Die Cut Machines

Many different electronic die cutting machines are available today, and your selection should always depend on what you want to use it for. Some of these machines can be used without any computer, other need to run some manufacturer software on a PC. I will showcase the most important factors to consider before making a purchase in this article. 

The Portable Die Cutting Machine

If you only need basic features and you do not want to invest much time into learning how some new software works, then you should take a look at the Cricut cutting system, which runs on cartridges. These cartridges can be purchased separately and feature many different shapes and alphabets which can be cut rapidly with this machine. This Cricut system is a standalone die cutting machine which costs around $300 and there is no need for a PC. The cartridges sell for $50 to $100. Because of the low initial price, the comfort of use and the portability make it very attractive to people making scrapbooks. The limitations of this product are clear, you can only cut what appears on your cartridge, so the machine can cut basic cardstock and the most types of paper which are common in the scapbooking community, but the company recently did release a heavier blade which can also cut heavy paper such as heavy chipboard. There is a third-party software package called "Sur Cuts a Lot" with which you can bypass the limitations of the cartridge system and cut all the True Type Fonts and scalable vector graphics. However, using that software ruins your warranty, so take good care of your equipment if you use it. Altogether the total cost here is about $500 for the machine and either some cartridge or the software package.

If you are in need of heavier machines to cut heavier media and you want the versatility of being able to cut your own fonts, images and shapes, then the options are broader, including necessary choice such as the correct PC operating system, the software that accompanies the equipment, the basic features and the cost and warranty. What are the possible choices here? 

The Heavier Duty Die Cutting Machines

There's Graphtec equipment like the Craft Robo, the Wishblade or the Silhouette which are all available at about $300. These are all limited to working with DXF and GSD formatted files and this is a serious limitation for some users, but it is possible to buy these files online or to find free ones; experienced users can even take advantage of open source software to design their own shapes with more flexibility. For machines which can use 500gr of force or more, the manufacturer Pazzles or Gazelle offer a good series starting at about $450, and the KNK Groove die cut machines can all cut 12" paper or cardstcok of up to 800gr in force (they're priced starting at $560). Pazzles and Gazelle run the Funtime software which can work on AI and WPC formatted files and import others, while the Groove is accompanied by KNK Studio (KNK files, but supports the import of AI, SVG, EPS and some GSD files,...). While any of these machines can be used to cut many different types of media, each one has its own advantages. You have to be conscious of the fact that you will have to learn how to use these die cut machines and that the configuration of your computer system is decisive for the choice of the machine. The general rule here is that most die cutting machines only run with their specific drivers on 32-bit operating systems, but as technology advances rather quickly, it may be necessary to recheck these informations before you buy. Most of the machines run on USB or Serial connections which makes them less portable, but a simple notebook can take care of that. The estimated cost here is about $600 for either machine with their software included. 

The Luxury Class in Die Cutting Machines
The higher priced supermodels are the machine that can emboss, engrave and perforate on top of cutting, and they do this on heavier media than paper such as thin metal or wood, too, with very little to no limitation in design possibilities. The 15" KNK MAXX is one example and costs $1060 before shipping, in the 24" version it's $1200. Pazzles also has its high-end models, but they cost a few thousands, so I'm not going into them here. The KNK MAXX have 950gr cutting force and the software that comes with it allows you to do anything you want. There is very little things which a crafty guy could imagine that this baby wouldn't be able to cut. Be it balsa wood, chipboard, thin metal, cardstol, vinyl or plastic, acetate, acrylic stamp material or plastic, anything can be cut. It holds tools of up to an inch in diameter, so the design possibilties are unlimited for engraving, drawing, embossing, distressing, etc. KNK needs 32-bit operating systems (XP or Vista) to work, but you can do that either on a desktop PC or on a laptop. The initial cost may seem high, but it includes everything you need, such as the machine, the software, the mat, the blades, the adhesive and a good manual. Usually the consumable media are long-lived (blades and mats) but this depends on what is cut with them. The learning process for the software is a little bit long but pays off big time at the end.  

You can go to "Thats ScrapInc" in order to get some good free videos and tutorials to learn how to do it, and then you should be ready to go!