Mini review: using a CnC cutter to make and develop paper models

**papercruiser** · #1 02-17-2013, 08:28 AM

I bought a Black Cat pro in December and have been using it to cut out models - it's sure is nice! I do two passes, one at light pressure for scoring, and one for cutting. http://www.blackcatcutters.com/products.asp?cat=18

Where it really shines is cutting out wheels. I can cut out a page of wheels in a minute where it used to take me what seemed like an hour.

Also it makes the prototyping process so much faster. I can very quickly cut out a blank model to test part fitting.

Print-n-cuts are more tricky but once you get the hang of it, it works quite well... And I plan on doing a video if it.

Examples of models cut with this machine:

**thorst** · #2 02-17-2013, 08:47 AM

Not bad! Wish I could afford it...

**papercruiser** · #3 02-17-2013, 08:50 AM

I could not "afford it" either, so I created and sold made paper models to raise the money.

**Burning Beard** · #4 02-17-2013, 09:34 AM

What kind of program are you using. I am assuming that you are not working off of scans but have a vector program so you can send the information to the cutter/plotter as lines. I have a large format plotter at my shop that will do a 48" wide plot (its a 54 in plotter). I do all my design work in Corel Draw then convert the info to and eps file so it can be plotted using Flexipro. My machine ran around $700 a few years ago including the Flexi software. Plotters the size of the one in the link are usually pretty inexpensive, however if it is a plotter/printer we are talking another story.

Beard

**papercruiser** · #5 02-17-2013, 10:33 AM

I do everything in Adobe Illustrator. I export to SVG and JPG then import everything into SCAL3. Then I print from there, and place the printed sheet into the cutter. The cutter has a laser and an electronic eye which it uses to scan the printout registration marks, then it cuts right on the lines. The self-registration is why this one costs what it does, and the only reason I chose this model.

**Burning Beard** · #6 02-17-2013, 11:18 AM

That's a good enough reason. Sounds like a neat machine.

Beard

**papercruiser** · #7 02-21-2013, 02:59 PM

Here's a video of it running the auto-scan of the printed sheet:

**SCEtoAUX** · #8 02-21-2013, 03:28 PM

Would it be possible to run just the cutting process then put a very dull blade in the machine and then run the scoring process so the cardstock does not get a shallow cut along the score lines but gets a shallow indentation instead? I use an embroidery needle to score the models I build. I prefer an indentation along the score line rather than a shallow cut.

**mbauer** · #9 02-21-2013, 09:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by papercruise

I do everything in Adobe Illustrator. I export to SVG and JPG then import everything into SCAL3. Then I print from there, and place the printed sheet into the cutter. The cutter has a laser and an electronic eye which it uses to scan the printout registration marks, then it cuts right on the lines. The self-registration is why this one costs what it does, and the only reason I chose this model.

Very, very interesting.

What is meant by registration lines?
Special lines of just something you make for the cutter to use for alignment?
Will it work with a CAD program?

Almost bought a Klic-n-Kut a couple of years ago, but this looks like it will work better!
Mike

**enigma** · #10 02-22-2013, 09:41 PM

this is a very neat machine. it has alot of possibilities. can you answer would it be possible to cut a model like one from modelik, or is this just for diy crowd. i would be most interested in this machine if it is able to be adapted to cutting standard sold models since i have such a difficulty cutting manually with a blade now.
thanks for the info.