Felt for Slitting Machines

• Wool – Based Felt: A significant portion of slitting machine felt is made from wool. Wool felt has excellent elasticity and resiliency. The natural fibers of wool can withstand a certain amount of pressure and friction. Wool also has good absorbency, which can help in situations where there might be a small amount of lubricant or other substances present during the slitting operation. The wool fibers are intertwined and compressed to form a dense and durable felt structure.
• Synthetic Felt: Some slitting machine felts are made from synthetic materials such as polyester or polyamide. Synthetic felts offer advantages such as resistance to chemicals and moisture. They can be engineered to have specific properties like high abrasion resistance and consistent thickness. Polyester felt, for example, is known for its stability and can maintain its shape and performance over time.

• Smoothness: The surface of the felt needs to be extremely smooth. This smoothness ensures that the material being slit, whether it’s a delicate paper or a thin film, moves smoothly over the felt without getting scratched or damaged. A rough – surfaced felt could cause surface imperfections on the slit material.
• Even Thickness: The felt must have a consistent and even thickness throughout its length and width. Variations in thickness could lead to uneven pressure distribution during the slitting process. This might result in an inconsistent cut quality, with some parts of the slit material being cut more deeply than others.
• Tensile Strength: It has a certain level of tensile strength to withstand the tension forces that occur during the slitting process. When the material is pulled through the slitting machine, the felt should not tear or deform easily. This is especially important when dealing with high – speed slitting operations where the forces acting on the felt are significant.
• Absorbency (for Wool Felt): As mentioned earlier, wool – based felt can absorb small amounts of liquids. This property can be beneficial in cases where there is a need to handle minor spills or lubricants used in the machinery. The absorbed liquid can be held within the felt structure without affecting the performance of the slitting process.

• Support and Cushioning: The felt provides a cushioned support for the material being slit. It acts like a soft bed that holds the material and prevents it from vibrating or moving erratically during the cutting. This is crucial for achieving precise and clean cuts. For example, when slitting a roll of thin plastic film, the film rests on the felt, and the felt absorbs any minor vibrations caused by the cutting blades or the movement of the machine.
• Guiding the Material: The felt can also help in guiding the material through the slitting machine. Its smooth surface and consistent thickness provide a reference path for the material to follow. This ensures that the material is slit in a straight line and that the width of the slit material is consistent as well.
• Protecting the Machine Components: By acting as a buffer between the material being slit and the machine parts such as the cutting blades and rollers, the felt helps to protect these components from damage. The felt can prevent the material from directly rubbing against the machine parts and causing wear and tear.