Former Cutting Made Easier - Silhouette Cutter

[Gene K]

Originally Posted by SCEtoAUX

Those machines would be helpful if you want to cut out a bunch of gears to make a paper clock or something with a clockwork mechanism.

OK, OK, I take it all back!!

Gene K

[Paper Kosmonaut]

Originally Posted by SCEtoAUX

Those machines would be helpful if you want to cut out a bunch of gears to make a paper clock or something with a clockwork mechanism.

Or, if you are a tank enthusiast, cutting out all those links of the tracks. That would be a nice job for this machine.

Can it also make fine cuts, like for example these grid fins (shown here on the left in, say, 1/96?

[Kevin WS]

I wish I could afford one.

I like making the models, but get sick of cutting things out after a while.

Tanks with lots and lots of repetitive parts really put me off!

[ShadowCory]

I sway back and forth on this subject. I agree the act and motions are soothing to me, and I enjoy it mostly. But sometimes on repetitive, small parts I wish I had a cutter. I think mainly because I am in a hurry to see the finished project and that gnaws at my brain.
I want a cutting machine while I am doing tedious work, but then I feel guilty for even wanting one when I am done. Go figure.
Good thread!

[jyduchene]

How well does it do wheels. I get frustrated cutting circles and can't tolerate imperfect circles. Thanks for you review.

John

[NOBI]

I wish I have this machine. Cutting a former is a pain for me. If this machine can cut cardboard up to 2 mm., that's very helpful and make my life easier.

[Paper Kosmonaut]

Originally Posted by jyduchene

How well does it do wheels. I get frustrated cutting circles and can't tolerate imperfect circles. Thanks for you review.

John

John, get yourself an NT Circle cutter. Like this one here. It's perfect for cutting great circles. Small ones are best left to hollow punches, I think. I have a set from 2mm to 20mm.

[Gene K]

Originally Posted by Kevin WS

Tanks with lots and lots of repetitive parts really put me off!

That's the wonderful thing about The Machine, Kevin - repetitive accuracy. However, that accuracy is best achieved using vector graphics, so if the original pattern isn't vector, best course is to manually trace. The accompanying Studio software does have a trace feature, but it's not precise enough for things like tank spokes. See my bottom comment on CONs.

Originally Posted by ShadowCory

... I feel guilty for even wanting one when I am done.

Yes, I totally understand your suppressed pride in wanting/needing to remain "pure" to the hobby. I cross the line since I play mainly with multi-media Radio Control and Plastic models.

Originally Posted by jyduchene

How well does it do wheels?

Excellent, John. Cutting circles is probably the easiest task the machine has since there are no corners to negotiate ... BUT see my reply to Nobi below. Here are some sample cuts in .010 plastic.

Originally Posted by NOBI

If this machine can cut cardboard up to 2 mm ... .

Unfortunately I haven't been able to cut through cardboard that thick, so the solution for me is laminating cereal box (~.7mm) card. In that regard, I also cut .010" plastic to use as stick-on patterns to manually cut foam. The Silhouette cutter range isn't designed/built with a lot of pressure available to the blade, but there are more "robust" cutters available ... for more $$ (last time I looked/disregarded those was a couple of years ago). Note that the link price for the Curio includes a full range of accessories -- the base machine is "only" ~$130 now.

Having said all the above mostly in a positive light, the big CON is that you have to invest time learning the software and in tweaking the settings for various materials. Some of us retired time-rich folks enjoy that.

Sorry for the long post.

Gene K

[elliott]

Nothing to apologize for. Good information.
I do think that Nobi meant cutting circles 2mm in diameter.

[NOBI]

I see a specification of silhouette curio in website and they told me that curio can cut a cardboard up to 2 mm. thickness. That's awesome because I use art knife to cut a former and that make my finger hurt when use more pressure to cut it.