FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WE ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS
This is one of the most common questions in the industry. Unfortunately, it is not possible to answer precisely, as the lifespan of blades depends on many factors, such as the chemical composition of the material being cut, line speed, the number of shifts or cutting hours, operating pressure, the condition of the knife holders and their internal components, setup parameters for the knife holders and blades, the condition of the cutting edges of the anvil blades and support roller, as well as many other factors. Through our Kaizen cutting analysis, we can help you establish an empirical baseline and provide an estimate based on your specific application and machine. Contact us if you would like to learn more about this service.
Most DIENES products have a drawing number engraved or labeled on the part. This number starts with a "2" followed by numbers and letters. The drawing number is unique to each product. Examples include: 244A081C01001, 224C130157010, 269A006001001. With this number, we can determine the dimensions and specifications of your parts to assist with a quote. If you don't have this number, we invite you to read the following question.
If you don't have the part number or drawing number of the product you want to quote, or if you want to know if we can offer a replacement for any product, please provide the following information for us to prepare a quote:
- Photographs or drawings of the products to be quoted.
For circular blades:
- Outer diameter of the blade
- Inner diameter of the blade
- Width/thickness of the blade
- Type of bevel (simple, double, or double hollow)
- Type of steel used (usually AISI 52100 or AISI D2)
- Number of pieces to be quoted
For circular anvil blades:
- Outer diameter of the anvil blade
- Inner diameter of the anvil blade
- Width/thickness of the anvil blade
- Mounting method (none, screw, or eccentric mounting)
- Type of steel used (usually AISI 52100 or AISI D2)
- Number of pieces to be quoted
We invite you to send us an email or message with the drawing number you have. Since each drawing number is specific to each product, there may be occasions when your product has an additional option or particular specification that differs from the standard. However, our team of experts is ready to assist you in identifying your DIENES product.
Generally, the number in the model name of the knife holder refers to the minimum cutting width that can be achieved with that knife holder. For example, the PQAS ½” has a minimum cutting width of 0.5 inches. The PQDS 15 mm has a minimum cutting width of 15 mm. The PSG-50 or DF-50 have minimum cutting widths of 50 mm.
The PQAS is the American style of pressure/crushing knife holders, while the PQDS is the German or European style of pressure/crushing knife holders. These knife holders are very similar but are NOT interchangeable. PQAS models generally have minimum cutting width measurements in the imperial system and always have blades with an outer diameter of Ø 3.03 inches (76.96 mm). In contrast, PQDS models usually have minimum cutting width measurements in the metric system, and depending on the model, they may have blades with an outer diameter of Ø 3.03 inches (76.96 mm) or Ø 100 mm. Therefore, the PQDS is a longer knife holder and has a critical cutting geometry measurement that is different from the PQAS. If you are unsure whether you have a PQAS or PQDS, we invite you to contact us so we can assist you in identifying your knife holder.
Currently, we do not manufacture blades or products in Mexico. All our products are manufactured in our plants in Germany, Hungary, or the United States. However, in Mexico, we offer complementary services such as blade and anvil blade sharpening. We invite you to visit our services section to learn more about them.
Pressure cutting is simpler to operate and uses fewer components but results in a rougher cutting edge and more dust generation. On the other hand, shear cutting is a bit more complex but provides an excellent cutting edge with minimal dust. Generally, pressure cutting is used for hard materials like rubber, sandpaper, fiberglass-reinforced labels, or layered materials. Shear cutting is recommended for materials such as paper, adhesive labels, flexible packaging, and other more elastic materials. We invite you to visit our blog for more detailed information on this topic or contact us to help you make the best selection.
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