Rotary knives are used for a variety of industrial applications. These knives are made from several materials, including metals, ceramics, and stainless steel. Circular rotary knives are often used to manufacture food and plastic packaging. The majority of these blades are servo-driven. Depending on the application, a rotary knife may be operated at a speed of 550 RPM. Servo-driven rotary knives are designed to be very durable and can cut hundreds of inches of material per minute.
When a rotary knife is manufactured, it must meet several constraints. These include the cut’s length, the web’s speed, and the motion profile. By carefully sizing the servo, the cycle of a rotary knife can be optimized. While the process is somewhat complicated, the basics are easy to understand. If you are unfamiliar with the rotary knife process, this article will provide you with a guide.
When a rotary knife is manufactured, the cutting tip’s tangential velocity must ideally match the web’s speed. This is done by calculating the relationship between the speed of the web and the cut. A more extended cut will require the knife to decelerate before accelerating. Conversely, a shorter cut will require the knife to accelerate more quickly.
For a single-blade rotary knife, the cycle consists of two segments: the working segment and the recovery segment. During the working segment, the knife makes one complete rotation to cut the material. However, the rotary knife axis must slow down or accelerate to meet the web at the correct point. To minimize the agitation caused by this motion, an extended shaft attached to the timing pulley is placed on the cutting cylinder. Alternatively, the web can be gravity-fed into the cutter.
The knife’s axis must also be matched to the speed of the web during the recovery segment. Slitter knife It must be able to change speed quickly, or it will not meet the web. An acceleration and deceleration profile can be implemented to manage the rotary knife’s motion better.
Another essential factor to consider is the material speed. Regardless of the type of material, the tangential speed of the knife’s tip must be within a few degrees of the web’s velocity when the knife is in contact with the web. With longer cut lengths, the knife’s tip speed must increase while the speed of the web remains constant.
Once the rotary knife’s axis is matched to the material’s speed, the next step is to calculate the CAM profile of the knife. This is accomplished through the use of the software. Several controller manufacturers offer configurable software for rotary knives. These programs allow users to input their system details and then use the program to calculate the CAM profile for the desired cut length.
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