A former subscriber and rather good modeler, Bill Gill, suggested I post a link about a computer tool called a Cricut: http://trainmasters.tv/videos/2014-11-6-tmtv-november-2014-edition-bonus (http://trainmasters.tv/videos/2014-11-6-tmtv-november-2014-edition-bonus).
It cuts in a manner similar to a laser but it's mechanical. You load in a CAD drawing, pop in a sheet of wood, styrene, or paper up to about 0.030-inch thick and, in a few seconds (not minutes), out pops your work. Use it for structure walls with door and window cutouts, stencil lettering, whatever. If it is of interest (and it was to me), spend 7 minutes looking at the video so I can stop typing this! -- Russ
There is a pretty good review/comparison of various Die Cutting Machines including the Cricut Expression. The Silver Bullet is a BEAST evidently .. at $849 .. with the 'Best Value' machine at $419
http://die-cutting-machines-review.toptenreviews.com/
Thanks, Ed.
Has anybody actually used one of those machines for model making? I'd like to know how practical they would be, how clean and accurate the cuts, how versatile -- everything.
Russ
embossing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNTPYZ5HpXw
I want one!
pretty cool
they have set designs, can you make or input your own ??? ??? ???
MPH
A negative report from a scale modeler.
http://vasonabranch.blogspot.com/2009/08/still-not-getting-results-i-want-from.html
Aha! Now it gets interesting. I remember the four word law from the Wall Street Journal in the 1970s: "Ain't No Free Lunch."
This had to also go so negative.
Because the machine is designed for cutting films. Been misused by modelers for scribing. That was also the limit because all parts had also still be broken. Pasty now times unfortunately the scratched parts do not break out. For board remains that there are no better as a laser.
Yuriy Sklyar model. 48" long
Hi there guys, I have a similar machine. Mine is called Silhouette Portrait and despite being an interesting tool it really has some flaws that are difficult to overcome. Precision is the first one, when cutting window mullions precision is very important. Design have to be arranged in order that vertical and horizontal lines are cut separated and it works better with softer materials like paper which, despite being a great material, has it's own flaws.
Finally the thickness is the last drawback. I think this kind of tool is great for structures but at the same time structures use a lot of bigger thicknesses for walls etc... So, to sum it up: It's a nice tool but it doesn't substitute a laser cutter. I built this structure using the tool:
(https://www.finescalerr.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.modelismoartesanal.eu%2Fimages%2Fstories%2Fpanoias%2Fpanoias11OUT_3.jpg&hash=672b561fbe86ac77ba90a660798dace5b7aa8900)
(https://www.finescalerr.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.modelismoartesanal.eu%2Fimages%2Fstories%2Fpanoias%2FPanoias_01NOV_1.jpg&hash=6c4b13b647c072b67898f84ff8379490a3c3e147)
There is a lot of confusion about this new Cricut cutter. This new that one Russ noted in his original post is the Cricut "Explore".
It is newer than the "Expression" that Ed listed.
It's not the embossing version that 'Juke Joint' mentioned, and his link to the negative review is a 2009 review of a different model.
Gil, Yes, this new "Explore" can take input from various sources. It does not just cut set designs on cartridges anymore. That's one of the major changes.
Helmut, The other major change on this new model is that it says it is designed to cut materials up to 0.0625 in (1.5875 mm), not just thinner paper like earlier versions.
Nalmedia, In the original video Russ posted, the modeler demonstrating the "Explore" claims that this model cuts very accurately. He says the commercial window castings used in his demonstration were a good, tight friction fit in the window and door openings he cut. He demonstrates cutting a circle out of styrene, popping it out its sheet, rotating it and pressing it back into the cut out opening smoothly.
If you can't view that video, there is some information about the "Explore" available on the Cricut website: http://us.cricut.com/home/learn/machines/explore
It says the model is built to last, how accurate that claim is, I don't know, but overall it looks like an inexpensive cutter that can use drawing inputs and cut sheet styrene up to about 0.06 in. and that sounds potentially useful.
May be the machine in the first video has been redesigned?
The guy mentioned it can cut 1/16th basswood and shows a shack.
Even doing multiple thin pieces and laminating for thickness seems good.
I'd also like to learn more about Yuriy Sklyar's blimp!
(going to google that now!)
That didnt take long!;
http://yurasklyar.com/blog/free-d-lz129-hindenburg-cricut-paper-model
Marty
Oh, boy. Looks like a tool I can use and I found it for sale new at $179. There goes the Christmas budget.
After a lot of reading and research for the new Explore from Cricut I don't think I'll be getting one after all.
Although it performs like Miles Hale says in his video in Russ' post, it requires a good high speed internet connection.
The machine WILL NOT work as a stand alone off your computer. You MUST connect to the Cricut website and work from there.
If you have dial up or a poor connection, sorry, no go. I like to work on my drawings and would do my cutting off line. I do not like being tied to someone's website.
Too bad, otherwise I might spring for it.
:(
I noticed that, too. It is a serious drawback. I think a laser might be a better choice but somewhere online I found a comparison between the Cricut and its competitors; an Internet connection is unnecessary with most. -- Russ
Yeah, the need to be connected to their site to use the machine turned me off too.
The Cricut and the Silhouette Cameo machines do not have adequate resolution for fine scale modeling. They can't cut accurate circles and arc. They will offset lines and sometimes the lines that should be vertical will be on a slope. They round up numbers which means your lines do not always end up in the place you intended, instead they might be offset by a few thousandths. You can't fine tune the settings on these machines, they are intended for beginners who are making larger objects without a lot of fine details. Leave them to the scrap book crowd, that is what and who they were designed for.
Silver Bullet Cutter. I own one of these. It is head and shoulders above the entry level craft cutters. I don't like the software that comes with it but I never design anything with it anyway, I just use it as an interface to drive the machine. It has 1250 grams of pressure which means one can cut thicker materials but it will still take a number of passes to do so. It is a good quality, robust machine. If a part breaks you can get replacement parts for them.
Cutting wood on it. You are better off with a laser cutter. If you are expecting to cut thin solid wood with a knife on cross grain cuts you will need to take numerous light passes to avoid breaking the wood. A laser cutter does not have the issue of applying pressure and splitting wood but a knife blade always will. Even though the knives are very small they are still wedge shaped which means they will split wood if you apply too much force at one time. So it is going to be slow, lots of easy passes versus one or two quick passes. If you are exclusively cutting in wood don't invest in a drag knife cutter, get a laser cutter instead.
If most of your work is in light and medium weight cardstock or paper one of the drag knife cutters with at least 700 grams of pressure will be OK. But don't expect to be able to make really thin, in scale, delicate window mullions as there are limits to what you can cut without tearing and then also be able to pull the piece off the adhesive covered cutting mats without tearing.
Thank you for that useful information. -- Russ
Yes, thank you. I'll save up my money.