Need die cutting advice
I am looking to die cut large quantities of 70# text stock. I need to miter the corners to wrap around a riged set-up box (candy boxes, business card boxes.) To date I have been doing so with a hand miter but the variance has become too great of an issue.
I need a die cutter that I can run with little training (I have none,) with fairly precise registration and a large cutting area.
I have been looking for a Kluge 14 X 22 for some time. I like the Kluge because the easy delivery requires the fewest knicks in the lead edge. Also the cutting area is the perfect size for the work I am doing.
Will the Kluge stand up to constant die cutting?
Is there another machine that will work as well?
I cant find a Heidelberg Cylinder Press nearby either. I have dealt mostly with web presses and folding machines, so anything is going to be new to me. Your help is appreciated.
Most mechanised platens are up to die cutting , the question needs an answer from the girl with a kluge but to be honest die cutting wont put the pressure on the press that heavy impression does . You are cutting through the surface with a sharp knife at the point of cut the pressure is released whereas with printing there is no release just a grunt and roll out of the cycle ! I dont know if the kluge has cutting jackets although i would expect someone retro fitted them !
Thank you, I intend to bolt all my dies without a jacket, as I do with my Thompson I use for SBS. I should have added that above. It is the delivery and strain on the machine that I was concerned with. Any idea how fast I can run a Kluge with a 14 X 17 sheet in it?
Thomas, kluge has a site with tons of videos of them die cutting and foil stamping on their presses, i would never die cut without a jacket. some kluges have dual flywheels made for die cutting. (hope girl with kluge can fill in what i left out)
ok, bar plate does make one.
you will not have any trouble diecutting with a kluge. i have been diecutting on a 12X18 for over 30 years, no problems. i have seen people diecut ceiling fan blades with them. you will absolutly have to have a diecutting jacket, they are available from barrplate.
You can die cut 70# text on a 14x22 kluge. You NEED a die cutting jacket so you don’t scar the platen. Most kluges are predrilled for the jacket. They come in different thicknesses. You can also die cut this on a “windmill” heidelberg. They come in two sizes 10x15 and 13x18. They need a jacket too. They are normally a snap on. I personally think the heidelberg is easier to learn than the kluge for someone with little experience. But you will still need a teacher/mentor/tutor for any press you buy. With the heidelberg, many times you can get away with just nicking the gripper edge. Have you thought about running some of your cut rules long on the straight edge and then doing a final trim on a shear cutter? You might not need any nicks then. Some times with a kluge when you are die cutting and scoring at the same time the matrix will cause the sheet to hang up during delivery. If your run with guides on the heidelberg, you only have to worry about the gripper arms pulling the matrix off the jacket. (There are tricks to get around that). You can send the paper to me and I will die cut it for you until you get your own press. Feel free to contact me, just click on my name, it will bring you to my profile page, where you can send a message to me directly. Good luck and happy press hunting :)
PS you can run between 1000 and 2500 per hour on the kluge and 2000-3500 on the windmill. A heidelberg will be less expensive than a kluge to purchase. Both presses are spendy to repair or buy parts for.
the Kluge is an incredibly durable press, and with little or no experience incredibly dangerous. keep oil in it and your hands out.
The only potential problem with the Windmill is the circular whipping action depending on the size of the stock and where your die etc. is positioned in the press. The stock could catch or smack into something. Ron
Tell me about it !!! Had one of those yesterday the old dear looked like something created with blue peter in mind (blue peter in the uk is a kids tv show in which toilet roll cores and cereal packets are glued together to create something naff !!) If i hate anything its putting nicks in dies which can grow to become ugly at the same rate as your frustration !!!
Though overkill for just 70# I’d look for a heidelberg cylinder. It may be much easier to get used to and set up. If your in the US look up http://www.whittenburginc.com/
The whipping motion is why I eliminated the Windmill as an option. I will be pushing the limits for paper size on most jobs if I buy the press I found. As well, there will be a lot of cutting knife in every die. I found a 13 X 19 Kluge for $7,500. Is this a good deal? These things just aren’t common on the west coast. Thanks again, Tom.
keep shopping, the west coast, FLA, and New York seem to come up with the presses most often. Have you tried “Search Tempest”? it is a good engine for craig’s list
Hi! Thomas, there is a Kluge in florida for $800 it has a heat plate installed, I live in California, I am interested in this machine but the shipping is to much if you want to see this machine call this phone number but soon. Otherwise I will buy it. monday.
Ron Alfaro
407-448-3988
live a message
Tomas there are several kluges on the west coast. Many of them being sold don’t have the required guards and cost about $10,000 to retrofit. What is the serial number of the press you found? If it was made before 1963 kluge recommends that they be disabled due to liability and the dangers involved operating them. The guards & press are operated by an external air source. If you pull the gate/guard open the press stops on a dime. $7,500 could be a good deal or it might make a gr8 boat anchor. Do you have any pictures of the press? Does it have dual flywheels? Here are some recent/active *bay listings for kluges on the east coast: item # 190686193485, 370606793819, 160722054314. Notice the guards on the 3rd listing…this is a “good deal”. 110885238954 is an older style kluge, the ones kluge doesn’t want people to own/operate. I hope this information helps you make your choice. There is an older 13x19 kluge available near me (midwest) that is set up for diecutting. It was originally used for printing and also has a hot plate for it. It only has one heating rod so it’s not that great…hard to evenly heat the chase without two rods.