Whether you own a small office doing contract work or have a manufacturing company with thousands of sq. ft. of space to cover, rotary cutters have come a long way in meeting the needs of their users. But as versatile as these machines are, there’s still plenty that they can’t do. So how do you know which type is right for your workflow? Let’s look at factors to help you make the right choice when buying a rotary cutter.
The material the cutter cuts through
Cuts made with a rotary cutter involve two cutting surfaces, a rotating cutting surface and a stationary cutting surface. This creates a lot of friction, which in turn causes heat to be generated. While friction is less of a problem in cold or warm weather, it can become a significant issue in cold or hot weather. The type of material you choose for your rotary cutter will depend on your preferences.
Power requirements
While most rotary cutters can be used at any speed between 1,500 and 35,000 RPMs, there are some machines that have a specific speed requirement. These will usually be marked on the machine, but you should check the owner’s manual for the correct speed. For example, a machine designed for repetitive tasks like cutting uniform shapes with a straight edge requires a higher speed. There are also machines that are designed to cut different materials at the same time, like a mitre Saw.
The shape of the cut
Most modern mills have a shape recognition feature, which allows the operator to specify the type of cut they wish to make. When making a cut, the machine will switch to that type of cut based on the design of the blade. This is called “shaping” the cut and is very useful when …