Laser digital die-cutting uses laser to vaporize materials to complete die-cutting processing of various products. Laser digital die-cutting technology is attracting attention in the field of traditional die-cutting with high efficiency and flexibility.

A typical laser die-cutting system consists of a carbon dioxide laser, a power supply unit, a cooling device, software, and a fume extraction system. If the laser die-cutting system is not connected to an existing printer, a web-feeding system is also required. In addition, a registration camera monitoring system is also necessary. All in all, if this technology is used, john Dillon, deputy general manager of sales and marketing at 1800-30000-LasX, said that this is roughly equivalent to the price of a pre-press upgrade.

In addition, the previous laser die cutting system uses a fixed laser device to move the X-Y coordinates internally. Some users do not have this technology because their processing speed cannot meet their needs. Chriss Chow, deputy general manager of the Paper Machining Division at Laser Machining, said that the newer galvanometer system uses controlled laser beams and rotating lenses to move the laser faster. According to reports, this device can handle 80-600 inches per second.

The laser digital die-cutting system can perform stepping operation with intermittent or pointer movement, and can also be die-cut during movement. The laser beam programming program controls the continuous movement. The speed of die cutting can be adjusted. The laser beam can either completely cut through the material or add different adjustment parameters. Only the cutting paper can be cut, and the bottom sheet can be die cut, ie, a certain depth can be cut or punched.

The advantages of laser digital die cutting

Laser digital die cutting has many advantages. From the point of view of flexibility, the laser can move in any direction and can die-cut any complex shape: the shape of each die-cutting unit can be changed during operation, so that the packaging and trademark production Fully personalized. In addition, accuracy is the strength of the digital system. Laser digital die-cutting can easily achieve tolerances of 0.003 inches and can even compensate for the inherent insensitivity of printing and finishing. Materials can be stretched during printing and finishing, Chow said. Lasers can be adjusted to this, but previous die-cutting could not do this.

The laser digital die-cutting system can efficiently perform scratch operations with high yields, and the pattern of scratches can be modified at the last minute without interrupting production. Simple open and complex shapes have the same production cost and time of production. From the point of view of return rate, the end user can directly control the middle and short production without having to save a lot of diecuts, Dillon Say they can immediately respond to the customer's request, because it saves the time to make a die-cut.

Jules Farkas, Wave Front Technology's manager, said that laser digital die cutting does not require a die cut and it does not require the use of other tools to make holes. The flesh material is cut to the desired shape.

From an aesthetic point of view, laser digital die cutting also has many advantages. Because it is die-cut without pressure, the die-cut material will not be damaged. In particular, the die-cut pressure-sensitive label has a better peelability after conventional circular die cutting.

Laser digital die-cutting market

Laser digital die cutting can be said to be completely open in the packaging industry. LasX's LaserSharp module can be used for the processing of various paper products and is widely open, but so far, the packaging industry does not yet have the system, Dillon said, this market is only a beginning.

However, Dillon has already seen hope in the digital with the manufacturer, they believe that laser digital die cutting will be a digital printing machine on-line die-cutting solutions available. Because the speed of the laser digital die is about the same as the speed of a digital press, theoretically speaking, the user can stop running the 10 different printing and finishing jobs without having to stop the printer.

Wave Front Technologies' Softdie digital laser die-cutting system was developed specifically for the label processing market. It can be compatible with most existing label printers and can be processed offline at speeds up to 600 per second. inch.

The packaging user has installed a digital laser die-cutting system. Wave Front Technologies' Farkas said. Most of these installation sites are kept in good secrecy, and the manufacturers of the systems are usually also bound by the agreement that does not reveal the matter. However, although this technology has now entered the market, the market itself is still in an immature stage.

Laser Machining's AcuTear and AcuBreathe lasers were introduced in January 2000 to provide flexible packaging and laser scratch and laser micropore functionality. Chow explained that laser-accurate cutting does not damage other composite packaging layers, and the package still retains its properties because it is not cut by the laser.

Chow emphasized that laser technology can achieve some very special processes on flexible packaging that cannot be achieved by ordinary die cutting. Rotary die cutting cannot use very small holes to ensure ventilation of the package, because it cannot clearly cut out such small holes. Die cutting waste may block these holes.

The trend of laser digital die cutting

Vendors are working hard to solve the problems that have hampered the development of digital laser die cutting, including compatibility issues with materials, the ability of lasers to return at acute angles, and the problems of cutting fabrics without damaging the backing paper.

For example, many dedicated controls have been developed. Laser Machining's AcuPower galvanometer controller automatically adjusts the laser power when cutting complex patterns or sharp angles.

Vendors are also increasing the speed of laser cutting operations to match the base energy with the speed of traditional presses. According to Wave Front Technology, depending on the complexity of the materials and jobs used, their SoftDie systems can be demonstrated at speeds of 100-300 ft/min.

Can laser digital die-cutting eventually become the standard in the field of die-cutting? Farkas thinks it can be, he predicted: In 10 years, everyone will use the laser digital die-cutting system.

Chow believes that laser digital die cutting is relatively costly due to its accuracy and high technical content. If you can achieve the required speed and accuracy with rotary die-cutting, then use rotary die-cutting. Both technologies have their own markets, and they can also work together on the same production line.

Source: Ke Yin Media