Digital Cutting

Cutting without a die

Digital cutting is a computer-controlled process that uses blades, lasers, or oscillating tools to convert material into shapes and custom components, without building a physical die first. It's well suited to thick materials, laminates, and delicate materials that need a controlled touch.

Because there's no tooling to design or wait on, digital cutting is the fastest path from a CAD file to a finished part, especially for complex shapes, shorter runs, and designs still being refined.

Alt text Digital Cutting

Why digital cutting

Flexibility, accuracy, and fast turnaround make digital cutting the right fit for prototyping and short runs, where waiting on a physical die doesn't make sense.

Rapid prototyping can ship in as fast as 1 day; On-demand production typically ships in about 10 business days, both without new tooling between them.

How We Cut With Digital Cutting

Crease Cutting

Controlled fold lines cut to a partial depth, so a part folds or assembles cleanly to spec after cutting.

Flash Cutting

Oscillating-knife cutting that handles thick materials and laminates with no dedicated tooling required, so a design can move straight from file to part without waiting on tool lead time.

Multi-Material Cutting

One setup handles multiple material types and thicknesses without a tooling change between them.

Kiss Cutting

Partial-depth cuts that leave a backing liner intact, our standard method for labels and adhesive-backed parts.

Laser Cutting

A focused beam cuts tight corners and fine detail, and can also engrave or etch without cutting through.

Waterjet Cutting

A high-pressure water stream cuts cold, no heat-affected zone, across both hard and soft materials.

Materials

Digital cutting runs on thick materials, laminates, and delicate stock that needs a controlled touch, with no tooling to build before the first part.

Browse materials for digital cutting ›

Industries We Serve

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

Partner With Us Through Every Stage of Your Project

Rapid Prototyping

Our prototyping services support iterative development, giving you the flexibility to validate designs, test functionality, and make refinements before moving into production.

Get your parts in as fast as 1 day. Explore Prototyping >

On-Demand Production

When it's time to move from prototyping to production, we are ready for you. Our on-demand production capabilities provide flexible manufacturing for your projects, with no minimum order requirements.

Get your project going, with lead times of 10 business days. Explore Production >

Why Choose Rapid Die Cut

Fully Automated Manufacturer

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

Experienced Engineers

With over 35 years of experience, Rapid Die Cut's team of engineers delivers exceptional precision and quality backed by ISO:2015 certification and extensive industry knowledge.

Proprietary Technology

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.

Die Cutting

CNC Knife Cutting

Creasing and Scoring

Adhesive Lamination

Die Cut Tooling

Kiss Cutting

Laser Cutting

Roll Slitting

Waterjet Cutting

Frequently Asked Questions

What is digital cutting?

Digital cutting is a computer-controlled process that uses blades, lasers, or oscillating tools to convert material into shapes and custom components, rather than a physical die.

What's the difference between digital cutting and die cutting?

Die cutting uses a physical tool built for your exact shape, efficient at high volume but requiring tooling lead time. Digital cutting needs no tooling, so it's faster to start and better suited to prototypes, short runs, and designs still in flux. See Die Cutting.

Do I need a CAD file to get started?

Yes. Digital cutting runs from your CAD file. Get started by selecting your desired material, choosing our Cut to Size service, and walking through the steps to configure your size, thickness, color, and adhesive.

Can digital cutting handle multiple materials in one part?

Yes, multi-material cutting is one of our core capabilities, see 'How We Cut' above.

What types of digital cutting does Rapid Die Cut offer?

Crease cutting, flash cutting, kiss cutting, laser cutting, and waterjet cutting are all part of our digital cutting capability, alongside multi-material cutting for parts that combine layers. See 'How We Cut' above for each.

How fast can I get a digital-cut prototype?

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

Precision Cutting Solutions for Complex Shapes Requiring Quick Turnarounds

Cutting without a die

Why digital cutting