Patch-up is probably the most time consuming make-ready process. Approximately 40% of patch-up is required when using traditional die tooling to ensure excess pressure is not applied to the cutting knives, thereforw reducing the die life.

The minimum patch-up process has broken with the traditional methods of make-ready by addressing these three main areas :

- Cut/crease machine
- Inconsistency in die tolerances
- Cutting plate

Levelling the cutting bed
Most operators will insist that the surfaces of all cut/crease beds have low spots caused by continual use. To compensate for the low areas, the operator will apply layers of paper or tissue to the underside of their make-ready sheets. This is commonly known as zone patching and has to be done on each make-ready. Arden Dies has taken this method and adapted it to the machine, rather than each individual make-ready sheet.

Pre-Grinding
Traditional methods of bending rule often require patching-up by the use of tape on the make-ready sheet. Pre-ground knives need little, if any tape - further reducing make-ready time.

Higher tolerance dies
Once you have levelled your machine you will achieve a patch-up time reduction of approx 10-15%. To achieve further reduction in patch-up, we must now look to reduce the inconsistency of rule heights.

We can do this by applying the following to our die-making method:

- Pre-grind rules
- Reduce lipped joints where layout permits
- Fit M-Power rule
- Ensure the correct balancing knife formula is applied to each layout

Levelling your press
A grid die is supplied to the maximum chase size. Using this Arden Dies will fingerprint your press to identify its low spots. A protection plate comprising of the machine finger print laminated between two vetronit plates, will be supplied to replace your exising protection plate. This can now be used on any new make-ready. Revert to your old protection plate for existing dies.