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measurements of die cut part drawing
Lee K. HouseFeb 2, 20235 min read

What Measurements Should I Include in the Drawing of My Die Cut Part?

You’ve just submitted a drawing of your die cut part, and you’re feeling proud of yourself for a well-done job. Except, within a minute or so, your computer chimes with an email:

Hi [your name],

What am I looking at here? 

xoxo, Your Flexible Material Converter

Instead of falling to your knees in despair, you take a second to type up a reply and ponder what was so confusing about your drawing.

Every day, Strouse accepts requests from around the world to do part evaluations based on drawings. 

If you’re interested in a pre-production part evaluation, these are the measurements we’re going to need from you: 

What measurements should I include in the Drawing of my Die Cut Part video

3 Measurements to Include in the Drawing of a Die Cut Part

Your drawing should be the primary point of reference for your part. 

That being said, the information in your part drawing should be enough to allow your converter to re-draw your design with proper tooling dimensions. Your converter will likely make slight changes to your design to optimize it for the die cut tool maker, but it’ll be impossible if you haven’t gone into detailed measurements. 

Above all else, your drawing should have product dimensions, part tolerances, and a frequency of measurement (if needed). 

1. PRODUCT DIMENSIONS

Product dimensions are the most base-level factor in your part design. After all, how can your converter build a part without knowing its dimensions?

You’re probably wondering which numbers to include in your drawing. Still, because we work with so many unique parts, it would be difficult to list out particular dimensions to be included in every sketch.

These are factors our engineers consider when reviewing your initial drawing:

  • Does this look like something we can create geometrically?
  • Is it possible to create a tool for this size of a part? i.e. you can’t make a tool that’s 60” wide.
  • How small or complex are the features?

Always indicate critical dimensions in your design when it comes to part measurements.

If there are dimensions that must be exactly as listed, leave a note for your converter. Die cut parts vary slightly on a rotary die cut press, so you’ll want to include part tolerances. 

2. PART TOLERANCES

Flexible material converting results in parts with tiny disparities, but in many cases, a tenth of an inch difference could render the whole product unusable. 

Before you submit your drawing, ask yourself: 

Most drawings have a key for title block tolerances sitting in the corner. Still, it’s worth confirming whether your tolerances are necessary for this part or left over from a standard project template.

People often submit machine shop tolerances without realizing that converters operate by different standards. For instance, achieving machine shop tolerances might be extremely challenging and pricey for a flexible material converter. 

As your converter, we want to ensure that your part has functional tolerances

Your converter will quote based on what your part needs to function. Tight tolerances can also impact our cutting method or increase the overall price exponentially, meaning you can save money by clarifying what you need instead of your tight, default title block tolerances. 

3. FREQUENCY OF MEASUREMENT (IF NECESSARY)

Additional quality measurements aren’t necessary for every project, but if you were planning to ask for them, you can add the frequency of the measurements to your drawing to ensure the converter accurately plans how to create your part. 

Certain projects require a high-level inspection using precision cameras, and while possible, this could also change the setup of your press entirely. Changing the setup can be difficult because the number one priority is still running the press consistently to avoid the added expense of slow run times or starting/stopping.

If you’re asking for measurements, your converter must know the frequency and measurements you need to plan an inspection process that can measure your parts while running smoothly and efficiently. 

Additional Information to Include in Your Die Cut Part Drawing

While the part measurements are essential to include in your drawing, you’ll also want include any other information that could contribute to the converting process.

You don’t necessarily have to write all this information on the drawing itself, but addressing these factors in some capacity when you submit your sketch will allow your converter to evaluate your part design fully. 

Here is additional information that can be helpful to include:

  • Physical appearance

Physical appearance includes details such as the type of ink or material callouts, which can be vague, like “polyester” or a material ID number.

  • Material Requirements

Some projects have specified a particular material without any substitutions, however, others have a broader range of materials. It will help us to know what your level of flexibility is for materials.

  • Sterilization specifications 

You can elaborate on whether your converter needs to run your part in an ISO Cleanroom or a similar sterile environment to avoid biological contamination. 

  • Packaging needs

Does your part need to be heat sealed? Should we package it in rolls or box individual parts? Your packaging could be worth clarifying to ensure a thorough design process. 

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If you have notes to make about the physical appearance, material requirements, sterilization specifications, or packaging needs, consider adding them to your drawing

What Happens After I Submit My Die Cut Part Drawing?

Once you feel confident about the drawing of your die cut part, it’ll be time to get your part evaluated:

Schedule a Flexible Materials Consultation

After you submit your part drawing, our engineers will evaluate your design for its die cut feasibility and begin mapping out a potential process. 

We’ll likely ask many questions before sending samples or planning a meeting to discuss moving forward.

Evaluating your part will put you on the right path toward a successful product. But what if you’re not there yet? 

If you’re unsure about your drawing or don’t have one, you could wonder if you’re even ready to talk to an adhesive converter.  

Either way, don’t hesitate to ask us if you have any questions about your project or our process. 

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Lee K. House

Copywriter & Content Creator for Strouse. Lee graduated from the University of Alabama in the Spring of 2022 with a double major in English and Spanish.

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