Die cutting on a proof press

I saw a post here a while back a fellow selling a proof press that was used for several things, one of which was die cutting.

I can not find a lot of info on this outside of that, is there a reason why this should not be done if proper care is taken to protect the cylinder etc?

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I would seriously think twice before trying it , although many of the bigger proofers look strong i doubt very much if the cylinder fixings would be up to the job ,however i am not a proof press operator and my knowledge of the internal stress capabilities is virtually non existent .

Thanks Peter, yes I assumed it was not the best idea as there really isn’t any info on it - but like wise, I could not find info as to why not to do it.

Check with Bar-Plate if they sell die jackets for that proof press then it is possible. Again many think die cutting ruins a press however well set up diecutting is no more damaging if not less damaging than deep impression printing. many of the old time stencils(mylar and oil board) were die cut on proof presses with individual letter dies. As a press owner you would be the one taking the risk of damage. I am sure some models of proof presses are totally unsuited for this.

Our company has used Vandercook presses for over 25 years in kiss-cutting labels. It allows short runs, with quick setup and simple operation. We used hand-cranked 219 presses for the first 5 or 6 years and upgraded to Universal III presses after that. No issues with maintenance or press wear. We have the equipment on a preventive maintenance schedule, and track all the PMs to assure they are done on a regular basis.

Of course we are careful to use a Bar-plate jacket for the cylinder, and to not to cut into it. The dies we use are very expensive, multi-cavity dies with 80-120 individual labels being cut with each impression. We cut through the polyester or aluminum foil material down to a liner to produce individual labels.

If you were to use it for full “through” diecutting, you would have to do a very careful makeready to get full diecutting without damage to the cutting jacket, but that is pretty standard procedure for diecutting anyway.

Mike is correct is saying that diecutting by itself does not ruin a press, it is misuse that will give you inordinate wear.

John Henry

Good one John Henry
Onto and Into die cutting
Whenever die cutting paper products(onto) the rule should only go about 95% into the stock the rest will break away unless the rule is nicked. if the die rubber is to close to the rule the rubber decompression will break the nick.
Clicker dies used on leather products(into) cut right through but into a plastic or wooden counter not a die jacket.

Early days in the order of posts as yet, but somebody will surely offer the Cylinder versus Platen, clamshell or parallel approach as to suitability or otherwise. E.G. Platen has to take the weight of impression with cutting, creasing, perfing involved at exactly point of contact 100%, where as cylinder around the circumference will only need comparatively low power and consequently far less pressure on the cylinder/bed etc, at any point in the cycle! With recent posts in mind, as to what % of total chase area, can reasonably be considered as usable, the following could well be offered as a good yardstick, against maybe 50/60 % usable capacity, U.S.A. guesstimates! One of our “Crosland” dedicated, cutting and creasing platens at Quad Crown size, under full out capacity have to weigh, as much as 10 imperial tons, and the operator needs ear defenders and headache tablets!>> Which puts expectations from Sigwalts Kelseys into proper perspective, (little respect maybe) and horses for courses! >> William Crosland, Stockport U.K. 1872,>> so perhaps, Mr. Sigwalt, Mr. Kelsey and Mr. Crosland were good old buddies, via Mr. I. K. Brunel,s transatlantic submarine cable and the S. S. Great Eastern. So debt of gratitude and thanks for Limey/Yankee “entente cordial” 100 years before the “Escargot” eaters invented it. THANKS!