ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Steel rule die

Imagine you have a big piece of paper that you want to cut into lots of smaller pieces, all the exact same shape and size. But you don't want to use scissors because that would be really difficult and time-consuming. What can you do?

Well, you can use a special tool called a steel rule die. It's like a giant cookie cutter, but instead of cutting cookie dough, it cuts paper or other materials like cardboard, foam, or cloth.

The steel rule die is made up of a metal frame that holds a sharp-edged strip of steel, called a rule. The rule is bent and shaped into the exact pattern of the pieces you want to cut out.

When you place your big sheet of paper on the die and push down on the handle, the rule cuts cleanly through the paper, leaving behind a perfect little piece. Then you can simply slide the paper over to the next marked spot and repeat the process until you have all the little pieces you need.

Steel rule dies are very helpful for making things like boxes, packaging, signs, and labels. They ensure that the pieces are all exactly the same shape and size, which is important for things like fitting together correctly or having a professional-looking finish.