Sheeting & Slitting

Slitting for custom gasket fabrication:

During the process of custom seal and gasket fabrication, we take advantage of several processes including sheeting and slitting. Slitting is a term used to describe a type of cutting process where large rolls of sheet material are cut using extremely sharp rotary blades on flatbed presses or otherwise. These materials can include rubber, polyethylene foam, sponge, solid rubber, PVC (polyvinyl chloride) foam, neoprene, EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer rubber) and silicone rubber or foam. In the process of gasket material slitting, straight lines are cut lengthwise into the large roll of sheet material in order to create strips of rubber, foam or sponge that are narrower in width. As the roll of rubber, foam, sponge or other non-metallic gasket material runs through the circular blades of the roll slitter, the mentioned cuts are precisely made. In the industry, and for those that are familiar with the sheeting or slitting process, the circular blades are referred to as knives and can actually be moved to make sheet strips of differing widths for the gasket fabrication process. In sheet material fabrication, slitters often come equipped with more than one knife.

Slitting can be used for both sheet rubber, sponge or foam pieces, as well as for rolls of seal and gasket fabrication material. Slitting blades are designed specifically for each required job. The three critical determinants of the blade configuration include:

• The work piece material thickness
• The type of material to be slit (whether it’s sponge, foam, rubber or some derivative thereof)
• The specific tolerances that must be held while slitting

To further explore how we can assist you with your sheeting or slitting requirements, please contact A.J. Rubber & Sponge Ltd. today.