About a month ago I purchased a computer die cutting machine, but haven't quite gotten the hang of it. So this weekend I am trying to figure out how to use it properly.
So what is this machine anyway? Scrapbooking has come a long way. First came the manual die cutting machines, then electric one and now the latest ones are attached to the computer where any graphics file can be used as a template. Originally these computer driven machines for scrapbooking very derived from commercial vinyl cutting machines and now I realize that the machine I got is basically one of those smaller commercial machines. There are many different models, some smaller and some bigger with more functions. When I was doing my research, I was considering the following brands: Klick'n'Kut, Craft Robo and Pazzles. What I ended up buying is the SignMax machine in Canada. My 15" model was half the cost of the Klick'n'Kut model and looks just about the same.
The first thing I learned is that while I am learning and testing it is best to use the machine as a plotter with the pen and not the blade. That way I can really check things out without doing any harm to anything. My biggest problem after trying it out a week ago was that I had no clue where on the paper the cut would occur. So now after switching to the pen and creating a whole bunch of simple shapes on various parts of the paper and then plotting those I now know where the designs will be cut depending on the page orientation. This is very helpful, but not documented any place with the instructions that came.
No my next step is to learn to better trace the shapes that I am importing and figure out how I can pierce the holes so that I can use the designs with paper embroidery and beaded paper embroidery. I also want to find out if I can cut fabric shapes so that I can create small designs with fabric and beads.
So what is this machine anyway? Scrapbooking has come a long way. First came the manual die cutting machines, then electric one and now the latest ones are attached to the computer where any graphics file can be used as a template. Originally these computer driven machines for scrapbooking very derived from commercial vinyl cutting machines and now I realize that the machine I got is basically one of those smaller commercial machines. There are many different models, some smaller and some bigger with more functions. When I was doing my research, I was considering the following brands: Klick'n'Kut, Craft Robo and Pazzles. What I ended up buying is the SignMax machine in Canada. My 15" model was half the cost of the Klick'n'Kut model and looks just about the same.
The first thing I learned is that while I am learning and testing it is best to use the machine as a plotter with the pen and not the blade. That way I can really check things out without doing any harm to anything. My biggest problem after trying it out a week ago was that I had no clue where on the paper the cut would occur. So now after switching to the pen and creating a whole bunch of simple shapes on various parts of the paper and then plotting those I now know where the designs will be cut depending on the page orientation. This is very helpful, but not documented any place with the instructions that came.
No my next step is to learn to better trace the shapes that I am importing and figure out how I can pierce the holes so that I can use the designs with paper embroidery and beaded paper embroidery. I also want to find out if I can cut fabric shapes so that I can create small designs with fabric and beads.
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CTI is a long established company producing quality Gear Cutting Tools since 1966. We specialize in the manufacture of Gear Hob, Worm Gear Hob, Involute Gear Cutter, Gear shaper Cutter, Gear Shaving Cutter, Broaches, Master Gear & all types of Milling Cutters.