It also has a cutting power that makes it possible to work This Cricut has a 2x fast mode for working with paper, vinyl, iron-on, and cardstock. And it only weighs 3.5 lbs, making it so easy to bring to a friend’s house to help with making decorations or invitations. So don’t expect top quality here. amzn_assoc_tracking_id = "cuttingmachinereviews-20"; If yes, you can get your way around it by using a FREE cutting software. These machines have cameras or optical eyes that can sense registration marks on the printed media, and align the cuts appropriately. By setting starting and ending depths, the blade can progressively push farther and farther through the material, rather than trying to press all the through each time (like most other machines). If you’re wondering about the name, you can actually buy an Orbit Accessory that lets you mark directly on spheres and cylinders (like Christmas ornaments or Easter eggs). The Silhouette Curio is an interesting little machine by Silhouette America. This Cricut machine is perhaps one of the best on the market, as it offers elevated precision for professional cuts. Surprisingly, home craft machines are more versatile than commercial cutters. Written by Ali Fields | Updated: November 11, 2020. The most portable electronic vinyl cutter available! This covers the majority of homes and businesses. No need to purchase an additional Bluetooth adapter for your cutter or desktop, it can connect to your router over WiFi. In fact, once you find the right unit, the only limitation will be your imagination. Your vinyl letters will work best on semi-gloss and glossy paints. Cricut Explore Air 2 vs Silhouette Cameo 3, How To Cut & Make Vinyl Decals With a Cricut, How to Save a Silhouette File as a JPEG, PDF, or PNG, Comparison of the Best Vinyl Cutting Machines of 2020, Reviews of the Best Vinyl Cutters and Plotters, Cricut Explore Air 2 (Best all-around value), Silhouette Portrait 2 (Best portable cutting machine), KNK Zing Orbit (Best for cutting intricate designs), USCutter MH 34″ (Best value commercial cutter), Roland GS-24 CAMM-1 (Best for accuracy and precision), USCutter Titan 2 (Best deal for contour cutting), Roland Stika SV-15 (best desktop-sized vinyl cutter for business), Buying Guide: Finding the best vinyl cutting machine. There’s an incredible array of different vinyl cutters you can choose from, ranging from hand-cranked machines you can find for under a hundred bucks that use cookie-cutter metal dies, to giant industrial powerhouses that can cut wide rolls of vinyl at almost 5 feet a second. You can find all sorts of projects and tutorials that show you exactly how to use your machine, and people to answer your questions or gush over your recent creations. But if that fails, it has a 2-year warranty and free lifetime phone support. If you want to do a lot of stickers because you are running a business which requires a lot of work, we will recommend a vinyl cricket sticker machine which has superior ball-bearing dual roller media roller system. Of course, you’ll also have the freedom to customize your design of choice using the Silhouette Studio which, once again, is available for free. Indeed, Roland is one of the few vinyl cutters that we have come across so far that offer a built-in optical registration system. It’s actually not as important as you might think, because the quality of the cuts depends on how the blade is moved and turned through the material. The pinch-rollers can be easily adjusted to accommodate a range of media widths. Once you purchase it, you’ll enjoy instant access to a fabulous community of other crafters from who you can gain invaluable wisdom. If you want a much more reliable budget commercial cutter, check out the USCutter MH Series reviewed above, which is my choice for the best value professional cutter. Read full review here. I want to make sure that everyone can pick the perfect cutting machine for themselves, so I’ve compiled and evaluated all the top vinyl cutters for your home and business, as well as essential advice you should know before selecting the right cutting machine for you. Embossing requires strong pressure and a firm base and is something that the digital cutting machines still struggle with. But here’s the trade-off: it costs less for the same basic cutting power and technology developed for the Explore Air 2 model. I’d feel proud to call it the best vinyl cutting machine available today when you take price into account. This machine has a stepper motor and can cut with a downwards force up to 350 gf at 39 in/s. Isn’t that so cool? Silhouette Studio 4 is the design software that comes with all Silhouette machines. It comes with KNK C3 (their Cutter Command Center) software which lets you control the cutter from a PC, Mac, smartphone or tablet. What is the best vinyl cutting machine available today? Shop with confidence on eBay! CLICK HERE TO SAVE TOP 10 BEST CRICUT FONT COMBINATIONS FOR VINYL TO YOUR FAVORITE PINTEREST BOARD! On board the MH Series are vinyl rolls, squeegee, a knife, magnetic blanks and transfer tapes. The company no longer uses Flash and has since shifted to the web-based Design Space software. The machine design is quite attractive: it has a cute retro shape that comes in fun colors like mint green, flamingo pearl, sky blue, and a basic black. The servo motor places the Titan 2 in a tier above the budget commercial cutters. However, the software is web-based and requires an internet connection to design or cut anything. That means you can handle the cutting and writing parts in just one step. Well, I’ve spent the last year testing 30+ models, and I’m finally ready to release my review (and my top pick). amzn_assoc_ad_mode = "search"; One of the notable things about this unit is that it works quite fast – thanks to its Fast mode ability. Some machines will only take their specific brand of blades, meaning you will be limited to the original equipment manufacturer for replacement blades. It’s not the most powerful cutter, but it is pretty quick and plenty powerful for cutting adhesive vinyl, heat transfer vinyl, paper, card stock, and paint mask. Best machine for manual die cutting and embossing, Great for cutting quilting squares and fabric appliques, Requires dies or embossing folders (not included), Great for cutting paper, vinyl, fabric, and embossing paper and foils. It comes with the basic edition of VinylMaster Cut software (a $60 value), which makes designing vinyl signage a snap. This vinyl cutting machine boasts automated blade settings, complete with a dual carriage. If not, you can purchase Sure Cuts a Lot at a discount when you buy a Zing Orbit. If you have bought a lettering machine, but don’t know how to make vinyl letters, there are many online tutorials available that can help you learn. It also has a Smart Set Dial, which lets you select your material and automatically picks the appropriate cut settings. That’s not something you can easily do with any of the electronic cutters. The Silhouette Cameo Wireless Cutting Machine also made our list but came in at a higher number than its sister, America Portrait 2. The Cricut Explore Air 2 is the most popular model of Cricut cutting machine available right now. It doesn’t have the large memory you can find in more expensive plotters, so it will sometimes freeze on long or complex jobs. Unfortunately, this software can be a bit tricky to get working, especially on newer computers. In case you’re too busy to design your own stuff, you’ll be happy to learn that there are dozens of pre-made choices that you can find for free within the Design Space repository. Though the larger ones do weigh up to 20 lbs, so lugging them around can be a bit of a chore. Here are a few pointers that should guide you into deciding exactly what type of vinyl cutting machine is best for you. Do you have a crafting tutorial you'd like to see? Instead, you should focus on the practicality of the machine and whether it’s capable of living up to reasonable cutting standards or not. Ideally, your professional cutter (even if it’s a budget brand) will be compatible with a trusted brand of blades. Copyright 2012 - 2019 Cutting Machine Reviews, Loaded with innovative spooling functionalities, Comes fully loaded with a blade holder, USB cable, power cable and pen holder, Its blade holders are Roland compatible, offering quick access, Offers multi-color workflows without the need to swap in between rolls, Small qualms with the otherwise perfect vinyl cutter would be that it does a terrible job when used to cut sandblast resist, This is a versatile vinyl cutting machine, Can work with fabric thanks to the Rotary Blade, Boasts Adaptive Tool System which automatically controls blade direction, Has a limited cutting area of 12×24 inches, Provides USB functionality and also has a pen and blade holders, Roland compatible blade holders offering quick access to the blades, Compatible with MAC and Windows operating systems, Free dust cover, USB cable and power cord, Its cutting force is quite weak (221 g/s) compared to other commercial vinyl cutters, Works at 20 inches per second which is quite fast, Provides a highly precise mechanical resolution of 0.0005 inches, Built-in optical registration sensor to improved workflow, Capable of storing a maximum of 8 settings for different blade and media combinations, USB connectivity for simplified PC connection, This machine is a heavy-hitter and, therefore, not ideal for paper-cutting. Also missing, so some vinyl projects will take a bit longer. This is an area of crafts where the learning curve is as big as you want it to be. The Silhouette Curio can cut materials up to 2 mm thick with the deep cut blade. If you order this model, you will get it with over … It is fully compatible with Sure Cuts a Lot (and has some limited functionality with Make the Cut), so you’re good if you already have either of those programs. There are a lot of amazing vinyl cutters out there, from small portable devices to powerful machines that can cut long sheets of vinyl with incredible speed and precision. The KNK Force is able to achieve its massive force by using an actual motor to control the vertical (Z) axis. If you’ve used manual vinyl cutters or embossers this will probably be familiar to you, but you don’t really see it with used with other digital electronic cutters. And now you can cut that shape out of any material! This lets you create really unique designs and patterns from any pictures you find or draw. It’s my favorite design software, and in testing dozens of machines I’ve found it to be the most important quality in choosing the right machine. Here is a step by step guide on how to cut vinyl with a Cricut machine! Features a dual-carriage for multi-tool use. With optical registration of crop marks, it can do print and cut projects to make labels, stickers, and more! These are the higher-tier of the commercial cutters. Though it costs more than most personal-sized vinyl cutters, it definitely cuts well enough to deserve the price. Create and design from your computer, tablet or mobile phone using the Cricut Design App for iOS and Android devices, Cuts 100+ materials. Even more impressive, you can do surface work on materials up to 5 mm thick! The Silhouette Cameo 3 is the most recent DIY vinyl cutter produced by Silhouette America. Let's stay updated! A few of the features are missing. So the machine is fast, cutting up to 20″/s while maintaining incredible precision. The small, sturdy cutter is perfectly portable: ideal for crafts projects with kids. Okay, so the Zing Orbit has the specs to demonstrate that it’s a powerful cutter. 2x fast mode? The unique vertical control makes multi-pass cutting even more accurate. And if you need to sell it used later locally or donate it to your school’s maker space, you’ll have a slightly larger wallet than if you purchased the Explore Air 2 or one of the more expensive professional machines. Finding the best vinyl cutting machine is the first step in setting up a successful production line. However, it does have one major drawback. (That would never happen, I’m sure!). Which is the best for beginners? FINAL VERDICT – WHAT’S THE BEST VINYL CUTTING MACHINE? It comes in 3 different sizes: 8″, 12″, and 15″, weighing just 5 to 7 pounds. Use the powerful Silhouette Studio design software to create your projects. They often come with colorful markers, and a dual tool holder so you can cut & draw in a single pass. Personal vinyl cutters close up when not in use, which protects the machinery and helps it look attractive in your workspace. So if you want to do any serious design work, you’d be better off using separate design software like Adobe Illustrator or Inkscape. Over 125+ different materials can be used with a variety of blades and pens. We may receive commissions on purchases made from our links. for working with paper, vinyl, iron-on, and cardstock. A good print and cut machine is capable of cutting out the most intricately printed designs, whether printed on vinyl or any other substrate. And that’s not all – you enjoy the freedom to design using a computer, iPhone or even iPad. Unfortunately, the Zing Orbit doesn’t come with any software included. Some of the budget professional vinyl cutters are only fully compatible with a PC. If you are new to cutting vinyl, I recommend the Cricut Explore Air 2, it’s a great value for its cutting quality. Professional vinyl cutters can be massive and usually come with a dedicated stand, as well as media feeders and media catchers. You’ll want to know what materials and sizes you are planning to cut before you purchase, so you can carefully compare the specifications to your intended usage. Most of the free models will meet all your cutting needs, just like the paid ones. Since professional vinyl plotters are pretty standardized, you can easily compare the specs of different models to see if they’ll suit your specific needs. After this, I’ll go deep into the features of each model so that you can make the right choice for your own uses and projects. It’s easy to use and is a functional, but basic, design program. While the Portrait 2 doesn’t feature a dual carriage that can hold two tools at once, it does take the variety of Silhouette’s blades that let you cut a variety of materials with ease. This combo lets you cleanly and easily cut through delicate fabrics and crepe paper, without needing to bond it to a stiff backing (like Heat n Bond). Great for print & cut on letter-sized paper, Cuts over 100 materials including: cardstock, fabric, heat transfer material, transparencies, paper, vellum, adhesive vinyl and magnet paper. It comes with 100 free applique designs you can access directly from the machine. Silhouette Studio can print with registration marks that are then read by the Cameo 3, so you can print & cut colorful stickers (or even temporary tattoos!). There are a bunch of quilting dies and applique shapes you can buy, making this machine a top choice for working with fabric. No more wasting vinyl because you, uh, accidentally forget to change the blade setting! So you don’t get surprised at having to buy another piece of software, or even borrow someone’s old laptop, to get it working. If you are the kind of person who pays close attention to detail, the Air 2 has just the flexibility you need to craft finer details. The machine weighs 7.5 lbs, and measures about 14″ x 12.5″ x 6.5″. It’s therefore, safe to say, this is one of the strongest machines in its price range as far as making cuts is concerned. It’s difficult to figure out the differences between various models, and even once you learn their specifications, how do you analyze which are relevant to you? Generally speaking latex and oil based paints will work. What’s more? If you go with one of the popular brands like Cricut or Silhouette, you’ll also gain access to thousands of pre-made designs you can browse online. So whether you’re a hobbyist looking for the latest and greatest, a beginner about to make their first cuts, or you’re making an important purchase for your business, I’ve got you covered. We tested nine die cutters for over 35 hours by comparing their ease of use, cutting force, the number of materials they could work with and each machine's software compatibility. Cricut originally designed the Explore One as a cheaper introductory alternative. The Cricut Maker is the most versatile vinyl cutter I've seen, able to handle a greater variety of materials and projects than other personal home cutters. You can start producing t-shirts in your backyard. It opens smoothly at the touch of a button, and everything from the dial to the accessory storage is well-engineered. The budget brands and cheapest models might cost just a few hundred dollars. For those with familiar with more advanced design programs, you can instead get a plugin ($40) to send designs directly from Illustrator or CorelDraw. It also has a few hidden compartments to store accessories like extra blades and fabric pens. So you can connect directly to your home network. This is a terrible approach! Over the years, these devices have evolved from their original design that needed cartridges to cut out letters and shapes. This machine is the only manual cutter on this list. Roland compatible blade holder gives you access to the most economical blades available. They are small enough to move around: to bring to a friend’s house or store in a closet. The only electronic cutter that can flawlessly emboss, deboss, stipple, and etch from digital designs. The software provides some basic design capabilities for creating vinyl lettering or simple designs, and can easily import vector graphics (including SVG and PDF). 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