The manufacturing process is rough. To go from a stainless-steel coil to a high-end final product requires demanding steps like bending, cutting, drilling, and stamping. Each one of these processes could result in dents and scratches.
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That’s where protective tape comes in. You can protect your products during secondary processing by using the right protective tape for sheet metal.
There are countless types of tape for sheet metal, from aluminum foil tape to butyl tape, but the top used in the industry are fiber laser tapes and standard PVC tapes. When it comes to fiber laser tapes, the two best brands are Novacel and Nitto.
Novacel offers a wide range of tapes that work with most types of machinery—including fiber laser cutters and CO2 laser cutters. They can protect all kinds of metal as well, such as stainless steel, aluminum, acrylic, and more.
With Novacel tape, you can store sheet metal outside for two to six months. And even after such a long time, you can remove the tape cleanly and easily. Novacel can even print your logo on protective films and tapes.
Nitto’s range of tapes is comparable to Novacel in quality, applications, and price. Nitto uses a strong, natural rubber adhesive, which provides greater adhesion than the acrylic adhesive used in aluminum foil tape and other types of foil tape. Plus, it uses break-resistant polyethylene film.
This brand of tape is suited for high-performance and high-speed laser cutters. In addition, it’s backed by a strong reputation in the industry, in contrast to Novacel, which is still fresh on the market.
PVC tape is an affordable and reliable option for stamping and shearing sheet metal. While it’s not ideal for laser cutting, it can still protect against gouges, scratches, and nicks during processing.
One drawback of PVC tape is that it’s not environmentally friendly, especially compared to fiber laser tape and aluminum tape. According to Greenpeace, PVC is the least recyclable plastic; only 0.5 percent of all PVC is recovered for recycling.
Applying adhesive tape to sheet metal protects the surface from damage due to abrasions or debris during the laser cutting process. It also keeps the metal safe during storage and transport.
Sheet metal tapes are useful for more than just laser cutting. They serve the same protective purpose when it comes to stamping, shearing, and other secondary processing.
While the goal of using tape during secondary processing is always safety and insulation, some properties of tape can help determine more specialized applications. For example, the more adhesion power a tape has, the better it works for heavier gauges of metal.
Like other consumer goods, tape has been impacted by the global supply chain issues first caused by COVID-19 and then exacerbated by the war in Ukraine. Currently, this affects certain products more than others—namely, fiber laser tapes.
Novacel is currently the most popular brand of fiber laser tape, but it was hit harder by supply chain disruption. It can take four to six weeks to acquire Novacel tape for your stainless steel. In contrast, a wide range of Nitto tape is more readily available.
Diversified Specialty Metals is taking clear steps toward resolving the supply chain issues around fiber laser tape and navigating steel shortages. We work with you to recommend the best brands that are available and match up with your project timelines.
To choose the right tape, you should consider the following elements: equipment, material, and finish.
Regular laser tape and fiber laser tape are both excellent choices for CO2 lasers and fiber optic lasers. Stampers, on the other hand, don’t require such expensive tape—PVC tapes work perfectly at a much lower cost.
When buying sheet metal, you need to understand the properties of your steel, especially thickness. For example, if you use Grey Nitto Fibre Laser tape on a heavier gauge metal, it could blow off during the laser cutting process. Black Nitto Fibre Laser is more adhesive and works better for heavy gauges.
Finally, the irregular surfaces of metal sheets affect adhesion and sealant ability. Some metals can be too smooth for certain adhesives. For instance, Novacel and Nitto both work well on No. 4 stainless steel finishes, but PVC tape can’t handle above No. 2B finishes.
For laser cutting and stamping alike, look for these additional features in your tape:
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Strong adhesion
Flame resistance
Easy application and removal
Functional print
Rubber adhesive over acrylic adhesive
Strong sealant
Powerful insulation
If you’re a laser shop operator, the best tape for you is going to be Novacel or Nitto. Their products are comparable in application, quality, and price, but you will have to wait longer for Novacel tape due to supply chain issues. For stampers and shearers, you can stick with standard PVC tape; it’s an affordable way to get the job done!
Masking tape is a rubber-based multi-purpose tape that's not UV resistant. In addition to painting projects, it’s the tape of choice for many automotive, building, construction and electronic needs. It can also be used for simpler tasks such as labeling food containers, sandwich bags, school supplies, etc. It’s usually an off-white, thin tape that’s easy to tear and is available in a variety of widths and strengths. Masking tape has a strong adhesive that can bond with almost any type of surface, but is best for using on non-damagable surfaces, like unfinished wood, brik, concrete and carpet.
Painters tape is an acrylic based masking tape that’s formulated to prevent the paint from seeping through onto unwanted surfaces. Compared to masking tape, painters tape is a UV resistant, low tack tape, making it a better choice to use on walls, doors, windows, floors or ceilings. It also contains a water repellent, making it ideal to maintain clean lines when using water-based paints. Painters tape comes in a variety of types including tape for delicate surfaces, tape for rough surfaces, and tape for ultra-sharp paint lines. You’ll find painters tape in a variety of colors, including blue or green.
While it's not good practice to leave painters tape on for too long, there are high quality tapes that can be left on for 30 or even 60 days. A good rule of thumb is to remove the tape when the paint has dried. Learn more about how to prep for painting with painters tape in the video below.
Duct tape is a great choice for general maintenance, bundling, wrapping, attaching and sealing. It’s a multipurpose, durable and super strong triple-layer tape with a mesh backing made from low-density polyethylene, giving it strong adhesion. It’s used on everything from patching hoses to taping down electrical cables to preventing scuffs on your floor from chair legs. Some duct tape conforms to smooth and textured surfaces like concrete and brick. Once only available in gray, duct tape can now be found in a wide range of colors and patterns to match any repair job.
Electrical tape is an essential component of any installation, repair and manufacturing project. It is used to protect, insulate and mark electrical wires and other materials that conduct electricity. The proper way to use electrical tape is to pull and stretch it as you wind it around wires. This shrinks the tape around the wire, causing a tight seal that won’t expand when it gets cold.
Electrical tape is available in a variety of colors, each one designated for specific electrical requirements.
Black: Low voltage, Phase A (used on wires in direct sunlight)
Red: Low voltage, Phase B
Blue: Low voltage, Phase C
Brown: High voltage, Phase A
Orange: High voltage, Phase B
Yellow: High voltage, Phase C
Purple: High voltage, Phase B
Green: Earth ground
White: Low voltage, neutral
Gray: High voltage, neutral
Plumbers tape, also called Teflon tape, is used to create a watertight seal between joints on pipe threads that don’t have a rubber seal. It also lubricates the joint connections, making it easier to thread or disassemble. Plumbers tape can be easily torn with the hands, is spooled in a variety of widths and is used to install bathroom and kitchen fittings, as well as outdoor water taps.
Want to learn more about plumbers tape? Check out the video below.
Packing tape, also known as packaging tape, is a polypropylene- or polyester-backed tape designed for long-lasting performance. It’s the best tape to use on cardboard boxes and packages, but it’s just as useful on manilla envelopes, bubble mailers and foam. Packing tape works in hot and cold temperatures. While it isn’t waterproof, it is water-resistant. The most common colors of packing tape are brown and clear, however, colors like blue, red or green are available when the project calls for color coding.
HVAC foil tape is a durable, foil-backed tape with acrylic adhesive used for joining and sealing joints and duct closures. It has excellent bond strength and helps keep your heating and cooling units working efficiently. It’s the preferred tape over cloth-backed duct tape for heating ducts. HVAC foil tape provides a permeable barrier for vapor and can withstand temperatures exceeding 300 degrees Fahrenheit. It can also be used on garage doors as a fastener or as a seaming tape for insulation.
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