Die Cutting Plate

Nope. I’ve replaced several over the years. Most of the scrapes are in the upper left as the gripper starts over the platen. But the lower corner can take a beating over time especially from punches. The best is the boxmaker jacket from Bar-Plate. They still have it in their online catalog. They seem to last longer.

For small areas of die cutting, you can tape a strip of 2 pt. steel scoring rule to the platen.

Good ideas. Our issue is same area’s hits and round hole punches. We had thought about the 30pt epoxy glass board we use for foil but were not sure. We even thought about cutting the old plates into smaller 4 x 4 pieces and securing them with duroflex ( the adhesive used on our photopolymer plates). We just are not sure if we are nuts to try or not.

Nothing wrong with experimenting as long as you’re not on a ‘live’ job. So, if you secure the metal plates with the duroflex, how will you add/subtract packing under the plate?; what about your spot-up makeready under the jacket/plate? Or do you use shim tape for all your makeready? I like using shim tape for short runs, but spotting up under the jacket is way better for longer runs. It lasts a lot longer, and for small dropouts, it’s a lot more exact. I can detail how to do an ‘under the jacket’ makeready if anyone is interested.

Fritz at NA Graphics sells the Bar-Plate boxmaker jacket. Pricey but well worth the extra $$.

i die cut against a “Blue Steel” plate that i tape on. it is .015” thick and is about as hard as die cutting rule. I can sell you a piece. You will want to start out with a new piece of this, and a new, re-ruled die. Spot makeready the low spots. it sounds as tho you are using a dull die, hitting harder, dulling the die even more. Viscious, un-winnable cycle.

i die cut against a “Blue Steel” plate that i tape on. it is .015” thick and is about as hard as die cutting rule. I can sell you a piece. You will want to start out with a new piece of this, and a new, re-ruled die. Spot makeready the low spots. it sounds as tho you are using a dull die, hitting harder, dulling the die even more. Viscious, un-winnable cycle.

Thanks ericm. The dies are sharp but a lot of 16 -20 pt small format sheets with self extracting holes and hit after hit in the same area begins to scare the plate. 75% of the die plate is untouched but the high use area takes a beating over time. We tried to find a spot 4 x 4 solution that as it gets used over time we just toss and replace. The true die plates are $100 - $150 each.

I have (2) used 10 x 15 windmill jackets for sale at $110 each plus shipping. Jackets are Bar-Plate Boxmaker style. This is a good deal compared to $248 for new. “Heidelberg 10x15 Platen Snap-on die jacket, Boxmaker, stainless steel, .030”, made by Bar-Plate”
I ran these on my Heidelbergs and my Miehle 29. They seem to last forever. Indentations are minimal compared to a standard jacket, pictures on request.