Is anybody else using a cutting machine?

[John Everett]

Hello all,

Until just about 3 weeks ago I was unaware of the existence of of CNC die cutters suitable for home use. After a bit of checking I bought the Silhouette Cameo on sale at a local art supply warehouse and within two hours was cutting my own parts from thin plastic sheet.

Thus far I'm impressed.

The software is included with the cutter but can be downloaded for free from the Silhouette website. It's easy to use and designed specifically for the Silhouette system.


THE BASIC FACTS:

1. These machines are meant for cutting paper and vinyl sheet stock, but any type of thin sheet can be used.

2. The plastic sheet being cut here is .015" thickness (1/3mm).

3. This plastic was purchased from a plastic supply house and is not your typical hobby shop style, Evergreen sheet (Although those would work, the costs would quickly become prohibitive.)

4. The blade doesn't go all the way through. The parts are scribed and snapped.









Panels being used for the gunship I'm building.



Since these will cut a wide range of products, their use in cutting custom painting masks would be an obvious hobby application.

[dierk]

Sounds like an excellent idea - but at over 300 euros way out of my wallet range.

[TRM]

Brilliant concept John! I know there are a few ...more cost efficient models kicking around I think, but what you get from the machine can outweigh the costs over time. I wanted to pick on up for making masks along...the plastic cutting is definitely a bonus!

[adt70hk]

John

Thanks for sharing.

I must admit I hadn't heard of these and I think they would prove useful for some ideas I have. But at the moment I find myself unfortunately in the same place as dierk but it's added to the list should things change.

Thanks again.

Andrew

[John Everett]

I've just posted this photo to a dedicated thread:


Given that these machines are about the same cost as a new mobile phone, it might be the kind of thing which a modelling club would buy with their general funds and then a single member is in charge of producing the cut-outs.

What's neat about the software is that it's free to download and a design can be created anywhere and then emailed to the guy who has the cutter. You pick of your sheets at the next club meeting.

[Steve Zuleski]

Now that is slick, which art store, Michael's?

[John Everett]

Correct. They still had this on the shelf for $200. A newer, faster model was also there for $250. I have no idea if they will let you use the 40% off coupon for one of these.

If you're seriously thinking about one, download the software first and begin goofing around with it. It's a good way to decide if it's something you want to bother learning.

[dupes]

Wow. That's pretty cool! How steep is the learning curve for the software?

[Steve Zuleski]

Feb 12, 2017 0:02:55 GMT -5 John Everett said:

Correct. They still had this on the shelf for $200. A newer, faster model was also there for $250. I have no idea if they will let you use the 40% off coupon for one of these.

If you're seriously thinking about one, download the software first and begin goofing around with it. It's a good way to decide if it's something you want to bother learning.

This is definitely on my wish list. Thx for the intel John!

[John Everett]

Feb 12, 2017 11:51:35 GMT -5 dupes said:

Wow. That's pretty cool! How steep is the learning curve for the software?

If you've ever used Microsoft paint (included with every copy since Windows 95) then you can figure out the Silhouette software. The fact that everything is 2D rather than 3D hugely simplifies the software.

[chromdome35]

I am fortunate enough that my wife happens to have two of these silhouette machines. She runs an etsy store where she sells custom vinyl creations.

She has the "pro" software for it, which is a step up in capabilities from the free software. I'm not really sure what the difference between the two software versions are.

My biggest challenge is to get her to let me play with one of them.