Cricut

I think I have one of these that my sister-in-law sent to us. Anyway, I've seen them come up in a few threads and that got me wondering about them. Are they like stencil machines? Can you use them to cut out paint masks for lettering and such? Are they a "Stand alone" unit or do they get connected to a computer?

I guess I need to you tube this so my question here should be has anyone found them useful in model rocketry?

-Bob

Many times I have used my wifes Cricut Explore Air to make cut vinyl for rockets, launch pads and to make painting masks for rockets and other projects.
The newer ones connect to a computer and use proprietary software (which is actually pretty good once you learn to work it).

Which model is it? Older ones are stand alone and take proprietary cartridges but there's a workaround to make them work like a standard vinyl cutter. Not sure about ones newer than 2008 or so.

The last two versions of the regular Cricut Explore Air and Explore Air 2 and the Cricut Maker afaik are the ones that do not use cartridges at all and are Bluetooth connectable to a computer.

James Harechmak said:

Which model is it? Older ones are stand alone and take proprietary cartridges but there's a workaround to make them work like a standard vinyl cutter. Not sure about ones newer than 2008 or so.

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That's interesting. My wife has an older model (not sure which one). It had cartridges but also a USB cable. I think the software that came with it was lost during our move, and she has been messing with it much so I haven't gone looking for any replacement. But I don't recall her ever being able to do anything outside of what the cartridges would allow. IIRC, I think the only thing the software did was allow you to arrange the layout.

Bob Austin said:

That's interesting. My wife has an older model (not sure which one). It had cartridges but also a USB cable. I think the software that came with it was lost during our move, and she has been messing with it much so I haven't gone looking for any replacement. But I don't recall her ever being able to do anything outside of what the cartridges would allow. IIRC, I think the only thing the software did was allow you to arrange the layout.

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Google sure cuts a lot 2, if you're comfortable with torrents. It will bypass any installed cart and run the cricut as a standard vinyl cutter.

Thanks I will. Much appreciated. Maybe we can bring that old machine back to life!

I just cut some vinyl recently using a co-worker's machine. Tremendously useful I would say. I definitely plan to try cutting some masks in the future.

The Maker claims to be able to cut balsa up to 3/32" and basswood up to 1/16". Would love to hear how well that actually works...

I got a Silhouette Cameo for father's day maybe five years ago, and I love it. The software is excellent and I do all my own vinyl cutting now. It can handle 12" wide and as long as your roll is. I have also used it to cut through card stock with pretty good results.

My wife has a Cricut and A Cameo. Both are very handy for cutting lettering out of vinyl. They also have iron on vinyl to make your own t-shirts and banners.

My wife has a Cricut explore, it connects to a computer and uses Cricut Design Space. It's a little tricky to figure out, but it cuts vector files beautifully. It will cut image files too, but the pixels make the edges look blocky and rough. Ive used it to cut paper transitions and vinyl decals. It will cut stencils for painting.

I tried to cut card stock fins but it wouldn't cut all the way threw the material. It did however leave a trail I could follow with an X-acto knife.

Here is a Bt-60 Yankee with white vinyl decals

Recently my wife and I used her Cricut Air to cut vinyl for my attempt at the Miss Riley rocket from October Sky using jpg images we uploaded to her Design Center account. The de Laval nozzle is a 3D print from Thingiverse that a family member printed for me. The nose cone is from an Estes Maxi Alpha 3 kit. Not to scale of any kind, except perhaps to my scale, but an enjoyable build.

I stopped by Hobby Lobby yesterday and looked at the Cricut parts and such. I was planning to open the box and see what Debbie sent me but time conspired against me and I never got to it. Come to think of it time conspired against me while I was at Hobby Lobby. Not only did I leave without buying anything, I never even made it over to the rocket section

Hopefully I will get that box opened tonight to find out what's in there.

-Bob

It turns out that I have a Cricut Mini which I have just learned is unusable now. It is not a stand alone machine requiring a computer to use it. You need a program to run it which use to be the Cricut Craft Room design software. Well, Cricut shut down the craft room in July of 2018 so that has rendered the mini as inoperable.

I tried Googling for a work around but haven't found one.

Back to the drawing board...

-Bob

Whoa, that is a bummer. That seems to be the only Cricut that is no longer supported.

So to go back to your original question:

I guess I need to you tube this so my question here should be has anyone found them useful in model rocketry?

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In this particular instance the answer would seem to be a flat "no".