Die cutting under vacuum through rollers

An apparatus for cutting a sheet of material comprising:

• a) a die board;
• b) a die on the die board;
• c) a cutting pad on the other side of the die from the die board;
• d) an enclosure surrounding the die, the enclosure incorporating or enclosing the die board and cutting pad;
• e) a source of vacuum in communication with the enclosure;
• and,
• f) a roller press,
• wherein,
• the enclosure, die board, cutting pad and die are sized and configured to pass through the roller press such that a sheet of material located between the die and cutting pad will be cut.

A method of using a die having a brace comprising,

• a) providing a hole in the brace of the die;
• b) providing an element attached to and extending upwards from a die board;
• c) placing the die on the die board such that the element passes through the hole in the brace;
• and,
• d) attaching a second element to the top of the element, the second element being unable to pass through the hole in the brace.