The Best Way to Cut Texcel Flat Goods: Die Cutting vs Water Jet vs CNC

The Best Way to Cut Texcel Flat Goods Die Cutting vs Water Jet vs CNC

At Texcel, we take pride in the precision and reliability of our flat goods product line, which includes premium rubber materials engineered for peak performance. Whether you're slitting or cutting gaskets, you can cut with confidence knowing our sheets are manufactured to the highest standards; easy to cut, consistent in thickness, and free of contaminants, like metal or debris often found in lower-quality alternatives. This attention to quality ensures clean edges, accurate dimensions, and maximum reliability in every finished part.

Delivering consistent quality starts with proper cutting methods, an essential step to ensure each product performs to its full potential. There are three primary techniques used to cut flat goods: die cutting, water jet cutting, and computer numerical control (CNC) cutting. Each method offers unique advantages depending on the application and material requirements.

Die Cutting

Die cutting is one of the oldest and most traditional techniques, where sheets of material are stamped with a die to produce uniform products, similar to a cookie cutter. This method is particularly well-suited for large-volume production runs of items such as gaskets. There are two primary methods of die cutting: rotary and flatbed. The rotary method is ideal for thinner, more flexible materials like gaskets or films. The flatbed method is better suited for thicker or less pliable materials, such as thicker foam or rubber.

From both a distributor and supplier perspective, die cutting offers several advantages including high precision, efficiency, and versatility. This precision is thanks to the methods standardized setup, its efficiency is due to the typical high-volume production and consistent repetition, and it has versatility in the design in which the materials are cut. However, die cutting does have limitations. It only allows for certain materials, and while design choices are versatile, there is no room for change once the die is created for production. Each gasket size requires a unique die, which creates the need for dedicated storage solely for housing these dies.

Water Jet Cutting

Water jet cutting is a method that uses a high-pressure, rapid stream of water to cut through various materials. This technique is particularly used for products that are sensitive to heat, as it does not generate the high temperatures associated with other cutting methods. Its ability to high precision makes water jet cutting ideal for delicate applications and a wide range of materials.

There are two main types of water jet cutting: pure water and abrasive water jet cutting. Pure waterjet cutting solely uses pure water, making it ideal for materials like rubber. Abrasive waterjet cutting uses both water and abrasive substances to cut into more difficult materials like metal. Water jet cutting can cut through extremely thick sheet rubber, cutting up to 2 inches thick and beyond, surpassing CNC and die cutting methods, which are generally limited to just a quarter to a half inch.

CNC Cutting