Dies for Leather Cutting

By: Ethan O. Tanner

A clicker press is a machine that cuts shapes out of rolls of soft material, such as rubber, cardboard, or leather, using a sharp metal part called a die. A metal tool and die shop will get a pattern, and bend, weld and form pre-sharpened steel into a die. A cutting die is generally a steel cutting tool to be used with a clicker press.

Cutting Dies are appropriate for cutting paper, leather, rubber, plastic and numerous others including envelope cutting dies, label cutting dies, clicker dies, window dies, punch dies, gasket cutting dies, washer dies, trimming dies, high dies, threaded punch dies, rotary panel cutters, corner blades, strap dies and more.

There are six basic types of cutting dies: Beverly Clicker Dies, Single Edge Dies, Double Edge Dies, Gang Dies, Precision Milled Dies, and Serrated Edge Dies. These dies are crafted from steel and will generally last for tens of thousands of cuts.

The Beverly Clicker Die is used principally in the Shoe and Leather Garment Industries. It is simply a clicker die built around a center plate, which acts as a brace like reinforcement, making a very solid and durable die.

Double edge dies are used in applications with an identical right and left piece. To greatly reduce die cost the double edge die may be used . Such applications would be the shoe and glove trades. A good example would be a moccasin die with a distinct left and right size. By constructing a two sided die the price is less than making two distinct dies for right and left size.

Gang dies are standard clicker dies in dual configurations for high volume or multiple part situations. A good example of a gang die would be a key fob in which you have orders for 10,000 pieces. Instead of just die cut one at a time it would be productive to cut a 2 up or 3 up gang die to do the cutting job with efficiency

Precision Milled Dies are an extremely accurate die milled from high grade tool steel. The solid steel milled die is most effective when used in very close tolerance high production situations. Precision dies are often used where extremely tight corners and fine tolerances are involved. This type of die may be pricy as it requires a fair amount of time and skilled labor and high priced machinery.

New technology in cutting dies features a serrated edge that allows the die to penetrate multiple layers of materials much easier than conventional edge cutting dies. These special edge dies also help eliminate fusing with many materials. A good use of this type of dye would be cutting of multiple layers of vinyl.

If you are cutting leather, and have a product that has a run of at least 500 pieces, then a cutting press (clicker) and steel cutting dies are a strong consideration. You might look at buying a cutting press for your manufacturing, or there are companies that will subcontract cutting for your business.

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Leather businessman and author Ethan O. Tanner describes the different varities of leather cutting dies and gives tips on usingleather cutting dies for your project.

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