What do you need a die cutting machine for?
Whether you’re a beginner crafter or an experienced one, a die cutting machine is must-have equipment as it brings lots of benefits. You can take your crafting skills to a higher level with this machine. The machine’s design helps a crafter to accurately cut materials such as fabric, paper, or metal to a specific shape. With the ability to cut material with precision, you can make fantastic items such as magnets, scrapbook designs, homemade cards, fun foam designs, stencils, fabric cutouts, among others.
Features to consider before you buy a die cutting machine
It is imperative to be vigilant when in the process of acquiring a new die cutting machine. The equipment is a necessary tool for crafters, and knowing what to look for in one saves them big time. We look into what we think is essential such as type, weight, dimensions, functions, and work materials. Below is a roundup of these features to consider before buying a die cutting machine.
Type
The first thing that should hit your mind is the type of die cutting machine you need. Hunting for one without having a clear idea of the type you want is as good as wasting your valuable time. Type should always prevail. Well, die cutting machines vary from brand to brand, model to another, and their usage.
There are three major types of these machines – electrical, digital, and manual.
Electrical devices are more like the manual ones but have an electrical motor attached in place of the crank. A good example is the
Sizzix Tim Holtz Vagabond 2 Electric Die Cutting Machine. The next type is the manual machine. This type uses a crank system that needs turning its handle to cut or emboss the material. They’re versatile and work with a wide range of dies and embossing folders. You’ll often find many crafters with this type because they’re affordable, easy to use, and mobile. Take the
Sizzix Manual Die Cutting Machine is an excellent example of a manual die cutting machine. The last type is the digital machine. This is a computerized machine; it’s versatile, fast, and accurate. With a digital tool, you can transfer designs from a device that’s preloaded with them or via a computer system. A special software plays a significant role in the whole process. Check out the
Brother ScanNCut SDX125EGY if you’re interested in a digital die cutting machine. Don’t forget it’s an electric machine by default.
Weight
Weight is an important aspect to consider before you buy the machine that you’ve liked. What matters when it comes to weight is how you’d like to move around with your stuff. If you’re always on the go, consider a light die-cutting mobile machine. You do not want to walk around with something that feels like a burden. But if all you need is a machine to use in your working station at the comfort of your home, then anything can do as you do not plan to shift it around. An excellent machine to move around with is the Sizzix Big Shot Manual Die Cutting. It weighs only 7.5 pounds. It could be the best personal die cutting machine for you. In spite of Cricut Explore Air 2 Machine being an exciting machine, it pretty heavy and might not be suitable for people on the go.
Dimensions
The next thing you want to be sure about is the size of the machine you want. Your functional space and your storage should inspire this. When we talk of space here, we mean the area you’ll be working with your machine. Die cutting tools vary in sizes from smaller options to large ones. Don’t go for a massive tool if you have limited working space. Understand the dimensions very well before getting a die cutting machine. If you have a small space, then Sizzix Manual Die Cutting Machine is all you need. Bira Craft Die Cutting is a big machine that will take up a lot of room. Be aware!
Functions
After deciding on the type and size of what you want, it’s time to look into the functions. This is equally important as it’s the center of your crafting activities. What are you interested in doing with your die-cutting machine?
To know the functions to look for in a tool, you must first understand what you need to cut and the types of projects you’ll be doing.
Are you interested in small projects, large projects, or you need something for having fun occasionally? Since these machines vary in types and sizes, they have different functions. Also, note that some tools can do the cutting and embossing, while others will just cut. For instance, while
Cricut Explore Air 2 Machine cuts at high speed, it does not emboss. On the other hand,
Evolution Advanced Die-Cutting Machine by We R Memory does the cutting, embossing, and letterpress. Individual machines like
Brother ScanNCut SDX125EGY do the scanning. Again, you must understand the sizes you’d love to cut. Some tools will only work with materials 6-inch-wide and below. So, making the right decision concerning other features and forgetting about the function is as good as useless.
Work materials
Finally, you must consider the work materials. This feature is hard to assume. Unless you don’t know what you’re doing, or you’re ready to waste your money, you cannot buy a machine without looking into this feature. Two categories of work materials are available – lightweight and heavyweight. These materials include paper, fabric, vinyl, leather, quilting, basswood, metal, foil, felt, among others.
Also, understand the size of work materials that the machine of your choice supports.
For instance,
Spellbinders Platinum cuts over 40 materials up to 8-inch-wide. Always do your homework well before settling for a die cutting machine.