Ill also review the accessories exclusively designed for the Cricut Maker, including the new Knife Blade & the Rotary Blade. Ive been so impressed with it that Ive put together a list that Ill copy here of the materials and projects that I want to work on in the future. Cricut has said that future machines will take advantage of their new system, but for now the Maker is the only game in town. If so, what does that mean, practically speaking? Both are lined with a protective sheet of rubber to protect any blades that you might store inside. It can etch glass if you purchase an etching cream. Or a bag? With any decision as important as this one youll want to make sure youre getting a great deal and the authentic product. More on these in a bit. The drawers are lined with an elegant diamond pattern. The biggest difference the Cricut Maker has made has actually been hard to notice. Ill then break down all of the Cricut Makers features in an easy-to-read format so you can figure out which matter most to you. Like the Explore Air 2, the Maker has a 2xfast mode for cutting vinyl and paper. Learning how to use your Cricut Maker or Explore. > Here is the best place to order to receive a Maker right away. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Do you have a crafting tutorial you'd like to see? If you pay close attention youll notice many small details intended to make the Cricut Maker into apremium machine. All new tools will be designed for this new die-cutting machine system. Cricut continues to impress me with their attention to small design details and their ability to improve on what already works. Cricut Accessis a premium subscription service offered by Cricut. The Cricut Maker is limited to 2 cuts within its cutting space. I hold the Rotary Blade personally responsible! Its larger, with deeper storage. Cutting fabric has always been annoyingly hit or miss for me. I definitely understand the confusion because its often shown with an iPad mounted on the top. Like selling a sticker? Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The question to ask is: does it justify its cost? Is there another new Cricut machine being released soon? Hi, just a quick question can the cricut maker cut 3mm thick acrylic. Privacy Policy and Acceptance Terms. Afullwarranty is transferable, doesnt require you to pay any fees (like shipping), and requires that the company give you the option of a replacement or full refund after a number of failed attempts. Most of the Cricut Makers cutting improvements come from what Cricut is calling its new Adaptive Tool System. Lets talk about what that system is and how it gives the Maker 10x the cutting power of the Explore Air 2. Does it still work with cartridges? Personally, I prefer to purchase designs as I need them and this way I own them forever. Its a third-dimension to cutting that Cricut previously hadnt figured out. If you have any questions, theres a good chance that Ive answered it below. If you need a larger cutting area, this might not be the machine for you. It has a ledge on the top for setting your tablet up and securely holding it in place. What tools does the Cricut Maker support? The Cricut Maker does everything, and it does it well, an uncommon combination. Can I use the new Cricut Maker blades with the Explore Air 2? Should you get the Explore Air 2 or Maker? This is the reason the Cricut Maker is the best machine on the market for cutting fabrics. You probably wont notice a large improvement unless youre cutting through pretty thick material. If you dont think youll cut fabric enough to justify having another Fine Point Blade in a different color, I think you can skip this. If you dont see it listed, just drop me a comment and Ill get back to you ASAP. If I hear of anything in the pipeline, Ill update this article. It still features my favorite detail from the Explore Air 2: awesome magnetic strips for holding your blades in place! Cricut keeps updating its software to incorporate the best features of Silhouette Studio. The Knife Blade was only recently released in May 2018 and its still on backorder in a few locations (currently available here). Can I use the Maker with multiple computers? You will need the Knife Blade attachment, however. It also features a charging port on the right, so you can charge your iPhone or iPad directly from the Maker. This is the future of Cricut. Ive started using really sheer and delicate fabrics, like silk, without fussing around. So this familiar blade has a lot of unfamiliar functionality. Back in August, the Knife Tool was still on backorder and I didnt think Id make a lot of use of its sewing pattern library. What tools does the Cricut Explore Air 2 support? Integrated iPad/iPhone mount and improved machine design. Ill explain in detail why its the best fabric cutting machine Ive ever used and cover the recent changes. The Maker uses the same size cutting mats at the Explore series, so it comes with 12 x 12 mats by default and supports up to 12 x 24. I watch several videos on YouTube and one stated that I can use the Cricut Explore Deep Cut Housing And Bld on the Cricut Maker but you stated that I am limited to what is available for Cricut Maker specifically. Cricut has been updating the software to make it faster and more reliable. Alimitedwarranty does not have to meet those requirements. Its the newest Cricut machine. Normally youd mark the pattern on your fabric and then cut it out by hand. If you havent used them before, you should! Its the most expensive Cricut machine, with an MSRP $100 more than the next model. Hello, I enjoyed reading your site about the Cricut Maker. I would be using it to cut very specific pattern pieces for my business so they need to be accurate Is this other review correct or was this user error or perhaps a flaw with older software? If you will be cut fabric: yes. Everything about this design is pleasant to look at and use. Okaymaybe Im the only one who does that. Okay, get ready, because there area lot of them to review: No Cricut Maker review is complete without an unboxing, and I hope to post one soon, but lets stick with a quick inventory for now. The Rotary Blade is a huge improvement and can be used with unbonded fabrics. 2022 Cut, Cut, Craft! Ummmhi. Setting your material directly in the software is how I use my Silhouette Cameo 3, and its a lot easier. Its software is unfortunately where the Cricut Maker is the weakest. When I dug into the fine print, however, I noticed that the warranty is no longer voided by commercial use. The Cricut Makers Design Space software is better than Silhouettes software in one very specific way: its free to import SVGs and cut files. 10x the cutting power of other Cricut machines. The Cricut Maker is designed to be used with a tablet or phone. One is deep, useful for holding pens, weeding tools, and accessories. You do need to be careful because they often sell out, so make sure to check back as the list changes. Ill go into extensive detail about each of these new features below. Just above this FAQ I have a section outlining just that! You can easily spend another $40 to add them on. Printable Crush has a pretty neat guide. Thank you, I read a review elsewhere that said that it does not work well for applications requiring dimensional accuracy. That There is no precise way to scale or position elements within the Design space application.. The accessories which set it apart are not included. The Cricut Maker comes with: Okay, on to the elephant in the room: the new design. These are exclusive tools for the Cricut Maker. It might seem like a small item, but its super helpful for marking your sewing patterns. If youre looking to work with a new pattern you can make it in Design Space. Does the Cricut Maker work with Cricut cartridges? To see the whole materials check out the full, With both machines, you can Cut, Draw, Score and add foil effects with the foil transfer kit., Both Machines come with a first Project for you to get familiar with your machine. All of the Cricut Explore Air 2 blades & tools, Physical Differences between the Maker and Explore Air 2. Cricut Access is worth it if you find yourself buying a lot of items in the Cricut Design Space software store. If you can afford it, you'll have a versatile machine which will last you a long time. Embedded Bluetooth allows for wireless cutting. If youre cutting paper or vinyl, the Explore Air 2 is very similar. Where did it go? Together they represent a much cleaner design thats easier and more reliable to use. I really could go on forever about all of the materials this machine happily cuts through. There are now two accessory tool cups on the left. We may receive commissions on purchases made from our links. Different tools you can use with the Cricut Maker vs Cricut Explore Air 2. Federal law requires any product that costs more than $10 to specify whether its warranty is limited orfull.. Most new tools are going to be specifically designed for this system. Its the things I dont have to do anymore, so its sometimes difficult to see them. The Cricut Maker comes with embedded Bluetooth so it will work wirelessly with your computer, iPhone, iPad, or Android device without needing an adapter. We also participate in affiliate programs with Shareasale and other sites. I would find myself making test cuts on every new material Id use, cleaning my blade after every cut, and crossing my fingers so that everything would turn out just right. The Cricut Maker comes with a free trial to Cricut Access so you can explore it yourself and decide if its worth it for you. If you cut thick materials like leather or balsa wood: yes. But first Ill go over the pros/cons of the Cricut Maker so you can get a general idea at a glance. You can, and thats actually one of the most recent projects Ive tried out. Yup, but it cant deeply engrave the metal. It uses the web-based software Design Space which requires either an active internet connection or an Android/iPad/iPhone to make cuts and designs. The Cricut Maker can cut through hundreds of different materials, but I just want to highlight a few that have been essential for me: If you feel like Im missing your favorite material from the above list, I didnt want to take up pages and pages of space! Well Id just like to ask, if anyone could recommend a tablet or laptop that I could get her that will work with the cricut. I know, a whole section on the warranty seems a bit boring? But bear with me, this is actually a huge area of improvement,one that I havent heard a lot of other people talking about. Compared to other machines the Cricut Maker has a smaller cutting space. The newest machine, at the top of that list? Wait, what, commercial use? Many retailers sell grey-market machines that dont come with a warranty and if they need repairs youll have to mail them to another country. You absolutely need to try out one of these machines if you routinely cut fabric for crafting. If you arent going to be cutting fabric or thicker materials you might be better off with a cheaper machine. There is a light at the end of the tunnel, however. So Ive talked a little bit about the general drawbacks, but the Cricut Maker has access to one specific piece of software that other Cricut machines dont: the Sewing Pattern Library. The Cricut Maker is the only die-cutting machine from Cricut that comes with access to a sewing pattern library. Ive written a lot about Cricuts software in the past, so lets talk about that now. Designed to use the Sewing Pattern Library. Im sure I sound like a broken record here, but this is really the best machine for cutting fabric that Ive ever used. I miss the familiar dial, but I completely get why they removed it. A cutting machine typically can perform two actions: This is fine for a quick and accurate cut on most materials, but with thicker materials and fabrics it sometimes falls short. Learn how to use Design Space from beginning to end, Learn how to use your Design Space from your iPhone/Ipad, Check out all of my other Cricut Blog posts, Save, Open, Edit & Combine Projects in Cricut Design Space Desktop and App, How to Use and Make Cards with the 22 Card Mat for Maker & Explore, How to use Cricut Design Space on your iPad & Phone Full Tutorial, Both machines work with the same software Cricut Design Space for free, Upload your own personalized designs and projects, FREE Ready to cut projects: Each machine comes with more than 50 free projects. Ive said above that the Cricut Maker is 10x more powerful than the Explore Air 2, this is why. I have a review of the 6 best Cricut machines of 2022. If you still rely on them, Cricut sells aCartridge Adapter that allows you to link your cartridges. Instead of ripping or tearing your fabric (especially if your blade is dull), the Rotary Blade rolls over, cutting even unbonded fabric without any backing material. This may not seem like a con, but sometimes there are kinks to work out. Often the second generation machines are more reliable. The price. Absolutely. I really like this change, its super useful to have your design right in front of you and at eye-level as youre using the machine, but wait.. the Smart Dial? This is the difference between drawing a picture and sculpting with clay. If you arent too familiar with sewing patterns, Ill explain why this is so awesome. Well, I can cut wood now, just like that. The first Cricut machine to use the Adaptive Tool System. Sounds typical, right? I just received my circuit maker for Christmas. What are the differences between the Cricut Maker and Explore Air 2? By purchasing the Maker youre also making an investment into the future of Cricut and its accessories. That the newest machine from Cricut that doesnt support cartridges is a sign of things to come. If youre like me, youre going to rely on it so much that you keep 3-4 stockpiled in case Cricut ever runs out of stock. FYI: Most of the images on your post are not viewable, a little box with an X in it is showing. It can be slow while using the Rotary Blade or Knife Blade. We independently research our recommended products. Its finally here: my Cricut Maker review. The Maker uses the same Cricut mats as every other machine which was a relief to me because theyre my favorite. Ill start this review with a table that explores its attributes. The front tool drawer is also improved. Thanks very much, Did you get an answer I just wanted to know for my self, I am looking to update my cricuit air for a cricuit maker, do you think that the maker could cut 2mm thick acrylic which is what Im looking to cut. You can access Design Space through any device because its web-based. Ill be completely honest, this is the only reason I initially purchased a Cricut Maker. So long story short.I got a cricut maker for my girlfriend for mothers day. The fastest and most powerful machine from Cricut. So lets talk about the Makers cutting quality and if it really deserves its reputation as the best cutting machine on the market today. If cutting space is a deal-breaker for you, then picking up a Silhouette Cameo 4 or 3 is probably a good alternative. What do the Cricut Maker and Explore Air 2 have in Common? The Scoring wheel does offer some pretty nice advantages: a lot more pressure (10x+ more), you can use it with a wider variety of materials, especially thick ones, and the Cricut Maker can change the Scoring Wheel pressure as you use it for working with tricky or complex materials.