Platen Temperature

Process Impact

Thermal energy softens the lignin in the paperboard to allow for deeper and crisper embossing without fracturing the surface. When using heated dies, platen temperature must be high enough to make the board pliable but low enough to avoid scorching the stock. The dwell time, or the duration the plates remain closed, works in conjunction with the heat to set the final shape.

Material Limit

Overheating the metal components causes thermal expansion that can throw the cutting or stamping tools out of alignment. If the temperature exceeds the flash point of the inks or the melting point of the coatings, the sheet may stick to the die. Uniform heat distribution across the entire surface is difficult to achieve on very large format machines.