Testing an Automatic Flatbed Die Cutter With Your Own Board
A buyer's guide to planning a flatbed die cutter demonstration around the buyer's own paper or cardboard, with practical RFQ questions and acceptance checks.
Ask the supplier to run the demonstration on your own paper or cardboard, not on their house stock. A machine rated for a maximum sheet size of 1,060 × 760 mm and a maximum die-cut format of 1,060 × 745 mm may behave differently once your board grade, thickness, and layout are loaded, so the trial should use the material you will actually cut.
For the RFQ, specify the sheet sizes and die-cut formats you plan to run, and ask whether each falls within those reference values. Request a demonstration at a realistic production speed rather than only the stated maximum of 9,000 sheets/h, which depends on the job. During the trial, compare cut quality, stripping, and sheet handling across a small batch of your material, and ask how the machine is adjusted when board grade changes.
For acceptance, agree in advance which of your materials and layouts will be run, how many sheets, and what checks define a pass. Include a slower and a faster run so you can see how output and quality trade off on your own work.
Before requesting a quote, confirm with the supplier which of your materials and sheet sizes they will demonstrate, whether the demonstration uses your die, and how the quoted configuration is verified against your acceptance criteria.