Cutting Failure: The Knife Does Not Cut Through

Problem

Consecutive packages remain attached at the cut point, or cuts start but do not complete. The fault may be constant or appear at speed only.

Possible Causes

1. The blade is worn or damaged beyond its usable edge.
2. Cutting clearance has moved out of adjustment.
3. The cutting force or pressure setting does not match current conditions.
4. Material — product, film accumulation or debris — sits in the blade path.
5. The knife drive does not complete its stroke (mechanical or pneumatic issue).

What to Check

• STEP 1Inspect the blade.Locked out per procedure, examine the edge for wear and damage (see the knife damage guide).
• STEP 2Verify clearance.Confirm the blade-to-anvil relationship against the machine manual's specification.
• STEP 3Observe the actuation.Run at low speed and watch the knife motion — it should reach the same position every cycle, fully and crisply.
• STEP 4Check the blade path.Look for film wraps, product scraps or debris in the cutting zone.
• STEP 5Test film and speed dependence.Try a short run at reduced speed to separate speed-related drive behavior from constant mechanical causes.

Corrective Actions

• Replace worn or damaged blades and restore documented clearance before restarting.
• Clear the cutting zone and keep it on the daily cleaning checklist.
• Where the drive does not complete its stroke, stop and report — do not force repeated cycles.
• Log the event with speed, film batch and photos to support diagnosis.