In contrast, a CNC stamping machine can be ready to punch perforations in the time it takes for a designer to create a pattern on a software package such as Adobe Illustrator or Autocad.
The CNC machine features two moving heads with five electronically controlled pins on each. The pins are interchangeable, come in five sizes and are fired into the leather working in a similar way to a fuel injector.
Changes to a design can be made very quickly. It’s not as fast as the traditional machines, but it can be used for small production runs.
For large runs, explains leather designer Debra Choong, “we use it more as a sample and prototyping tool, to test different patterns on their trims, but the intention would be for the hides to be produced on high-volume perforation machines”.
As well as flexibility of design, the speed of the system means customers can quickly check physical features, such as whether a new design works with a seat’s air-conditioning system.
“Traditionally, we might have to work out all the behind-thescenes aspects before we get to the final tooling, whereas now we can prototype a pattern, try it out, see whether it works with the airflow or not and check that it passes the customer’s test criteria on our leather,” says Choong. “If we need to make changes, like if the holes are too big, small or close together, we can modify it almost instantly.”