All I can say is wow!

Video

Can't figure out how to play the video.

Video

It won"t work for me either.

Christmas present for me!

That is an amazing machine for the price. Gotta have one!

Brother ScanNCut just was advertised on TV

Brother International just ran an add on TV for their ScanNCut.  You can own it for four payments of $99.99 plus shipping.  The cut on the TV didn't look as clean as the Cricut. Plus you have got to scan anything into it before you can cut anything.

The Cricut looks like a good deal if you don't have to buy all those pattern cartridges.  I think my sister has a couple of those.  I wonder if I can talk her out of one..... Hey sis!!!

Den

Lets compare apples to apples here

This is not a laser cutter, engraver!

I've looked into this type of machine, I know someone who has a similar device. It can be very useful for cutting shapes out of thin materials. It has it's uses, but don't compare it to a laser.

They are two veeery different things. With veeery different prices, to be sure.

I can turn a piece of MDF into beautiful brick, The Cricket, or Silhouette will turn a piece of MDF into a new Cricket, or Silhouette!!

Try playing the video now

SketchUp

Miles mentioned all the CAD programs, can we use SketchUp for submitting drawings?

Thomas Gasior

No, but it's a beginning

And a motorcycle is not a Ferrari either, but there are similarities. What do you expect for $200?

I can think of a lot of uses for this little $200 guy, and at least a few of the uses are what I was thinking I would use a laser cutter for.

Interesting

I don't like the fact you need to be connected to their web site in order to cut out a part. Seems like if their web site is down you can do anything and what happens when many people are using their site? A slow down?

It is a great price. I'd rather pay a bit more and be able to have the cutting software on my computer.

B

looks like...

looks like they also have a design application you can download. "Cricut Craft Room"

I've been watching these for some time also and it looks like a great tool for cutting parts.

Don't bother with the Cricut

Don't bother with the Cricut - you can only cut using cartridges. A much better option is something like the Silhouette Cameo, which allows you to cut anything you can draw on your computer. There's an extensive thread on this machine over on a UK modellers site:  http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/79025-a-guide-to-using-the-silhouette-cameo-cutter/

I guess you didn't watch the

I guess you didn't watch the video. He explains they've opened it up and allow you to cut from computer CAD programs.. Some nice buildings and a switcher cab he's working on. No cartridges. It's a Cricut Explore.

The thread you linked to is a year old. New machines have come out.

Railwire forum has been

Railwire forum has been discussing the Silhouette SD for three years:

http://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=23354.0

The Silhouette doesn't have to be linked to a website.

Harold

Yes - the thread I linked to

Yes - the thread I linked to is more than a year old. Modellers have been using these machines for several years already. Apparently Cricut is finally offering a machine that can compete with the others already out there. Not really earth shattering news.

Take a look at the rmweb link I posted - the stuff they were doing a year ago is a lot more impressive than "some nice buildings and a switcher cab".

I'm curious though - what is it about the Cricut that makes it "open source"?

They have opened it up to any

They have opened it up to any source of drawings or objects rather than their closed system of cutting cartridges.

oh!

For sure!  If you need to be "logged in" to use it ... FORGET IT!  

Looks useful...

More than an engraver yet not a laser cutter.

Seems OK for $200.

Regards,

Alleviates the issue

Alleviates the issue of Windows only, Win or Mac, no Linux, etc. If you have a browser, you can use it.

CirCut needs an Internet connection to work

From the Cnet review:

"While this Web-based approach is painless to get started, it also means you can't use the Cricut Explore offline at all. That makes the Cricut Explore totally useless without an Internet connection, and nearly useless with a slow connection.

Since everything you do within this software -- from designing your old projects, to customizing a project, to saving and loading a project, to actually cutting the materials -- is done online, the speed of your Internet connection is crucial to how well everything works. But in my trial at CNET, which has a very fast connection, at times there was still a short delay. This is the nature of any Web-based application; you can't avoid the latency."

Will pass on that!

Harold

It’s the age we live in

I don’t quite understand the negative reaction to this product because it has an internet-based print connection. I don’t want to be gang-tackled for saying this, but I would presume that most of the readers on this forum have pretty decent internet connections. Plus, the unit will import vector files which typically take up minimal file space, thus it would not be that big of a deal time-wise.

It’s the age we live in.

Maybe the Silhouette Cameo is a better stand-alone unit, but for the price and time-saving features that the Cricut offers it’s certainly worth a look.

KNK Zing probably a better alternative to laser

Found this die-cutter that can do wood:

http://forum.make-the-cut.com/discussion/20816/the-knk-zing-balsa-wood-and-a-3d-spider

http://die-cutting-machines-review.toptenreviews.com/knk-zing-details.html

The KNK Zing is $200 more but is more versatile than the cheaper machine.

Or

http://die-cutting-machines-review.toptenreviews.com/pazzles-inspiration-review.html.

http://www.pazzles.net/store/Creative-Cutter-Inspiration-Vue.html

At $399 it will cut wood

Harold

cricket printer

What model are you talking about as all models can't do this?

It takes more than a browser!

You need an Internet connection too.  Yes, most of us have one, but here in Sri Lanka it isn't always available.  And then the "other server" has to be up and available as well ... can't tell you how many times I get the "Server not responding" error using MRH ....  In this day and age, there is no good reason for having to log into another server to do things ... unless they want to charge money for it.  Bottom line, without the connection, you have a $200 paper weight.