What's a cutting machine?
A cutting machine for every DIYer
A cutting machine increases the creative possibilities of DIYers. You can precisely cut designs that you can't always cut by hand. The cutting machines support many types of materials. It differs per model which materials and applications you can use. At this moment, there are 5 types of cutting machines:
- Cricut Joy: mostly suitable for making cards and stickers. It's the only portable cutting machine thanks to its compact size.
- Cricut Explore Air 2: you can write, cut, and fold materials with this one. This model supports about a 100 materials.
- Cricut Explore 3: similar to the Cricut Explore Air 2, but with support for Cricut Smart materials so you can cut up to twice as fast with cutouts up to 3.6m.
- Cricut Maker: this is the most extensive model. It supports over 300 materials and has more than 11 applications.
- Cricut Maker 3: similar to the Cricut Maker 3, but with support for Cricut Smart materials so you can cut up to twice as fast with cutouts up to 3.6m.
From the idea to the end result
You can create the greatest creations with the cutting machines. From personalized T-shirts to cards and labels for your water bottle. Connect the cutting machine to your PC or send tasks wirelessly via your smartphone and start plotting. Follow the 3 steps and you'll have your creation in your hands in no time:
- Download the program Design Space and design a creation yourself or download one of the thousands ready-made designs.
- Choose the suitable material, put it on the cutting mat in the cutting machine, and start the cutting process.
- Your cut-out design is ready. Just finish it. There follow-up steps differ for each material.
The possibilities are endless
You can do more than cut with a cutting machine. Depending on the model, you can also draw, write, fold, or engrave with it. Personalize your cup with a self-designed sticker or create a nice postcards for your best friend's birthday. The endless possibilities give you even more motivation and inspiration for your next projects. With the Cricut cutting machines, you also get access to a data bank. Here you can find thousands of free and paid designs that you can use right away.
5 types of supplies for the cutting machines
Materials
The 3 different cutting machines support different materials. Check which materials are suitable for your model. There are standard materials, like craft paper, vinyl, and labels, but there are also special materials. With the iron-on sheets, you can transfer your designs to clothing. You need a heat press for this. Another special material is transfer tape. This tape is necessary to transfer your cutout design to a cup or water bottle, for example.
Tools
You can cut your creations with a cutting machine, but that's not all you have to do. You need extra tools to finish your projects. Think about manual tools, like a spatula or scraper to remove imperfections. Cricut also sells different heat presses to personalize your clothes. There is a large and a small heat press, so you can use it on different surfaces.
Mats
There are different mats. Cricut Joy has a special card mat, which you can use to cut cards on. For the Maker and Explore, there are 3 mats. These mats are suitable for different materials, so all 3 have a different sturdiness. All cutting mats have a sticky coating. That way, the material stays in place when you cut it. For the EasyPress 2 and EasyPress Mini, there's a special mat that distributes the heat evenly when you iron. So the design stays on your clothes properly.
Bag
The Cricut Joy cutting machine is the only portable model. It's compact and doesn't weigh much compared to the other 2 cutting machines. Cricut has designed a carrying bag to protect the Joy properly when you transport it. This bag has the same colors as the plotter. On the inside, there's a main compartment for the machine. In addition, there's an extra compartment for the charger and possible accessories.
Pens
The cutting machine has an attachment where you can put the blades. In the same attachment, you can keep pens to draw or write on materials. Thanks to this, you can make a card even more personal. You choose the font or upload the design and the cutting machine finished your creations.
Conclusion
You purchase a cutting machine for so much more than just paper thanks to the unlimited possibilities. Which applications or materials the cutting machine supports differs per model. Each cutting machine has its advantages and disadvantages, so make sure you know what you want to create with the cutting machine beforehand. Use the extra supplies for even more creative options, like personalizing clothes or writing.
