Rubber Die Cutting: Learn the Facts On How It Works

We use an amazing variety of rubber products in our everyday lives. From gaskets that seal out water to insulators that protect wires, rubber does it all! Often, to get rubber into its required shapes, manufacturers will use rubber die cutting tools and techniques.

Die cutting is one of the quiet MVPs of manufacturing tools. It performs a wide range of functions that allow manufacturers to mass-produce parts to spec. Whether you’re an OEM manufacturer or a start-up prototyping a product, CTI has rubber die cutting solutions for you. To begin, we’ll review some of the basics of die cutting.

How Does Die Cutting Work?

Have you ever seen molds used to cut out biscuits or cookies from a sheet of dough? If so, you already understand the basic concept of die cutting. The process involves taking a metal stamp or blade and applying pressure to it. When you apply this pressure to a sheet of material, it produces a precise cut in the shape you need.

Using a die cutting machine offers many advantages for a manufacturer. For one thing, the process is highly reliable so long as the manufacturer uses quality tools and materials. In addition, many die cutting methods can produce large amounts of parts to spec quickly. That makes them ideal for mass-producing small components.

Applications for Die Cut Rubber

Rubber materials are key parts of many consumer goods and mechanical devices. In many cases, die cutting is the standard choice for producing these rubber parts. That’s why so many different industries use die cut rubber.

Where might you find die cut rubber parts used in everyday life?

Gaskets
Washers
O-rings
Bushings
Bumpers and padding
Electrical insulators

These are far from the only applications—only a few of the most common. Manufacturers also use die cutting on the many different types of rubber, from neoprene to silicone and beyond.

Know Your Die Cutting Methods

Flatbed die cutting and rotary die cutting are the most common two types of die cutting. Here’s a quick summary of both:

Flatbed Die Cutting: Uses a hydraulic press to impress and cut shapes from a steel rule die into a rubber web material
Rotary Die Cutting: A motorized drive runs a rubber web material underneath a rotating die that applies pressure to and cuts the web

However, plenty of other cutting methods exist. Water jet cutting and other advanced technologies are becoming more popular, too. CTI offers a variety of die cutting methods, so you’ll be able to choose the best one for your project.

Of course, that raises the inevitable question: What’s the best die cutting method for rubber? The shortest and most correct answer: The one that’s best suited for your project’s specific needs. However, steel rule cutting using a flatbed die press is the most common process that manufacturers use for this purpose.

CTI’s Rubber Die Cutting Services

If you need die cut rubber services on demand, you need CTI. We’re an industry leader in precision die cutting for rubber and dozens of other materials. Our conversion manufacturing pros have worked with clients like Du Pont, Ford, and Firestone, and we know what works.

Not only that, but our die cutting experts are always happy to help devise custom solutions. Do you have a rubber die cutting problem that other manufacturers haven’t solved? We’ll help you take a fresh look with our modular manufacturing setup. With so many options for reconfiguring a given manufacturing process, CTI can almost always find a way to help.

We make it easy to get started with our friendly service! Just call CTI at 419-924-5566, and our experts will be delighted to talk to you. Or, get started with a free online quote today.

Choose Contract or Toll Manufacturing from CTI

CTI provides full-service toll manufacturing and contract manufacturing for die cutting and other manufacturing needs. Our extensive range of conversion manufacturing services includes:

We design our services to maximize the advantages that toll manufacturing offers. These include:

Quality: We use a robust quality assurance process to verify that our output always meets client standards.
Flexibility: Our modular facility design makes it easy to perform market testing, R&D, and iterative manufacturing process design.
Convenience: Services are available on demand when your business needs them.
Service: CTI’s manufacturing professionals guide our clients every step of the way.

Toll Manufacturing vs. Contract Manufacturing

You might also hear the term “contract manufacturing” used in similar contexts as toll manufacturing. Contract manufacturing and toll manufacturing are similar, but they have one big difference.

The main distinction between the two is that contract manufacturing outsources the entire end-to-end manufacturing process. In a contract manufacturing agreement, the third party manufacturer will also handle tasks such as sourcing raw materials for the manufacturer.

Both toll manufacturing and contract manufacturing can be good choices for businesses that need manufacturing services. Toll processing is often a better choice for businesses with a well established supply chain and a robust supplier network. In contrast, contract manufacturing is a popular choice for manufacturers who need to outsource their entire supply chain process.

Businesses can get started with a toll or contract manufacturing quote from CTI today. Call us at 419-924-5566 or contact us online. Our conversion manufacturing experts will be happy to provide you with a free quote and walk you through the process.