Can't distinguish between coated cutting tools and traditional cutting tools? One article teaches you to recognize

The die-cutting tool technology, as a key link in the production of adhesive labels, is closely intertwined with the development of the label printing industry. With the continuous changes in market demand, label printing has put forward higher requirements for die-cutting tool technology, and the two interact and develop in synergy. Among various types of cutting tools, coated cutting tools quietly occupy an important position in the industry due to their unique advantages. So, what are the differences between coated cutting tools and traditional cutting tools in terms of material properties and selection, as well as key manufacturing processes? In this article, we will elaborate on it in detail.
1. Characteristics and selection of cutting tool materials
The material of cutting tools plays a decisive role in the quality of die-cutting and the lifespan of cutting tools. Common high-speed steel, alloy tool steel, hard alloys, etc. have their own characteristics. High speed steel has good strength and toughness, as well as excellent heat resistance and wear resistance. It is suitable for label die-cutting in electronics, medicine, and other industries that require strict cutting accuracy and surface quality; Alloy tool steel has excellent hardness and wear resistance, can withstand large cutting forces, and performs excellently in processing adhesive materials with high hardness; Hard alloy has extremely high hardness and can achieve fine cutting in high-speed and high-precision die-cutting processing, but it is costly and brittle.
In recent years, coated cutting tools have gradually gained attention in the industry. It is based on traditional tool materials and coated with a high-performance coating on the surface of the tool through a special process. This coating endows the tool with high wear resistance, and when producing the same quantity of products, the height loss of the coated tool edge is significantly lower than that of ordinary tools, greatly extending the tool's service life. At the same time, coated cutting tools have higher hardness and can easily handle cutting complex materials, thereby ensuring cutting quality. In addition, compared to simple blade hardening tools, coated tools have higher flatness, which can effectively improve the appearance and usability of labels. Therefore, when selecting tool materials, it is necessary to comprehensively weigh factors such as label material characteristics, die-cutting process requirements, production efficiency, and production costs. Coated tools provide new choices to meet diverse needs.

2. Key links in the production process
Cutting tool manufacturing covers key processes such as cutting, grinding, and heat treatment. Among them, the cutting process utilizes advanced technologies such as laser cutting and electric discharge cutting to process raw materials into tool blanks, and precise control of parameters during the cutting process is the key to ensuring cutting accuracy and quality; The grinding process involves rough grinding, fine grinding, and polishing to remove surface defects of cutting tools, improve surface quality and sharpness; The heat treatment process improves the material properties of cutting tools, enhances their hardness, strength, and wear resistance through quenching, tempering, and other processes, thereby reducing brittleness.
For coated cutting tools, the coating process is the core link in their manufacturing process. After completing the basic manufacturing process, a specific coating technology is used to uniformly cover the tool surface with a high-performance coating. This coating can not only improve the wear resistance, hardness and other properties of the tool, but also reduce the wear of the tool during use. Due to the minimal wear of coated cutting tools, there is no need to use high-pressure equipment during die-cutting, which reduces the risk of equipment damage and helps maintain high-precision operation of the connecting equipment, providing strong support for stable production.
Above, the author briefly introduced the characteristics and selection of cutting tool materials, as well as the importance of manufacturing processes as the core elements of die-cutting prop technology, which are key links to ensure die-cutting quality and die cutting tool life. In the following column articles, the author will also conduct in-depth analysis on how printing demand can promote the transformation of die-cutting technology, and how advanced technology can meet diversified printing needs. Stay tuned.