Sandvik Dieflex Platinum flat bed cutting rule

The extreme hardness of the coating of Sandvik Dieflex Platinum flat bed cutting rule ensures excellent and even cutting results during long runs, even with abrasive materials such as plastic laminated board, recycled board, metallized polyester, composites, substrates for electronics industry etc.

Furthermore, the special coating has a very smooth surface resulting in much lower friction during cutting. The reduced friction helps to lessen cutting pressure and greatly improves the release properties for all substrates. The extremely hard edge also makes it the ideal rule where very long runs are required, e.g. in cigarette box dies or in the pharmaceutical packaging industry.

Physical and mechanical properties

Hardness

The hardness of a steel rule ensures good stability but adversely affects bendability. Dieflex Platinum has edge hardening and a unique edge coating. The result is an extremely hard edge with good body stability and bendability. The surface coating is extremely hard, which ensures excellent wear resistance, but is so thin that it does not affect bendability and does not flake off even with extremely tight bends.

Thickness, pt Body hardness, HV (HRC) Edge hardness, HV (HRC) Surface coating hardness,
HV
2 380 (39) 640 (57) 4000-5000 (off scale HRC)
3 325 (33) 640 (57) 4000-5000 (off scale HRC)

Microstructure

The Sandvik Dieflex family of products has a unique bainitic microstructure, providing an optimum combination of high hardness and high toughness and ensuring a good combination of stability and bendability. Hardness is at the same level as hardened and tempered martensite, but the toughness is much greater.

Bainitic

Martensitic

Surface decarburization

Surface decarburization is a process by which the carbon content in the surface of steel rule strip is reduced. This results in a soft exterior skin, which enhances the bendability of the product and reduces the risk of surface cracks. All Sandvik Dieflex cutting rules are decarburized. The specified depth of decarburization is detailed in the table below.


Thickness, pt
Total decarburisation, μm

2
60-120

3
80-140

Bendability

Bendability is one of the most important properties in a cutting rule. It is a direct function of microstructure, surface decarburization and hardness, both in the body and in the edge. Due to careful design and control of these properties, Sandvik rules have optimum bendability. The minimum guaranteed bending angles, at 0.35 mm bending radius, are detailed in the table below.

Edge bevel Thickness, pt Minimum angle, degrees
Centre 2 150
3 100
Long centre 2 110
3 90

Springback

After bending a steel rule to any angle, it has a tendency, through its 'memory', to try to return to its original form. This property is called springback and originates from the microstructure and the tensile and elastic properties of the steel. This phenomenon cannot be avoided and, therefore, it is of paramount importance to have a predictable and consistent springback value. For the Sandvik Dieflex family of cutting rules, the springback values for various thicknesses are well documented and can be predicted precisely. The surface coating of the edge does not affect the springback. The allowed springback, at 60 mm bending diameter, is detailed in the table below.

Thickness, pt
Springback, degrees

2
45-60

3
64-80

Corrosion resistance

Rust protection

A special dry rust protective coating is applied to all rules. It has been specially formulated to replace the traditional oil protective coating. The benefits are no marking of substrates, longer lasting and improved protection against rust.

Forms of supply

Supplied as standard in 1 metre lengths, or in coils of 100 m for 2 pt thickness and 50 m for 3 pt thickness. Special lengths can be supplied on request.

Stock standard size range, Sandvik Dieflex Platinum, H = height

2 pt (0.71 mm)
3 pt (1.05 mm)

H up to 30.00 mm
H up to 50.00 mm

Back edge

The back edge is shaved with rounded or bevelled edges as standard.

Cutting edge

The standard bevel forms are centre and long centre bevel.

Edge angle

Standard edge angles are 30º, 42º and 52º.

Marking

All Sandvik cutting rules are clearly marked with product name, dimensions, production date and identification codes.

Technical specifications

Height tolerances
Height, mm Tolerance, mm
≤50 +/- 0.020
Thickness tolerances
Thickness, pt
Tolerance, mm

2
+/- 0.015

3
+/- 0.020

The Sandvik specifications for the most common types of flatness deviations are:

Camber or dish

Maximum flatness deviation 0.10% of the height.

Coil set

Deviation from a straight line - maximum peak height 5 mm/1 m for cut lengths and 10 mm/1 m for coils.

Twist

Maximum 0.5 mm in 1 metre lengths.

Straightness

Deviation from a straight line - peak height maximum +/- 0.50 mm in 1 metre lengths or +/- 0.12 mm in 0.5 metre lengths.

Surface

Dark blue oxide layer. The maximum surface roughness allowed is Ra 0.5 μm. Surface defects with depths or heights of ≤ 10 μm, which will not affect bendability, are allowed.

Edge angle

+/- 1º for all edge angles.

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