| Author: IMS |
| How
To Select The Right Gate Cutter For Your Job |
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De-gating a plastic part from its runner may be your
final operation before shipping the parts to the customer. Often it is a
challenge to remove a runner and leave the part cosmetically, functionally and
structurally intact. Choosing the proper gate cutter with the necessary
physical characteristics and features becomes an important decision.
Therefore, when selecting a gate cutter, consider the length of the handle,
blade length and opening, blade angle relative to the handle and the contour of
the back of the blade (the blade characteristics should match the part at the
area of the de-gating) and features such as a blade stop, type of spring and
handles. Consider the following features: |
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| Blade Stop: |
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 Gate
cutters are actually wedges that cut from both sides until the tensile strength
of the uncut section at the middle is overcome, and the remainder of the runner
or sprue is "snapped" out. This rapid release causes blades to hit each other,
shortening their life. For this reason, a blade stop screw is recommended if
the cutter is to be used on hard, brittle materials. The screw should be set so
the blades stop short of hitting each other. For softer materials, a better cut
can be obtained using a very thin, sharp blade. If a blade stop is used with
softer materials (polyethylene, flexible PVC, etc.), it should be adjusted for
minimal blade gap. This allows the blades to cut farther through the runner,
yet only allows the blades to touch slightly. |
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| Springs: |
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 Leaf
springs are welded to the handles and covered by hand grips. Generally, they
are set to a lower pressure and require less effort to squeeze, thereby
reducing user fatigue. Coil springs offer a stronger return pressure "fly back"
when releasing from a cut, but require more pressure to make a cut. Also, they
are inexpensive and easily replaced by the operator. |
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| Handles: |
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 The
length of the cutter's handles determines how much pressure the operator must
exert to cut through a gate or sprue. A cutter with a handle that is too short
will cause excessive strain on the operator's hand. A cutter with a handle that
is too large for the operator's hand is difficult to grip. Try to match the
cutter with the operator's hand and the gate or sprue being cut.
Ergonomic-contoured handles are effective in reducing the fatigue that can
accompany the prolonged squeezing action of gate cutting. This type of handle
allows the smaller, weaker fingers to avoid a tight-fisted position,
which minimizes the strain on the users hand. As a result, the risk of
carpal tunnel syndrome decreases. |
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| We have a wide range of gate cutters to fit all your
gate cutting needs. If we don't have it in stock, chances are, we can make it! |
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| To best meet your needs, we encourage you to send us
a small quantity of parts with the runners attached, so we can recommend the
best cutter for your application. |
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| Products related to this article: |
Economy Series Gate Cutters
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Non-Standard Gate Cutters
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Heated Gate Cutters
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IMS Series Gate Cutters
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Super Series Gate Cutters
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SW Series Gate Cutters
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Nippers
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Gate Cutter Comparison Chart |