Graphic Design

Die Cutting Foam-X Recovery Material

One of the most common applications for the Foam-X® Recovery product is die cutting.

Die cutting with steel rule dies allows for the rapid production of flat shapes or cutouts. Typical applications would include letters and shapes, openings in a sheet used as part of an assembly, and 3D assemblies. This process can utilize one of the unique features of Foam-X® Recovery, edge memory. The key elements to consider when die cutting are the press, the steel rule, the ejection rubber and the substrate. Each of these elements must be selected properly to yield satisfactory results.

The polystyrene foam core of Foam-X® Recovery will not compress during die cutting. Foam-X® Recovery has the unique property that the die cut foam will retain it’s memory and not crush. The foam tends to assume its original thickness. This results in the die cut edges remaining open or near 90 degrees along the cut edge. This material is used when crisp or sharp edges are needed. This product should not be used for embossing.



Definition of Steel Rule Die Cutting


During die cutting, the steel rule die (SRD) assembly is fixed under the top platen, and the Foam-X® Recovery Material sheet is placed on a steel bottom platen. Pressure is applied to force the knives of the SRD through the Foam-X® Recovery Material sheet. The platens are then opened and the parts removed.

Steel Rules:

The most common type of steel rule used to cut Foam-X® Recovery is a 3 point cutting rule.

Cutting Rules:

Cutting rules may have three types of bevels: A center bevel, inside bevel, and outside bevel.

A center bevel is "V" shaped, i.e., honed from both sides. For Foam-X® Recovery, the center bevel should be a facet (double double) cut. This means that the "V" is formed by two obtuse angles coming to a point. A center bevel is used when both the inside and the outside of a cut have to be saved, e.g., as in a puzzle. In this case, the cut is wedge-shaped so that the cut face on the periphery is sloping away from the inside and the cut on the inside piece is sloping away from the outside. The longer the bevel and the narrower the thickness (point) of the rule, the straighter the cut.

An inside bevel has the straight unhoned side of the rule on the outside of thecut and the beveled side on the inside of the cut. The rule of thumb is that the beveled side is always towards the scrap.


Stripping and Ejection Rubbers

Stripping rubber is essential when cutting Foam-X® Recovery Material. It serves to prevent cracking in the die cut piece. Liner cracking problems need to be considered whenever coated products such as Foam-X® Recovery Materials are die cut.

Rubber used to merely remove the part from the die is called ejection rubber. Rubber is rated by its hardness. Typical Shore "00" durometer hardness ratings are: Soft 20 – 40, Medium 30 – 50, and Hard 40 – 60. The proper techniques for the use of ejection rubber with Foam-X® Recovery Material include:

  3. A hard rubber is most commonly used to produce a square edge. It is best to completely rubber the rules to prevent cracking.
  5. The rubber should be selected to allow it to fully compress between the steel rules without crushing the Foam-X® Recovery Material or bending the rules when the press is fully closed.