Transforming Art into Science

Understanding the six critical factors in slitting

Blade sharpness plays a critical role in edge quality controlling dust. As blade sharpness is lost, an open nip forms between the blades. The nip is the place of intersection or contact of two contiguous surfaces. In slitting, the nip is where the upper blade contacts the lower anvil ring creating the cut point. Nip speed is the rotational surface speed of the upper blade (Figure 1). An open nip results in the material ripping, which frees more particles and increases dust. Wear can be caused by blade-to-blade friction and web-to-blade friction, and as the blades wear, the contact point between the blades shifts, moving the nip point. The impact against a blunt tip or an open nip allows dust to form.