Digital technologies/Textiles/Die-cutting using Cricut

Introduction

Die-cutting is the process of using a die(shaped blade), to cut low-strength materials such as metal sheet, fiberboard, vinyl or paper.

Die-cutting, nowadays is embraced by many people who indulged into making beautiful decorative items as shown in the picture.

The cut materials can be used to make stickers, to decorate objects such as mugs, to make crafts or can be applied on clothes using heat transfer.

Figure 1. Project made using die-cutting

The Cricut machine

A Cricut machine is a digital die-cutting machine that can cut all sorts of designs from materials like paper and vinyl.

There are different types of Cricut machines such as the Cricut Joy, the Cricut Joy Xtra and the Cricut Maker 3.

The one we have at the Makerspace is the Cricut Maker 3.

Figure 2. Cricut Maker 3

Components of the Cricut

The picture below demonstrates the components of a Cricut machine. The ones which would be more frequently used during a simple cutting project would be:

• The power, pause, go and load/unload buttons

• Clamp B (For the blade)

• Mat guides

Note: Clamp A is for the pen used for calligraphy

Figure 3. Cricut components

References

• Cricut user's manual