How to Choose The Types of Blades

In the vinyl, film, fabric, paper, laminate and nonwoven industries, products are often manufactured in large rolls of bulk material. Because these rolls are too large to be used in the final product, many industry manufacturers convert the material into smaller rolls for final production through a process called slitting. The blades used in the slitting process will have a significant impact on the final quality of the product.

How to Choose the Best Blade

At Goodklife, we are a manufacturer of industrial slitting blades and other industrial tool-related parts and accessories. Shear slitting blades, razor slitting blades and press slitting blades are three of the most popular types. We'll take a closer look at all three to help make your decision easier.

Shear Slitting Blades

Shear slitting blades are typically used in applications and industries that require precise cutting. While setting up shear slitting can be both expensive and difficult, it is very effective in converting thick films, paper, foil, composites and layered materials. The shear slitting process requires two blades, one on top and one on the bottom. Like a pair of hand scissors, the two blades come together to form a cutting point. This slitting process generates the least amount of heat, which is why it is often used in environments that require demanding operation and uptime.
The best way to maintain these blades is to make sure the cutting point is accurate. If they are not set up correctly, the blades will wear out faster than usual. In addition, the blades can be sharp to increase the life of the shear slitting knife.
 

Razor Slitter Blades

Razor blade slitting is one of the easiest and most economical processes. This process is most commonly used in applications th/at convert plastic, film, tape, vinyl or ribbon. With razor cutting, the material can be cut to very narrow cutting widths while generating very little dust. This makes it one of the cleanest slitting methods available.
While blades used for razor slitting are usually inexpensive and need to be replaced more frequently, their life can be extended with proper care and sharpening. For longer run times and reduced maintenance-related downtime, higher quality blade materials will provide better performance.

Shredding and Cutting Blades

Shredding and cutting blades are used to separate thick, tough and non-woven materials, laminates, paper and fabrics. The uneven edges created by this process result in thicker material rolls on the inside and thinner ones on the outside. Although this slitting process has the worst cut quality, it is very simple to set up and requires reasonably priced parts. When selecting the material for the slitting blade, it is important to consider the hardness of the anvil base.


The optimal slitting blade material depends on your runtime requirements and the material being cut. When the ideal blade material is used, yields can increase significantly. If you need help, please contact us.