John Howard Company provides a wide range of cutting machines for cutting elastic, webbing, cord, hook and loop, vinyl, rubber, and more. Whether you need a compact tabletop unit for light-duty tasks or a powerful hot and cold electronic cutter for heavy-duty production, we have the right solution. Our electric hot and cold cutters, cutting machines, and hot knives offer fast and efficient cutting for various materials, making your production process quicker and easier.
We also carry a selection of hot hole punches in the most popular sizes. Great for cutting and sealing holes in one easy operation. Hole punches also make perfect holes for setting grommets.
What is a hot cutting machine and how is it commonly used?
A hot cutting machine is a device that uses heat, often in the form of a heated blade or wire, to cut through materials. This method is commonly used for cutting synthetic fabrics, plastics, foams, and other materials that can melt when exposed to high temperatures. The heat not only cuts the material but also seals the edges, preventing fraying or unraveling. Here’s how it works and how it’s typically used:
How a Hot Cutting Machine Works:
- Heat Application: The machine typically has a heated blade, wire, or knife that reaches high temperatures, allowing it to melt through the material.
- Cutting and Sealing: As the material is cut, the heat simultaneously seals the edges by fusing the fibers or material, preventing fraying, which is a common problem with traditional cutting methods.
- Manual or Automated: Hot cutting machines come in manual or fully automated versions, depending on the complexity of the project or production needs.
Common Uses of Hot Cutting Machines:
- Textiles and Fabrics
- Synthetic Fabrics: Hot cutting machines are ideal for cutting synthetic fabrics like polyester, nylon, and acrylic. These materials tend to fray when cut with traditional scissors, but a hot cutter seals the edges to create a clean cut.
- Webbing and Straps: Common in the production of seat belts, bag straps, or industrial webbing, the hot cutting process ensures strength and prevents unraveling.
- Foam and Plastic Cutting
- Foam Products: These machines are widely used in industries that work with foam for packaging, insulation, or custom shapes. The hot wire melts through the foam to create precise cuts.
- Plastic Sheets: Hot cutting machines can cut through plastic films and sheets, commonly used in packaging or signage production, ensuring smooth, sealed edges.
- Rope and Cordage
- Rope Manufacturers: Hot cutting machines are used to cut nylon, polyester, or other synthetic ropes, especially in marine or outdoor equipment industries. The heat-sealing prevents the rope from fraying after being cut.
- Apparel and Garment Industry
- Ribbon and Label Cutting: In the garment industry, hot cutting machines are used to cut labels, ribbons, and elastic materials, preventing fraying while keeping a clean, professional look.
- Automotive and Aerospace Industries
- Interior Components: Hot cutting is often employed in cutting synthetic materials used in vehicle interiors, ensuring precise edges without loose threads.
Advantages of Hot Cutting Machines:
- Clean, Sealed Edges: The heat-sealing function ensures that the material doesn’t fray or unravel after being cut.
- Efficiency: It’s faster than manual cutting methods and reduces the need for additional finishing steps.
- Precision: Automated hot cutting machines can be programmed for high precision, making them ideal for industries with exacting standards.
Hot cutting machines are essential in various manufacturing industries where clean cuts and sealed edges are critical for product durability and aesthetics.
Early Hot Cutting Machines
Before the invention of hot cutting machines, industries primarily used manual cutting methods (scissors, shears, soldering irons, heated knives, sewing, hemming, etc.) or cold cutting machines (die cutting, rotary cutters, blades, etc.) to cut strips of fabrics, plastics, and other materials.
The concept of using heat to cut and seal materials was likely developed in the early 20th Century response to industrial needs, particularly in the textile, plastics, and synthetic material industries, where precise cutting without fraying is critical. The automation of hot cutting is a product of 20th-century industrial innovation, with companies like Eastman Machine Company and others playing a role in the development of cutting tools that integrated heat to improve precision and efficiency in manufacturing processes.
Some of the other early cutting machines include:
- The flying shuttle: In the Textile Industry, the flying shuttle in weaving machines could be considered one of the first cutting machines. While not a “cutting” machine in the sense of severing material, its rapid movement through the loom’s shed contributed to the cutting-edge (pun intended) technology of its time by speeding up textile production.
- Shearing Machines: For metalwork, shearing machines began to appear prominently during the Industrial Revolution. These machines, which use two blades to cut metal by applying force, were a significant step in material processing and cutting technology.
- Mechanical Guillotine: Thanks to the French…the famous guillotine was actually a significant advancement in cutting technology. Unfortunately the guillotine became popular for decapitation – not for cutting fabric.
The need for modern hot cutting machines arose with the invention of new synthetic materials, which became increasingly common in industries like textiles, packaging, and automotive. As a result, various companies began developing automated hot cutting machines. These machines not only cut but also seal the edges of synthetic materials using heat, preventing fraying and providing a clean finish. This advancement likely came from companies involved in textile machinery, electronics, and industrial automation.
Modern Cutting Machines that are available for the John Howard Company allow for exponentially faster cutting speeds and performance vs the old machines.
For instance our top of the line Model: HC-530 Hot & Cold Automatic Strip Cutting Machine has the following capabilities and specifications:
• CUTTING LENGTH – approx 400 ft.
• CUTTING WIDTH – 4 inches.
• TOLERANCE – .05% of total cut.
• QUANTITY – up to 99,999 pieces.
• COUNTER – pre set up to 99,999.
• SAFETY – knife cover sensor – auto stop roll end sensor.
• AUTO – feed/reverse.
The Model: HC-810 Electronic Hot/Cold Strip Cutting Machine
The HC-810 hot strip cutting machine (pictured above) is designed to automatically cut and seal synthetic materials, preventing fraying for a clean, professional finish. It is also capable of cutting nylon cord with ease. This machine features an adjustable time delay function, allowing precise control over the knife’s down time, making it ideal for cutting through thicker materials efficiently.
Custom Cutting Services
John Howard Company has professional cutting machines and trained cutting experts who can precisely cut your materials to your exact specifications!
Our expert staff is here to help! We can cut your webbing, cordage, hook and loop, tape or elastics to your exact specifications.
Call our friendly customer service staff for details and a quote.
Toll Free 888-564-6469 or 909-590-7550
Click here to view cutting machines available for purchase.
What are the benefits for product manufactures using Hot cutting machines?
Hot cutting machines, often used in various industries for cutting materials like straps, tubing, webbing, plastic, or textiles, offer several advantages for product manufacturers:
- Precision and Quality: Hot cutting, which includes methods like laser cutting, plasma cutting, and hot wire foam cutting, provides high precision. This results in cleaner cuts with minimal distortion or deformation of the material, which is crucial for detailed parts or intricate designs.
- Efficiency and Speed: These machines can cut materials at a faster rate compared to traditional methods. The speed reduces the time from raw material to finished product, thereby increasing production rates.
- Versatility: Hot cutting machines can handle a variety of materials, thicknesses, and shapes, making them versatile for different manufacturing needs without the need for frequent tool changes.
- Reduced Waste: Due to the precision of the cuts, there’s less material wasted, which can lead to significant cost savings over time, especially with expensive materials.
- Automation and Integration: Many hot cutting machines can be fully automated and integrated into larger manufacturing systems. This automation reduces labor costs and human error, increasing consistency in product quality.
- Lower Operational Costs: Over time, the energy efficiency of these machines, particularly laser cutters, can lead to lower operational costs compared to mechanical cutting methods that wear out quickly or require frequent replacements.
- Reduced Post-Processing: The clean cut edges often require less or no additional finishing, reducing the need for post-processing steps like grinding or polishing, which saves both time and money.
- Enhanced Design Capabilities: Manufacturers can produce complex shapes and patterns that might be difficult or impossible with traditional cutting methods, opening up new design possibilities.
- Safety: Automated hot cutting reduces the need for manual handling of sharp tools or heavy machinery, thereby improving workplace safety.
- Scalability: These machines can be scaled up or down based on production demands, making them suitable for both small batch productions and mass manufacturing.
- Environmental Impact: While the initial setup might be energy-intensive, the overall efficiency, reduced waste, and potential for recycling cut-offs can contribute to a more sustainable manufacturing process.
For manufacturers, investing in hot cutting technology can lead to competitive advantages through improved product quality, faster production times, and cost efficiencies. However, the initial investment and maintenance requirements should also be considered against these benefits.
We invite you to give us a call to discuss your cutting needs and how John Howard Company can help with our professional cutting machines!
Toll Free 888-564-6469 or 909-590-7550
