Choosing the Best Slitting Blades

In the vinyl, film, fabric, paper, laminates, and non-woven industries, products are often manufactured into large, bulk material rolls. Because these rolls are too large to utilize in the end product, many industry manufacturers covert the material into smaller rolls for final production through a process called “slitting.” During this process, the material on a roll is unwound and cut into specific widths by passing through a series of blades. The blades used during the slitting process will have a significant impact on the final quality of a product. Therefore, it is important to pick the best slitting blades to use.

How to Choose the Best Blade for Your Slitting Processes

At Carolina Knife & Manufacturing, Inc., we are an industry leader in manufacturing industrial slitter blades and other industrial knife-related parts and accessories. Choosing the ideal blade for your slitting process can be a challenge; however, shear slitting blades, razor slitting blades, and crush cut slitting blades are among the three most popular types. In this blog, we are going to take a closer look at the three to help make your decision easier.

Shear Slitting Blades

Shear slitting blades are typically used in applications and industries that require precise cuts. Although setting up shear slitting can be expensive and difficult, it is effective in converting heavy films, paper, foils, composites, and layered materials. The shear slitting process requires two blades, one on the top and one on the bottom. The top blade is referred to as the “male slitter,” and the bottom as the “female blade” or “anvil.” Like a pair of hand scissors, the two blades come together to a cutting point. This slitting process creates the least amount of heat, which is why it is often used in environments that require high-demand operations and runtimes.

The best way to maintain these blades is to ensure that the cutting point is exact. If not set correctly, the blades will wear quicker than usual. Additionally, the blades can be sharpened to increase the life of shear slitting knives. The most common material used for these blades is D2 Steel. In unique applications where the material being slit increases blade wear, other steel blades like M2 or carbon steel can be used as a durable alternative.

At Carolina Knife & Manufacturing, Inc., we manufacture a variety of shear slitting blades. Our shear slitting blades are available in a wide range of popular materials. To learn more about our shear slitting blades, contact a sales representative.

 

Learn More About Industrial Blade Sharpening

Learn More About Industrial Blade Sharpening

Razor Slitting Blades

Razor slitting is one of the easiest and economical processes to set up. This process is most commonly used in applications that convert plastics, films, tapes, vinyl, or ribbons. With razor slitting, the material can be cut into very narrow slit widths while producing little dust. This makes it one of the cleanest slitting methods.

While the blades used for razor slitting are typically inexpensive and require replacement more frequently, their lifespan can be increased with the proper care and sharpening. However, when replacing razor slitting blades, it is recommended to change all the blades that are mounted on the bar. The best razor slitting blade material depends on the material being slit and the needs of the operation. For short runs, stainless steel or carbon slitting blades will do the trick. For longer runs and to reduce maintenance-related downtime, a higher quality blade material, such as tungsten carbide will offer much better performance.

Carolina Knife & Manufacturing, Inc. manufactures industrial circular razor slitter blades for your slitting processes. We manufacture these blades from a wide range of materials and for all conversion industries where this type of cutting is used. For more information on our blades, contact our industrial knife specialists.

Crush Cut Blades

Crush cut blades are used to separate thick, tough, and non-woven materials, laminates, paper, and fabrics. The ragged edge created by this process causes rolls of material to be thicker on the inside and thinner on the outside. Although this slitting process offers the poorest cut quality, it is very simple to set up and requires affordable parts. In a crush cut slitter, the blade is held in place by a pneumatic holder and activated by air pressure. During the slitting process, the blade presses into the material and runs against a hardened anvil to separate the web of the material. When selecting a crush cut blade material, it is important to consider the hardness of the anvil since it is more expensive to replace than the blade, not to mention the blade presses against the anvil continuously during the slitting process.

The best slit blade material for your slitting process depends on runtime requirements as well as the material that is being cut. When the ideal blade material is used, production can increase significantly. If you need assistance choosing the best slitting blade for your process, contact a representative at Carolina Knife & Manufacturing, Inc. Our experts know how to evaluate your business needs and recommend an ideal blade material.

 

 

Carolina Knife & Manufacturing, Inc.