As we know that die cutting is the cutting of a material (say, paper or rubber etc.) to different designs or forms as you like. The benefits of using a die machine may be a lot, but the major advantage is that you it can cut a material in shapes which may be too difficult or almost impossible for a person to do. So, if you are looking for the best die cut machine for beginners, then you may be at the right place.
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Best Die Cut Machine For Beginners
Our 4 picks for best die cut machine for beginners are:
- Cricut Explore Air 2
- Cricut Maker
- Silhouette Cameo 4
- Brother ScanNCut SDX125E (Our Choice)
Cricut Explore Air 2
Cricut Explore Air 2 can flawlessly cut over 100+ different types of materials. These materials include faux leather, premium vinyl, adhesive foils, poster board, specialty paper and more. This machine makes it easy to create a wide range of DIY projects. You can make custom sticker, home decor, gifts, greeting cards, custom designed apparel and more.
This machine includes a fine point blade, a 12 inch x 12 inch adhesive cutting mat which may be perfect for vinyl and htv projects, a black fine point pen, access to Cricut’s own designing software “Design Spaceâ€. You can enhance your experience by subscribing to Cricut Access which has a very vast library of more than 100,000 images, fonts and projects and designs.
As this company is popular, so you can join different groups on social media and have some out of the box experience, help or advice from other users as well. So, this is a great plus.
Features:
- Can cut over 100+ materials
- Cricut Premium Fine Point Blade and Housing
- Cricut 12 inch x12 inch LightGrip Adhesive Cutting Mat
- Cricut Black Fine Point Pen
- Access to Cricut’s design software Design Space
- 2 week free trial to Cricut Access
User Impressions:
A big problem that the users usually face while using this machine is that they have to subscribe to the software after 2 weeks otherwise the software won’t work. So, if you are looking to buy this software then you have to keep in mind that you have to subscribe online. Also, its software doesn’t download on the PC and you have to connect the machine to the internet.
Other than that, the users love the machine and it is an absolute pleasure to work with.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9OjywJZp3jM Check the latest price on Cricut Explore Air 2Cricut Maker
The material that Cricut Maker lets you create a lot of things which include paper crafts, vinyl decals, iron ons, leather crafts, sewing projects and even balsa models. The machine contains great tools including pens, scoring tool and powerful blades. Its rotary blade cuts through almost every fabric quickly and accurately because of its gliding and rolling action. This action also helps it to prevent the material from backing.
You can choose from hundreds of digital sewing patterns and cut them with this machine, later to only sew them together yourself. You can also lay out your project on your computer or mobile phone with the help of simple design apps. This feature makes it easy for the beginners to upload and use their own fonts and images for free in a variety of file formats.
It also contains a docking slot which is very helpful as it holds your smartphone or even tablet while you’re busy. It also contains a USB port so you can charge your device with it.
Features:
- Great versatility
- Expandable suite of tools
- New rotary blade for fabrics
- Access to hundreds of digital sewing projects
- Simple design apps
- Helpful docking slot
User Impressions:
The users usually really love the machine. The issue that some users raised is that this machine requires that you must use the Cricut Design Space cloud software for all the designs. You can import graphics from some other software though. Some users found a problem with adjusting the size and position of the designs in the app. Otherwise it is a very good machine.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=La7TObBV-EM Check the latest price on Cricut MakerSilhouette Cameo 4
The machine’s pull-out drawer contains a roll feeder for cutting vinyl and heat transfer material directly from a roll. On the back of the machine, a built-in cross cutter is present which allows a clean straight edge cut on the vinyl roll for the next project. This machine has a smart tool sensor that senses the tool you are using which then commands the machine’s studio software to adjust the cut setting automatically.
This model is a lot better than the previous models of the machine as it allows the user to cut in 2 distinct ways. Carriage 1: It has a great speed of cutting. This model can cut or sketch to almost 3x faster speed than the previous models without compromising any accuracy. Carriage 2: It is operated by a totally different motor which focuses on the power more.
This machine comes with 2 different blades; a rotary and a kraft blade, which are sold separately. This machine easily cut through the thicker materials with great accuracy. It also offers true mat-less cutting allowing cutting paper, cardstock and other materials without using any mat.
It has an autoblade which has a single-tap reset that can reduce the time needed to adjust the blade setting for a project.
Features:
- Built in cross cutter
- Very powerful software
- Tool type detection
- Ready made designs
- 2 different blades (Sold separately)
- A lot better than the previous models
User Impressions:
This machine is very easy to use if you are following the instructions properly. The customer support only offers chat and email for support, so it may take time, otherwise it is very easy to use and a dream machine. We also recommend this machine highly.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDBrOg9iGoM Check the latest price on Silhoette Cameo 4Brother ScanNCut SDX125E (Our Choice)
This machine has a built-in scanner. You can easily scan your drawing to convert it into a cut file, directly cut printed stickers and precisely place designs without counting blocks. It contains 682 built-in designs which include 100 quilting patterns and 9 fonts. It also contains USB port and also has wireless capability. This machine has a material sensor so that no material selection is required. Its auto blade and auto blade holder automatically detect the material. (You should perform a trial test first).
It has a 12 inch x 12 inch tack mat, black pen, pen holder, auto blade, auto blade holder, spatula, accessory pouch and a big pattern collection. It connects with your PC or mobile device easily and uses SVG files.
Features:
- Built-in scanner
- 682 built-in designs
- USB port
- Automatic material sensor
- Wireless network
User Impressions:
This machine is very easy to use and you can work without going online. But the common problems that people faced include that you have to download the detailed manual. Otherwise it is great to use and a brilliant machine.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVahxjRclB4 Check the latest price on Brother ScanNCut SDX125EFINAL VERDICT
We have studied and reviewed the machines very deeply and have written the pros and cons in front of you about all the machines. We still think the best die cut machine for beginners is Brother ScanNCut SDX125E, but the other machines are also great value and you can look into buying any of them and have a happy die cutting ahead.
Beatrix Ainsley (Bea to her friends) is an abstract artist who was heavily inspired in her twenties by the abstract expressionist movement of the 1940s. Since then Bea has acquired three degrees in Science, Education and most importantly Fine Art. Her art works showcase exploring emotion and introspection of self. To achieve this – the use of bold, sweeping, intricate layers of color, and spontaneity of form is enhanced by reflecting on decades of life experiences. Bea has amassed a vast knowledge of art in all its forms, and hopes to pass it on with her contributions here.