Importance of GSM Round Cutter and How to Calculate it?

What Exactly Is GSM Round Cutter Machine?

To start things off, GSM (Grams per Square Meter) Round Cutter Machine Tester is weighing a material in regard to weight per square meter. It describes the density or thickness of a sheet-like material, including paper, fabric, and even some plastics.

Think of it in this way: 

• High GSM equals heavier, thicker, and more durable
• Low GSM equals lighter, thinner, more flexible, or breathable

GSM will not tell you how a material is made or what it's made of, but it will tell you how dense it is. Density tells a lot on its own.

Where GSM Makes a Difference

You might be surprised how many industries base product quality and use on GSM.

1. Textile and Clothing

In fabric and apparel, the GSM has an essential contribution to the feel, weight, and functionality of a garment.

• For lightweight fabrics, the given range is 120-160 factors for clothing for summer, i.e., T-shirts and airy dresses.
• Medium-weight fabrics are 1916-220 GSM, serving well for structured tee shirts, polos, and long sleeves. 
• Heavyweight units, usually 220 gsm and above, find usage in sweatshirts, jackets, or higher-end fabrics. 

Everything chosen here matters, from comfort to cost.

2. Paper and Printing

Paper quality is generally judged in terms of GSM. 80 GSM: Common printer paper. 130-170 GSM: Posters and flyers. 300-plus-GSM: Premium-quality business cards or packaging. The heavier the GSM paper, the stronger the feeling of professionalism and oftentimes the more it absorbs the ink. 

3. Packaging and Product Testing 

GSM helps product testers and manufacturers ensure the packaging material has the right strength to protect its contents while remaining cost-effective. GSM being inconsistent may indicate a problem in quality control. If you've gone far enough to test your product, GSM is a good way to start comparing samples. 

Why You Should Care About GSM

If you are involved in designing, sourcing, or testing products, then the GSM can prove to be a real weapon for you. Here are the reasons:

• Quality Control: Standardisation of GSM means that your products will generally meet expected standards.
• Cost Efficiency: Very high GSM may unnecessarily increase costs for the materials, while very low could lead to complaints from customers.
• Consumer Expectations: People expect quality, although they may not know it by name. A flimsy T-shirt, a thin flyer, and the like are capable of marring the reputation of your brand.
• Environmental Concerns: The lower the GSM, the fewer the resources for the material, but only if the value for money has been achieved.

GSM gives you the ammunition to find the right compromise between performance, feel, and price.

How to Calculate GSM

Let’s do it practically. The very measurements of GSM can be performed easily and do not require very expensive equipment. 

Materials Required:

• A small square sample of material
• A ruler or a GSM cutter (for precise measurements)
• A digital scale capable of weighing to at least 0.1 gram

Step-by-Step:

• Cut a sample; a common size is 10 cm x 10 cm (i.e. 100 cm²).
• Weigh the sample on your scale; 2.5 grams is an example.
• The area must be converted to square meters: 0.01 m² for 100 cm². 

Use the Formula:

GSM = (Weight of Sample in grams)/(Area of Sample in square meters). 

If the mass of your sample is weighed as 2.5 grams and the area of the sample is 0.01 square meters (10 cm x 10 cm), then you have this calculation: 

Thus, this material has a GSM of 250, which would be classified as thick and might therefore stand up to some degree of rough handling as fabrics and paper go.

GSM = 2.5/0.01 = 250

So the material has a GSM of 250.

For reproducible results, you should do at least three tests for each sample and then take the average value. If this is for production purposes, to make your process even more accurate, GSM testers and die cutters can help. 

Common Examples

Say you are sourcing t-shirts for your brand. It comes down to two samples:

• Sample A: 150 GSM - Feels light and soft: good for hot weather
• Sample B: 200 GSM - Feels thicker: suitable for the premium collection

You now know that by using GSM, you are making an educated selection rather than just guessing by feel. The same is true for printing flyers, testing towels for absorption, or checking the strength of packing.

A Quick GSM Comparison Chart

Final Thoughts

GSM may be a technical term, but it is among the simplest yet most useful ways to quantify a product's quality and performance. Whether you are a business owner who seeks to maintain some conformity across his product line, a consumer who is curious about the value of a product, or a product tester who compares some samples, GSM is a number that represents volumes. 

At Test Your Product, we believe that quality should be made easier to measure, understand, and, therefore, apply. GSM is but one of a myriad of tools available to you to help you make smarter, more confident decisions about products-whether that product is manufactured by you or marketed to you. Do you want assistance testing your product's GSM and other key quality benchmarks? Contact us; we will help you get your product tested, compared, and improved.