The History of Electronic Die Cutting Machines

May 19, 2016

A wealth of standardised patterns or blanks established die cutting as a time-saving aid when cobblers worked with hard leather. Of course, as fascinating as the craft was during this transformative age, it needed to go further, to undergo a dramatic metamorphosis, a maturation phase that would swap out manually shaped patterns for potent electronic tools. In short, these electronic die cutting machines would enhance the craft by replacing the labour-intensive manual elements with state-of-the-art automated parts, a workflow biased toward fun, versatility, and productivity.

The Cartridge Has Landed

Once mechanical components were refined, the manufacturing sector turned to the dies. Rolling belt drives and swing-arm clickers eliminated inconsistencies in the yielded blanks, but versatility was still some way off from being a standardised feature. The arrival of a cartridge-based configuration was what allowed users to really apply their creative side. The little cassettes came preloaded with customized patterns, leading to a popularity factor that still sees this technique in use today. Many die cutting aficionados have drawers littered with cassettes, compact little libraries that are designed to cut letters into artistic fonts, for example. The electronic die cutting machines, in this example, lack a true computer brain but make up for this drawback by delivering a fun and easy-to-use interface. The machines punch out intricate shapes from cardstock and light metals, foam and vinyl, materials that form the ideal raw mediums for artsy projects.

Electronic Brains Sip Electrical Power

Contemporary cartridge devices can draw on huge resources, a library that includes hundreds of shapes and fonts. The machine is plugged into a wall outlet and controlled by tiny microprocessors and a special software platform. The push of a button sets the custom-shaped blade into action, and blank repeatability is the result of each operating cycle. They look a little like an inkjet printer, although no ink is at work inside the slim housing. Instead, a computer-controlled blade breaks free from the cartridge-based operating system by switching to internet-connected downloadable patterns. Additionally, the cut media now expands to cover new materials, fabrics and hard-surfaced staples that no 19th-century cobbler could have envisaged. And cutting isn't the only option. Electronic die cutting machines emboss, score, and even sketch thanks to assemblies that simplify cutter interchangeability.

Made for the true craftsperson, a user who values intricacy, quality, and versatility above all else, these automated machines take the work out of the craft, leaving pure artistry in the form of a digital cutter that favours art over mechanical drudgery.

Get in touch

47 Vinter Ave. Croydon
VIC 3136
Email: design@triforme.com.au
Phone: +61(3)9723 4400

Optimized by NetwizardSEO.com.au