The Cricut thread. Projects and Techniques.

[Keyblazer]

A month ago I didn’t know what a Cricut was… I don’t even know the right general word that describes it, or what it does even!
2d cutter?
Maker?

But I wanted to make some decals/stencils for some old machinery… an old Millermatic 200 and a Lenco Spot welder.
Both need refinishing, and I will loose the decals if I do that.





My research led me to a Cricut… and I ended up going for it…
I bought a Cricut Maker 3.


I’m barely understanding what it can do at this time… and I’m hoping there are others out there, that either know, and can help, or want to learn too!

I got the machine set up, and I cut the test piece, the Cricut logo!

So this weekend I tried to replicate the Millermatic logo so I can make a stencil to replace it when I repaint the tins.
Several hours later I had this:
Not an exact copy, just my spin on it within my current skill set.



I can’t cut it yet because I found it’s about 5”x21” so I need the right stencil sheets and a 12”x24” Matt to cut it on..
Hoping people will vist and share their knowledge and experience, or use the thread to learn how to use this awesome tool!

The 3D printer thread has become such a place!

Let’s see what people have done!

 

[Sumboodie]

I bought one last year. Haven't used it yet, can't get the program to load.

 

[Keyblazer]

I didn’t have any issues with the software, but I had to buy a Bluetooth Dingle thingy to transfer programs to the Cricut… I haven’t set it up yet.

 

[Sumboodie]

I didn’t have any issues with the software, but I had to buy a Bluetooth Dingle thingy to transfer programs to the Cricut… I haven’t set it up yet.

It's online and I can't get it to work. Takes FOREVER to load and then errors out.

 

[Keyblazer]

Mmm.
I’m running a 12 core AMD, a reasonable Motherboard, windows 10 64 bit and it’s all up to date.
My GPU is old… a 1060 GTX.
I have a better GPU on order but the current one seems to be ok.
That’s all I know, I’m not much of a computer guy, so I don’t know what to advise.
Maybe someone else can help!

 

[Sumboodie]

Mmm.
I’m running a 12 core AMD, a reasonable Motherboard, windows 10 64 bit and it’s all up to date.
My GPU is old… a 1060 GTX.
I have a better GPU on order but the current one seems to be ok.
That’s all I know, I’m not much of a computer guy, so I don’t know what to advise.
Maybe someone else can help!

Mine is a Dell. That's all I know.

 

[MushCreek]

Subscribed. I'd like to make some repro old-timey signs for my shop, and figured Cricut was the way to go. I know nothing about it, though, so hopefully someone will weigh in.

 

[gte718p]

I built a drag knife for my old CNC mill. It was a royal pain in the @&& to setup, but I miss the ability to do great stencils. I just don’t have the hand eye coordination / steady hand to do them free hand. I am always in awe of people like Don Long and his ability to tape in and stencil accurately.

I really want another cutter, but I can’t stand the cricut due to their locked down devices, software, and generally abusive behavior towards their clients. However, I have a very creative friend and she loves hers.

 

[Half-fast eddie]

My daughter has one, uses it all the time to make crafty signs and stuff like that. Can you scan the Miller logo and upload it, or do you need to use the built-in fonts?

 

[Keyblazer]

Not tried scanning, but I have tried to upload a pic of the Lencospot side panel.
The damage and surface roughness made it tricky.
I think I will try to replicate it graphically next.

 

[Jswain]

Subscribed as I think a cameo 4 might be a good Xmas present. Can't wait to see the stickers I have a 250 that could use them

 

[redm18]

The generic term would just be a vinyl cutter the Circuit / Cameo is sort of the consumer version but you can get more industrial style machines. Cameo is much more consumer friendly imo compared to Circuit.

 

[budget76]

wife has one, i've used it a handful of times. I HATE their software with a passion. maybe it makes sense to someone who has never used a CAD program before, but doing anything it is the most un-intuitive software I've used in a long time.

its a cool tool. I'm not imaginative enough to use it for much. it tends to sit on the shelf.

cheap vinyl is hit or miss, we lucked out on some, some is impossible to peel. Blades can be had on Amazon cheap. sticky mats too, and you can re-stick them with some spray adhesive if you look it up (haven't done yet, no time)

 

[Keyblazer]

They just did a software update and now you can’t do things with shapes you could yesterday.
Weird.

 

[steel 35]

Inkscape is a free program I used a few years ago.
Recent update reload and it’s different but it worked very well for tracing things like you have shown,
IF Compatible. And you learn it.

 

[Chris Stapley]

I have a readily available vinyl plotter / cutter that can be purchased through places such as Amazon, more robust than a Cricut ( hobby machine) and with good software can create a multitude of great projects. U.S. Cutter is a great company to deal with for both cutter and software . I purchased my cutter second hand from a person who couldn't get the grasp of the operating system, mostly because they had a really crappy software package. I purchased the LTR version 5 of Vinylmaster through US Cutter and can do anything that signshop can, the learning curve is relatively quick and I am creating some really neat stuff now. Initially it was only purchased to create high quality airbrushable stencils to do factory logos on vintage motorcycles,it has also become a neat side line with light up signs etc for me...

 

[Jehannum]

Best I could find these gaskets for was around $50, which included some parts I didn't need.

So I rolled my own. Cricut's presets even include an "adhesive backed cork" preset for cutting.

Fired up openSCAD's 2D subsystem and made a parameterized gasket:


Then I fired an SVG out to inkscape and printed some paper copies to test fit until I got it right:


Then, once I was happy, I fired the SVG into Cricut's DesignSpace app and found an adhesive-backed cork setting that did 4 passes with the knife at high pressure:


Still took some effort to separate, but I think it worked out well:


I sprayed the back with 3M 77 and fixed it in place:


Now my 01E transmission has new flange gaskets.

 

[Yankeefarmer]

Bumping this thread because I’ve been thinking of getting one of these machines to do some vinyl and paint mask cutting. Kinda surprised there isn’t more discussion, and a little frustrated that most how-to videos on YouTube start with importing a design file created by others. I’d expect to mostly be using .dxf or .svg files I created.

Anybody want to share any car/shop/toy projects they’ve done, as opposed to girly type crafts?

 

[Jehannum]

Bumping this thread because I’ve been thinking of getting one of these machines to do some vinyl and paint mask cutting. Kinda surprised there isn’t more discussion, and a little frustrated that most how-to videos on YouTube start with importing a design file created by others. I’d expect to mostly be using .dxf or .svg files I created.

Anybody want to share any car/shop/toy projects they’ve done, as opposed to girly type crafts?

I've done a bunch of gaskets for my low-volume garbage cars.

 

[Jehannum]

My son and I also did this, when we were painting the new decklid and spoiler for his 1985 MR2:







We had the font pack from Toyota, so it was pretty much a hop, skip and jump to get the vinyl cut.