This paper analyses the software available for the research of the mechanisms of printing and packaging machines. Existing programs for mechanism synthesis, kinematic analysis, and visualisation are compared by their capabilities and limitations, and the requirements for a specialised research tool are formulated. The analysis motivates the author’s own software for the construction and kinematic analysis of machine mechanisms.
This paper presents a software system for the automated kinematic analysis of lever (linkage) mechanisms with constant link lengths, developed in Embarcadero RAD Studio. The system decomposes an arbitrary mechanism into structural (Assur) groups and computes the positions, velocities, and accelerations of the links across a full cycle. Results are presented as graphs and tables and can be exported for further engineering use. The tool automates routine kinematic calculations for the linkage mechanisms of printing and packaging machines.
This paper reports analytical research into the torques arising during the cutting of cardboard in a die-cutting press equipped with eccentrics in the pressure-plate drive. Experimental cutting data are interpreted analytically to describe how the resistance torque varies with the plate position throughout the cutting phase. The resulting dependencies link material resistance, plate kinematics, and drive loading, providing a basis for sizing the drive and predicting power demand. The findings improve the accuracy of engineering calculations for die-cutting equipment.
A family of custom engineering programs for the synthesis, kinematic and dynamic analysis, and visualization of machine mechanisms, applied in scientific research, university courses, and industrial experiments. Several generations were built — from Delphi / Object Pascal desktop applications to a modern React + Python web version.
Mechanism editor with dimensions, velocity vectors, and the object tree.
Capabilities
Automated kinematic and dynamic analysis of crank mechanisms, linkages, cam mechanisms, kinematic pairs, and Assur groups.
Calculation of positions, trajectories, velocities, accelerations, link and angular parameters, forces, reactions, and driving torque over a full cycle.
Interactive construction, animation, trajectory and vector visualization, and engineering dimensioning.
Export and reporting to JSON, CSV, SVG, DXF, XLSX, PNG/JPEG, AutoCAD drawings, Excel tables, and Word reports, including AutoLISP generation of 3D models for AutoCAD.
Registered software
Multiple programs from this work are protected by Ukrainian software copyright certificates:
Certificate No. 59291 — Construction and kinematic analysis of the mechanisms of the second class.
Certificate No. 2930 — Constructing and visualizing the mechanism of the die-cutting machine.
Certificate No. 2959 — Calculating and visualizing the mechanism of semi-product movement.
Certificate No. 2987 — Synthesis of the mechanism of the die-cutting machine.
Certificate No. 3511 — Synthesizing the wedging mechanisms of the die-cutting machines.
Certificate No. 3512 — Synthesis and analysis of the mechanism of the die-cutting machine.
Stack: Delphi / Object Pascal, VCL, GDI+, TeeChart, AutoCAD/Excel/Word OLE automation, Python, React, JavaScript, SVG, and Vite.
Scientific research on die-cutting press pressure-plate drive mechanisms is analysed and, based on the results, an upgraded drive is proposed that combines two wedging mechanisms, an additional pair of driven cranks, and a gear transmission. A geometric synthesis of the mechanism determines its relative and absolute dimensions, and a methodology based on similarity theory is developed to calculate its kinematic parameters, yielding analytical expressions for the invariants of the mechanism’s motion. A 3D model is designed from the synthesis results and a virtual experiment is conducted in SolidWorks. For a press operating at 60 cycles per minute with an 80 mm plate displacement, the maximum speed reaches 0.372 m/s while inertial loads at plate reversal remain minimal (negative acceleration of −0.139 m/s²), confirming the effectiveness of the proposed drive.
The die-cutting of large-format cardboard concentrates very high forces on the pressure plate and its drive. This paper argues for replacing the traditional monoblock pressure plate with a two-section design, in which the plate is split into independently driven sections. Dividing the load between sections lowers the instantaneous force on the drive, reduces plate deformation, and improves the uniformity of cutting and creasing. The study defines the conditions under which the two-section plate is justified for high-capacity die-cutting automata.
This conference paper reasons for the use of a crank-gear drive of the pressure segment in a sectional die-cutting press. It shows how combining a crank mechanism with a gear transmission shapes the motion of the pressure segment, increasing the dwell during cutting and reducing inertial loads. The proposed drive is presented as a route to higher productivity and better cut quality in sectional die-cutting equipment.
This paper studies the movement of the pressure plate driven by wedging mechanisms in a flat die-cutting press. Analytical relationships are derived for the displacement, velocity, and acceleration of the plate over the working cycle, and the influence of the wedging-mechanism parameters on the motion is examined. The results show how the wedging drive shapes the plate’s approach and dwell during cutting, providing a basis for tuning the drive to reduce impact and improve cut quality.
This study examines schemes of combined double-crank wedging drive mechanisms for the pressure plate of a die-cutting press and defines the conditions for their application. Structural and geometric synthesis of the mechanisms is performed, and their kinematic and functional characteristics are derived analytically. The combined double-crank wedging arrangement is shown to increase dwell during the cutting phase and to smooth the plate’s motion, improving the quality and stability of cardboard die-cutting. Recommendations are given for selecting the scheme parameters according to the required press cyclicity.
This paper presents the design and analysis of a novel double-wedging drive mechanism for the pressure plate of a flat die-cutting press, proposed as an alternative to traditional crankshaft-based systems. The mechanism improves motion transmission, increases the uniformity of contact with the cardboard sheet, and reduces inertial loads during embossing, creasing, and cutting. A kinematic scheme is developed and analytical expressions for displacement and torque are derived, while a custom Python tool automates parameter calculation, model generation, and integration with SolidWorks for simulation and optimisation. Three-dimensional models and motion studies validate the analytical results and confirm the mechanism’s advantages for high-cyclicity die-cutting equipment.
