Slitter Lower Blades

What do Slitter Lower Blades Mean?

“Slitter Lower Blades” are essential components in slitting machines, which are used to cut wide rolls of material (such as paper, film, foil, textiles, rubber, or metal) into narrower widths. The Slitter Lower Blade typically works in conjunction with a rotating top blade (or circular knife) to perform the slitting operation. The material being processed passes between the rotating top blade and the stationary Slitter Lower Blade, creating a precise and clean cut. These lower blades often have a flat, grooved, or stepped surface that supports the material and ensures consistent slitting. The design and material of the Slitter Lower Blade are crucial for achieving accurate slitting widths, clean-cut edges, and efficient slitting processes. They are also sometimes referred to as “bottom slitter knives,” “slitting anvils,” “bed knives for slitters,” “fixed slitting blades,” or “counter blades,” depending on the specific application and the type of slitting machine.

Uses and Applications of Slitter Lower Blades

Slitter Lower Blades are fundamental in a wide range of industries that convert web-based materials:

• Paper Industry: Slitting large rolls of paper into narrower rolls for printing, packaging, newsprint, and other paper products.
• Film and Foil Converting: Slitting plastic films (e.g., BOPP, PET, PVC), aluminum foil, and laminates for packaging, industrial applications, and consumer goods.
• Adhesive Tape Manufacturing: Slitting wide rolls of adhesive tapes into various widths for consumer, industrial, and medical use.
• Textile Industry: Slitting rolls of fabrics, non-wovens, and technical textiles into narrower strips for garment manufacturing, industrial applications, and home textiles.
• Rubber and Tire Manufacturing: Slitting rubber sheets and other rubber materials for gaskets, seals, and tire components.
• Metal Processing: Slitting coils of steel, aluminum, copper, and other metals into narrower strips for further manufacturing processes.
• Label and Tag Manufacturing: Slitting wide webs of label stock and tag materials into multiple lanes or individual rolls.
• Packaging Industry: Creating specific widths of flexible packaging materials and cardboard.

The specific design, material, and surface finish of the Slitter Lower Blade are chosen based on the type of material being slit, the required slitting speed, the desired edge quality, and the slitting method employed (e.g., shear slitting, score slitting, crush cutting).

Common Materials for Slitter Lower Blades

The materials used to manufacture Slitter Lower Blades are selected for their hardness, wear resistance to withstand continuous contact with the top blade and the moving web material, and their ability to maintain a precise and consistent cutting edge. Common materials include:

• Tool Steels (e.g., D2, M2, A2, O1, SKD-11): Offer a good balance of hardness, toughness, and wear resistance, suitable for a wide range of materials and production volumes.
• High Carbon Steel (e.g., 52100, 1095): Provides high hardness and the ability to take a sharp edge, suitable for some paper and film applications. May require coatings for enhanced wear and corrosion resistance.
• High-Speed Steel (HSS) (e.g., M2, M4, SKH-51): Offers excellent hardness and wear resistance, especially at higher operating temperatures, making it suitable for demanding, high-speed applications.
• Alloy Steels (e.g., 9CrSi, Cr12MoV): Provide good wear resistance and toughness, often used for slitting various paper, plastic, and metal materials.
• Tungsten Carbide: Offers exceptional hardness and wear resistance, ideal for high-speed slitting of abrasive materials and for extended blade life, reducing downtime. Often used as inlaid edges or solid carbide knives.
• Ceramic Materials: In specialized applications, ceramic blades offer very high precision and are particularly suitable for thin films and foils due to their sharp cutting edges and wear resistance.

Coatings are frequently applied to Slitter Lower Blades to further enhance their performance and lifespan. Common coatings include:

• Hard Chrome Plating: Increases surface hardness and corrosion resistance.
• Titanium Nitride (TiN): Improves surface hardness and reduces friction.
• Chromium Nitride (CrN): Offers excellent wear and corrosion resistance.
• Diamond-Like Carbon (DLC): Provides very low friction and high hardness, beneficial for preventing material buildup and ensuring clean cuts.

The selection of the blade material and coating depends on the specific materials being slit, the production speed, and the desired blade lifespan and cut quality.

Common Shapes of Slitter Lower Blades

Slitter Lower Blades come in various shapes and configurations to match the specific requirements of the slitting machine and the slitting method used:

• Flat Bottom Blades: Simple flat bars with a precision-ground top surface that acts as the anvil for the top knife to cut against.
• Grooved Bottom Blades (Multi-Groove Anvils): Feature multiple parallel grooves along their length, allowing for different slitting widths to be achieved by positioning the top knives in the desired grooves.
• Step Bottom Blades: Have different height levels along their length to accommodate different material thicknesses or slitting configurations.
• Radius Edge Bottom Blades: Feature a rounded or radiused top edge, often used for score slitting or crush cutting methods.
• Dovetail Bottom Blades: Have a dovetail profile for secure and precise mounting in the slitting machine.
• Cartridge Style Bottom Blades: Designed as modular units that can be easily inserted and removed for quick changes.

The mounting mechanism of the Slitter Lower Blade is crucial for stability and precise alignment. This can involve precision-machined bases, bolt holes, keyways, or other specialized mounting features to ensure accurate positioning relative to the top blades. The overall dimensions (length, width, thickness) are determined by the machine design and the width of the material being processed.

If you don’t find the blade you are looking for, we can also customize it. See our “Custom Blades” to learn how! Welcome to inquire!

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Easy to enjoy the convenience of importing, from transportation to customs clearance, we handle the whole process, you just need to pay VAT and wait for the goods to arrive at the company.

2. Competitive Pricing

We have seen its blades used in countless applications and is ready to handle whatever project you throw our way -delivering accuracy, durability, and unmatched competitive pricing.

3. ODM & OEM Available

Whether you provide drawings, sketches or samples, we are able to draw and manufacture for you. We also have the ability to assist in modifying existing designs and specifications to improve almost any industrial tooling application. Please contact our dedicated sales team to discuss your specific requirements.

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