Plotter/cutter machines and MTC software...

[Zogbert Splod]

One point that has come to mind; when printing brick/stone/tile paper or label make sure you use the same orientation (I prefer landscape) when cutting out buildings, vertical brick courses don't look quite right!

I made the mistake of trying to squeeze in some extra bits on the end of the sheet (porches IIRC) but put them at 90 degrees to the rest of the parts - one of the mistakes I learnt from!

I am so glad that I am not the only one who has done that!  Thanks for admitting that you have done it too.

[Railwaygun]

the Cricut is on offer here:

£142

https://www.stuff4crafts.com/cricut-explore-one-machine-2002832.html?currency=GBP&CAWELAID=120018150000668379&gclid=CK3Fnv2G_MoCFYIW0wodIX4JeQ

any thoughts??

[Graham Walters]

I've been thinking about getting one of these :


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBntqVrhCYM

It says in the blurb that it can cut up to 350gsm card, so the 20thou embossed and plain pasticard  should be a doddle.

http://www.silhouettecameo.co.uk/silhouette-cameo-2.html

[Dorsetmike]

Re the Cricut;

Some of the reviews on Amazon are a bit scathing of the cloud based software, for most of the functions you have to pay after the first month and unless you are based in the USA the subscription  is annually not monthly.

It also means having a good internet connection as some users reported numerous crashes losing all their current work.

Another mentions that it will not recognise UK paper sizes like A4, also little if any scope for designing your own work, seems you have to use their designs which you have to pay for after the first month.

I think this review sums up the gripes

In summary. If you live in the USA and just want to reproduce the projects provided - great. If you live in the UK and want to personalise your projects - think very carefully about buying the Cricut Explore.

[MikeDunn]

any thoughts??

It may be priced in UK £, but you're buying from Grand Rapids, Michigan ...  And they seem not to actually list a proper address, merely the town & state ...

[Dorsetmike]

Further to the Cricut, reading the shipping details, any taxes/duties are added at checkout, shipping costs are also calculated at checkout, delivery up to 3 weeks

Amazon free delivery

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cricut-Explore-Cutting-Design-Draw-Cut-Craft-software/dp/B00JQ39KLM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1455624814&sr=8-1&keywords=cricut+explore

[Graham Walters]

Further to the Cricut, reading the shipping details, any taxes/duties are added at checkout, shipping costs are also calculated at checkout, delivery up to 3 weeks

Amazon free delivery

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cricut-Explore-Cutting-Design-Draw-Cut-Craft-software/dp/B00JQ39KLM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1455624814&sr=8-1&keywords=cricut+explore

If it's coming from the US, it will be free of their local taxes, however HMRC will charge VAT at 20%, and Royal Mail will charge an £8 handling fee.  Please note that RM at the present to not do bank or credit cards at the collection window, it's Cash or Cheque only, and you will need ID, driving licence is best

[Dorsetmike]

Quote from their shipping details

International Shipping to Canada & UK
No taxes at your door and no duty fees! We charge you the tax upon checkout to save you from the hassle of paying at your door. All orders will be shipped by DHL. All shipments will be sent out within 2 - 3 days and will take between 5 and 20 business days depending on the size of the order to be delivered.

[Graham Walters]

Quote from their shipping details

International Shipping to Canada & UK
No taxes at your door and no duty fees! We charge you the tax upon checkout to save you from the hassle of paying at your door. All orders will be shipped by DHL. All shipments will be sent out within 2 - 3 days and will take between 5 and 20 business days depending on the size of the order to be delivered.

Yep and I have to stand at the office window and explain that bull manure about ten times a day, if the product is over $20 in value it will still attract VAT at 20%, even if local taxes in the States have been paid.  The EU have recently enforced it due to heavy taxation on EU goods imported to the States.

[Zogbert Splod]

The Cricut was the first one of these things I ever saw and used.  The software that used to be supplied with the machine was an earlier version of 'Make The Cut' but at some point there must have been a falling out.  The MTC web site now clearly state that they no longer support Cricut.
The one that I used belonged to my ex and was mainly a cartridge based unit.  Fonts and shapes could be bought on cartridges with a theme - Christmas, Thanksgiving, Birthday and various font cartridges.  The cartridges were NOT cheap!  Someone did bring out an interface that would allow the machine to cut designs created in Inkscape.  Cricut then announced that using this method with the machine could seriously harm it.  They said that the USB port was only for testing and updating the firmware.  They have now gone over to an expensive web based interface.  Hmmmmm.....

[Graham Walters]

Re the Cricut;

Some of the reviews on Amazon are a bit scathing of the cloud based software, for most of the functions you have to pay after the first month and unless you are based in the USA the subscription  is annually not monthly.

It also means having a good internet connection as some users reported numerous crashes losing all their current work.

Another mentions that it will not recognise UK paper sizes like A4, also little if any scope for designing your own work, seems you have to use their designs which you have to pay for after the first month.

I think this review sums up the gripes

In summary. If you live in the USA and just want to reproduce the projects provided - great. If you live in the UK and want to personalise your projects - think very carefully about buying the Cricut Explore.

I actually bought a Cricut Explore, and I can say that you can upload and cut out custom shapes, and quite easily via the "New Project" selection, it virtually holds your hand with step by step instructions as you go.
You do have to calibrate the machine to your printer so that it recognises the cut guides, and that can be a bit of trial, but once set up, it's save and forget until you change the printer.
Within half an hour of opening the box I had cut out a custom design.

I'm now going to try and progress with it, mainly to see if I can cut 20thou plasticard to make buildings and walls.
If anyone has any advice on setting it up, I'd be grateful.

[dannyboy]

  an old post @Graham Walters
Did you ever test the Cricut on Plasticard Graham? The reason I ask is that I have received an email from 'Hobbycraft' advertising the Cricut for £325. Having read the original thread, can you, or anyone for that matter, recommend the Cricut? 

[Graham Walters]

  an old post @Graham Walters
Did you ever test the Cricut on Plasticard Graham? The reason I ask is that I have received an email from 'Hobbycraft' advertising the Cricut for £325. Having read the original thread, can you, or anyone for that matter, recommend the Cricut? 

My experience was that it wouldn't actually cut it out, but it would score it enough to enable you to use a scalpel and make more accurate cuts, be wary that it will only do this on the thinnest plasticard

[dannyboy]

@Graham Walters    Graham. Having read the full thread, I think I will give it a miss and stick with the steel rule and knife approach. 

[red_death]

You can get the silhouette portrait for less than half that price. It will cut thin plasticard and score thicker (up to 40 thou) plasticard well enough to then snap out the pieces.

Cheers mike