Metal Sheet Cutting Methods

Metal Sheet Cutting Methods

With advancements in equipment and technology, some cap manufacturing machines now utilize a whole sheet punching process, eliminating the need for the cutting step. This method can save material but requires suitable punching machines. However, many manufacturers still use strip stamping. Below, we introduce the strip cutting process used for strip stamping.

The punching method for cap production can be divided into single-row arrangement and double-row staggered arrangement. The single-row method has lower material utilization, while the double-row staggered arrangement offers higher utilization.

The cutting methods are categorized into straight cutting and wavy cutting. The former uses a disc cutter to produce straight strips, while the latter employs a wavy cutter to create wavy strips. Wavy cutting is mainly used for double-row staggered strips or for whole sheet punching.

The cutting equipment includes the following two types:

1. Disc Cutter: The disc cutter is a device that cuts sheets into strips. It features several pairs of disc blades mounted on parallel shafts, cutting the sheet into strips through a rolling shear method. By adjusting the spacing between each pair of disc blades, the width of the cut strips can be changed. This cutting method is similar to the cutting of can bodies in canning processes. Due to lower material utilization, this type of equipment has gradually been phased out in cap material cutting.

2. Wavy Cutter: The wavy cutter is typically used in conjunction with a double-head automatic punching machine. It uses a pair of interlocking wavy upper and lower cutting edges to produce wavy strips for the double-head automatic punching machine. Compared to straight strips, this method can improve material utilization. However, when the cap size changes, the corresponding upper and lower cutting edges must be replaced; each cap type requires a specific wavy cutter. This cutting method is now widely used in the shearing of rolled materials.