CNC Knife Cutting

Dieless cutting for soft and semi-rigid materials

CNC knife cutting, otherwise known as dieless knife cutting, utilizes an oscillating knife and CNC technology to produce accurate, controlled cuts in a wide variety of materials.

Our CNC knife cutting technology converts materials into complex forms with exact dimensions, high precision, and smooth finishes, ideal for demanding industrial applications.

Alt text CNC Knife Cutting

Why CNC knife cutting

The technology works well on soft and semi-rigid materials like foam, rubber, films, or cellular silicones, producing clean edges and consistent quality.

That makes it a fast and reliable manufacturing approach best for prototypes, small-batch production, retail and trade-show display components, and complex geometries that a tooled die would struggle to hold.

What We Cut With CNC Knife Cutting

Six specific capabilities, all run from your CAD file with no tooling required.

Oscillating Knife Cutting

Our core dieless process: an oscillating knife guided by CNC technology for accurate, controlled cuts with no tooling required.

Precision Contour Cutting

Complex forms cut to exact dimensions with smooth finishes, suited to demanding industrial applications.

Soft and Semi-Rigid Material Cutting

Foam, rubber, films, and cellular silicones cut cleanly without the distortion a blade or die can cause on softer stock.

Prototype Development

Fast-turn samples with no tooling to wait on, so a design can be validated before committing to a full production run.

Small-Batch Production

Short-run production at CNC knife cutting's natural scale, without the minimum volumes a tooled die requires.

Display Materials Cutting

Clean, consistent cuts for retail and trade-show display components, run straight from your CAD file with no tooling required.

Materials

CNC knife cutting works on soft and semi-rigid materials: foam, rubber, films, and cellular silicones.

Browse materials for CNC knife cutting ›

Industries We Serve

CNC knife cutting supports these industries, matching the confirmed list already used across our other cutting capabilities.

Why Choose Rapid Die Cut

Advanced Technology

As a fully automated manufacturer, we offer rapid production capabilities, ensuring your parts are delivered quickly and accurately, even for bulk orders.

Production Versatility

We offer rapid prototyping services to bring your concepts to life, allowing you to perfect your designs before deployment to full-scale production.

Instant Online Quoting

Our proprietary technology platform seamlessly integrates your specifications into the design process, providing instant updates and ensuring precise control over the final product.

More from Rapid Die Cut

Our automated digital manufacturing platform rapidly reviews your CAD files and identifies the best tool for the job from our 8 industrial cutting technologies.

Digital Cutting

Laser Cutting

Waterjet Cutting

Adhesive Lamination

Creasing and Scoring

Die Cutting

Die Cut Tooling

Kiss Cutting

Roll Slitting

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CNC knife cutting?

CNC knife cutting, also called dieless knife cutting, uses an oscillating knife guided by CNC technology to produce accurate, controlled cuts, no physical die required.

What's the difference between CNC knife cutting and die cutting?

Die cutting uses a physical tool built for your exact shape, efficient at high volume but requiring tooling lead time. CNC knife cutting needs no tooling, so it's faster to start and suited to prototypes, small batches, and complex geometries. See Die Cutting.

What materials can be cut with CNC knife cutting?

Foam, rubber, films, and cellular silicones, soft and semi-rigid materials that hold a clean edge and consistent quality under an oscillating knife.

Do I need a CAD file to get a CNC knife-cut part?

Yes. CNC knife cutting runs from your CAD file. Get started by selecting your desired material, choosing our Cut to Shape service, and walking through the steps to configure your part.

How fast can I get a CNC knife-cut prototype?

Prototyping can ship in as fast as 1 day; production runs typically ship in about 10 business days.

Can CNC knife cutting produce parts for retail or trade-show displays?

Yes. The process cuts foam, films, and other soft and semi-rigid display materials cleanly and consistently, well suited to retail and trade-show display components run from your CAD file.

Precision Cutting for Soft and Semi-Rigid Materials

Dieless cutting for soft and semi-rigid materials

Why CNC knife cutting