One issue that can cause a lot of problems for Die-Makers is dust contamination. In the context of cardboard packaging, dust or tiny particles of board appear during the conversion process. They are created by friction when the shaved blade cuts through recycled board substrates, which are often tough to convert.
Dust appears at its worst when cutting through varieties of tough recycled board. Recycled cardboard breaks down far easier than a brand-new board. The more we recycle the substrate, the shorter the fibres become. With shorter board fibres, the converting conditions become more difficult to control.
We have recommended, on many occasions with success, the use of the Bohler Universal Supreme coated rule. The blade is sprayed with a Teflon style, microscopic anti-friction layer just along the bevel. This fills in the microscopic pits and imperfections that are created during the shaving process. If you spray Supreme coating on to a 2pt/3pt Universal blade, the tip remains at the same hardness, 640v, but it becomes extremely smooth.
The benefit of the Supreme coating is its ability to reduce the friction during the cutting process, therefore eliminating board dust. The cutting blade remains the same hardness, so it can still run through an automated bender without the requirement for further bend configuration; this means there are no issues for the die maker.
Less dust is transferred into the air during the conversion process and in most cases, the Supreme die will also last longer than a standard die.
