Washers
Washers are flat, round pieces made from different materials, and they serve many purposes. They can seal things, space out parts, insulate, and reduce vibrations. Non-metallic washers, which are usually made from rubber or plastic, are cheaper than metal ones and can be made in many sizes. For example, they can have an outer diameter as small as 0.100 inches and thicknesses ranging from 0.005 to 0.12 inches. You’ll often find washers used in machines like pumps, valves, compressors, electric motors, and in industries like oil and gas.
Wicks
Wicks are materials that use their porous structure to draw fluids through them, thanks to a process called capillary action. This means they can move liquids from one place to another, even against gravity. Wicks are designed to control how much liquid they can hold and how fast they transfer it, making them great for things like oil lamps, air fresheners, or any system where liquid movement is needed.
