Cricut
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Cricut is a die-cutting machine. The machine can cut thin/soft materials such as paper, foam-core and vinyl sheets and it can also act like a pen-plotter.
Contents |
Fixing Broken machines
Some collected tips on repairing Cricut machines can be found on the Cricut_Repairs page.
Pressure/Blade Depth settings for Various Materials
| Material | Pressure | Depth |
|---|---|---|
| Card stock | 4 | 4 |
| Vinyl | 3 | 3 |
| Copy paper | 3 | 3 |
| Pen/Pencil holder | 3 | n/a |
See also: Cutting Craft Foam
Software/Hardware links
- Cricut PCBs -- Instructions on how to make PCB's with the CriCut
- Make-the-Cut -- Make-the-Cut software is used to control the Cricut. It runs on Windows, and mostly runs under Wine/Linux. The trial version is fully functional for designing projects, and the registration code is only necessary for actually controlling the machine. NOTE: MTC officially no longer supports the Cricut, but you can still run the old installer and never let it update. DO NOT allow your MTC to update to a new version or you will be broken!
- Licut -- Licut is a lightweight suite of software tools for sending Inkscape SVG files to a Cricut cutting device. Currently tested with Cricut Cake running firmware v2.35, running on Ubuntu 9.04 and cross-compiled for arm-linux on Chumby.
- Libcutter -- Open Source library for interfacing with 2D paper cutters and plotters.
- Freecut -- Freecut is an alternate firmware for controlling Cricut (Personal only!) hardware - do not attempt on the Hackerspace Cricut please! There is no known way to restore the original firmware to the device.
- RStep -- RStep: For the development of an open-source hardware and software platform to control a stepper motor via an arduino rather than a PC. The firmware is mature, and we are looking at making a stepper motor shield that mates with an Arduino to give a fast and easy solution to stepper motor control.
- STMD -- AVR-based stepper motor driver
- GRBL -- Grbl is a free, open source, high performance CNC milling controller written in optimized C that will run on a straight Arduino.
- Cricut Personal hardware photos
- Cricut Expressions hardware photos
- Unshelled Cricut photo
- A Simple CNC System great stuff here on hardware store CNC machines.
- Inkscape CAMM-GL Extension -- This program is basically just a cut manager. Create artwork in Inkscape, save with the supplied hpgl_output extension, and cut or plot with this program. The program does provide some useful functions, but it is by no means a fully featured solution.
- LinuxCNC -- idea: use linux cnc via cartridge port or real-time USB connection to do low-level stepper control directly and leverage the work of others. firmware might emulate step+direction or phase information would be passthru.
- High Resolution test patterns
Discussion Forums
- Make the Cut forum -- Great place for ideas, discussion, tips and tricks for using MTC and the Cricut itself.
- Cricut Messageboards -- OK for project ideas and material information, but you're not allowed to post regarding MTC or other software options.
Blogs/Wiki
- Clever Someday
- Cricut Wiki
- lots of good info in the comments on these blog entries
- MTCSCAL e-files Paolo is a prolific and talented poster of free MTC projects and SVG files.
Alternative Pens/Cutters
- Amy Chomas sells several types of pen holders and embossing/engraving tips for the Cricut.
- 1-dozen mini-gel pens -- Stables sells a pack of gel pens in assorted colors for only $5. These pens are just short enough to fit. Amy Chomas sells a pen holder for these, or you can just wrap a strip of duct tape around the pen until it's thick enough for the machine's holder.
- blade types. -- Klick'N'Cut sells a variety of blades. I -believe- the ones listed for the MAXX bladeholder will also fit the Cricut but have written them to confirm.
- Dremel flex-shaft -- I think the flex-shaft might just be mountable if we remove the Cricut's keyboard and set aside like in This video and shorten the bits slightly.
If you have a makerbot, extruding a C shaped collar of different inner diameters can be used to make pencil and mini-sharpie holders. This is better than the duct-tape solution, as there appears to be less slop while making tight turns.
You can also use an etch-resist pen with either duct-tape or a collar.
Material Sources
I got a modest amount of black and white sign vinyl for free from one Sign Shop. Another one told me he didn't have anything for me. The bigger shop the better I think.
There are number of vendors such as this one that sell variety packs (you choose the colors) in different sizes on ebay for pretty good prices.