Electrode slitting machine, a critical equipment in battery cells manufacturing

Before explaining the importance of electrode slitting machine in Lib’s manufacturing, let’s briefly talk about the battery itself.

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are widely used in various applications, such as electric vehicles, portable devices, and renewable energy storage systems. They offer high energy density, long cycle life, and low self-discharge rate.

However, to meet the increasing demand for higher performance, safety, and durability of LIBs, it is necessary to optimize the materials and processes used in their fabrication.

One of the key components of LIBs is the electrode, which is the active part that stores and releases lithium ions during charging and discharging cycles. The electrode is composed of a thin metal foil, called the current collector, on which a layer of active material is coated. The current collector of the positive electrode (cathode) is usually made of aluminum, while the current collector of the negative electrode (anode) is made of copper.

One factor that affects the quality of the electrodes is the slitting. The slitting process must be precise, accurate, and clean, to avoid damaging the coating and the foil.

One of the main challenges of the slitting process is the formation of burrs, which are unwanted projections of material that form on the edges or corners of the foil as a result of the cutting action.

Burrs can cause several problems, such as:

• Reducing the dimensional accuracy and the quality of the slit foil, which can affect the alignment and the assembly of the electrodes in the battery cell.
• Increasing the risk of short circuits, by creating electrical bridges between the electrodes or by piercing the separator.
• Causing injuries to the operators or the handlers of the slit foil, by creating sharp edges or corners.
• Inducing wear or damage to the cutting tools, by increasing the friction or the contact pressure.

Therefore, it is essential to reduce as much as possible the burrs for lithium-ion battery electrodes slitting. To achieve this, it is necessary to select the appropriate slitting method and to control specific cutting parameter.

Electrode slitters by Calemard

Present on converting equipment manufacturing since 1955, Spoolex has gained a strong expertise in slitting and rewinding technology.

Indeed, our electrode slitting machine allows to unwind under controlled tension a wide web to precisely slit it for producing strips. Then, these strips are carefully rewound with no strip and material alteration, but also with straight wall and burr-free.

Thus, you will be assured of a highly productive and consistent process with a good ergonomic.

We also offer solutions for assistance/automation for both mother roll loading and pads unloading, to ensure operator safety and high productivity.

Don’t hesitate to contact us to run tests in our lab with your own products!

Applications

Why choosing Calemard electrode slitters?

With Calemard equipment, you get:

• versatile, flexible and upgradeable equipment to optimize your OPEX and CAPEX
• latest automation technologies to increase your productivity and your operators’ safety
• Latest cutting technology to minimise burr effect
• precise tension control to optimize your process and your final product quality
• user friendly and high-engineered converting equipment

Thus, be sure to :

• reduce your manufacturing costs and optimize your CAPEX
• increase your downstream operations and your complete process efficiency
• optimize your final products quality and reduce your wastes
• save time and money whilst increasing your operator’s safety