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Silhouette CAMEO 3 kit
All
7
Experiences
Pros
4
Cons
2
Specs
Top
Pro
Well-rounded kit, ready to use out of the box
The starter pack contains all the products required to experiment with sign vinyl and heat transfer vinyl, and it is an excellent solution for those that want something that's ready to work with straight out of the box.
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Top
Con
Not very precise
The Z axis of this machine is not accurate enough to cut vinyl thinner than 3 mils. This is a typical downside of almost any vinyl cutting machine with a stepper motor controlled Z axis.
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Top
Pro
User-friendly, free software
This vinyl cutter comes with a free copy of Silhouette Studio software. This software is a great tool for taking the first steps in vinyl cutting. Its user interface is clear and simple. The main functions (shape drawing, exporting, and cutting) have their own separate toolbars. It's also very good for experimenting and trying out new cutting parameters.
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Top
Con
Can't do complicated cuts
Due to the absence of the overcut feature, the Silhouette CAMEO 3 will also struggle to follow complicated curves.
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Pro
Can adjust the blade automatically
After the blade depth is initially calibrated, using the Silhouette Studio software, the cutter will automatically adjust it, if needed. This can significantly reduce the machine preparation time and also allows for fast switching between different materials.
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Pro
Can be used wirelessly
It's capable of data communication using a standard Bluetooth communication protocol. No USB cables are required whatsoever, allowing it to be placed/used wherever you'd like.
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Specs
Cutting force:
2.06 N
Max. media width:
12”
Max. cutting length:
120”
Max. cutting speed:
Not stated
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Experiences
$269.99
10
0
Roland Stika SV-12
All
12
Experiences
Pros
6
Cons
5
Specs
Top
Pro
Good for domestic use
This simple-to-use vinyl cutter can work with various materials, such as standard vinyl, twill, paint mask, heat transfer, reflective vinyl, and etching materials, which makes it perfectly suitable for domestic DIY applications.
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Top
Con
Unsuitable for commercial use
Even though Roland Stika SV-12 is a decent machine, it is not the right option to use in commercial applications. First of all, the cutting speed is slow when compared with more professional competitors. Secondly, its cutting quality is suitable only for cutting standard thickness vinyl: since the blade is actuated by a stepper motor, the machine struggles to adjust the cutting depth with enough precision to cut thin vinyl. Furthermore, thick vinyl cannot be cut, as the downforce of the blade is too weak.
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Top
Pro
Rigid and durable
The body of this vinyl cutter is made from very durable high-quality, injection-molded plastics. Overall, it feels very rigid, with no loose parts.
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Top
Con
Can't cut fast
Regarding cutting speed, this machine is on the lower end of the market. The speed of almost 2 inches per second seems like a joke when compared to the speeds of larger Graphtec, Roland, and USCutter machines (more than 30 inches/s).
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Pro
Portable
Due to its small dimensions (17-⅜” x 8-⅛” x 4-½” ) and lightweight design (only 6 pounds), you can take this machine anywhere you want.
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Top
Con
Imprecise height control
The manufacturer did not use a digital servo driver to control the Z axis of the machine. Instead, a cheaper and less reliable solution was implemented: a stepper motor.
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Top
Pro
Simple, straightforward software
This machine comes with a simple, clean, and reliable software: Roland CutStudio. With it, you can either create new vector designs or import existing ones from the BMP, JPG, STX, AI, or EPS files. After the design was created, just adjust the outline options and press the start button. The machine will do the cutting automatically.
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Top
Con
Small cutting area
The cutting area of this vinyl cutter is minimal, only 9-13/16” x 39.47”.
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Top
Pro
Capable of cutting custom designs
This machine can cut custom printed designs. The process is implemented by the aid of registration marks and a camera. This is a must-have feature for those who want to cut custom stickers or do multi-color heat transfers.
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Top
Con
Hard to find spares
The manufacturer does not sell spare parts for this machine (apart from blades). If a mechanical part (a motor, a pulley, a belt or a gear) fails, you will have to find an alternative part yourself.
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Top
Pro
Can export a design directly
With this cutter, using the provided Adobe Illustrator or CorelDraw plug-in, users can export and cut specific design files straight from those editors. Step files are not required.
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Specs
Max. cutting speed:
1-9/16 inch/sec
Max. cutting length:
39.47”
Max. media width:
12”
Cutting force:
Not stated
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Experiences
$476.00
6
0
USCutter MH 34”
All
6
Experiences
Pros
3
Cons
2
Specs
Top
Pro
Exceptional value for the money
This is the only decent vinyl cutter capable under $300 capable of cutting 34” wide media. And it comes with a stand included. A single stand of a high-end GCC machine will probably cost more than $400. It is highly unlikely to find a quality cutter less expensive than this one.
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Top
Con
Software is only compatible with Windows
You can not run the VinylMaster Cut software on a non-Windows machine. This imposes severe limitations on users who run other OSes.
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Top
Pro
A lot of sample material is included
Additionally to the cutter itself, you will also get multiple rolls of 24” vinyl, two massive rolls of application transfer tape, and a roll of paper application tape. This will be enough for you to ‘play around’ with the cutter and find the appropriate cutting parameters.
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Top
Con
Cutting precision is limited
A stepper motor controls the Z axis of this machine, and its cutting precision is much lower than the cutting precision of a digital servo motor (used in higher end machines). Only machines with a digital servo motor controlled Z Axis can cut ultra thin vinyl films.
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Top
Pro
Easy to setup due to video tutorial
There is an official USCutter MH series setup video tutorial available on Youtube. The tutorial covers all the essential parts of the setup procedure, from unboxing to the actual cut. And it is only 14 minutes long.
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Specs
Max. cutting speed:
39 inch/sec
Max. media width:
34”
Max. cutting length:
96”
Cutting force:
3.4 N
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$299.99
6
0
GCC Jaguar 4 24”
All
7
Experiences
Pros
4
Cons
2
Specs
Top
Pro
Excellent for large productions runs
This machine features the highest maximum cutting speed among professional vinyl cutters. It can cut at the speed of 60 inches per second. This is almost twice the speed competitors (Graphtec, Roland, or USCutter) can offer. Due to its very fast cutting speed, this machine is perfectly suitable for large volume production runs.
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Top
Con
Expensive
This is one of the most expensive 24” vinyl cutters available, being priced at $2090. On top of that, your expenses will not stop there as the machine, by default, comes without a stand. The problem is that this 60 inches/s machine is useless without it (as you will not be able to cut long vinyl rolls). Getting the stand will add another $400 to your expenses.
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Top
Pro
Can handle any vinyl
Due to the high precision blade control mechanism and 5.9 N of maximum downforce, this machine can cut any 24" sheet vinyl available on the market.
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Top
Con
Requires CorelDraw or Adobe Illustrator software
The GreatCut 3 is only capable of receiving design files from either Adobe Illustrator or CorelDraw. There are two main reasons why this may be problematic. First, both of the programs are quite expensive. Second, the transition to either of those programs can be time-consuming if you already have a massive design library in any other design software.
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Top
Pro
Simple workflow
The software this cutter comes with can import design files from Adobe Illustrator and CorelDraw. After you have the design file, simply import it to GreatCut 3 and set the simple cut parameters. The machine will take care of the rest of the work.
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Top
Pro
No need to purchase software separately
This machine comes with a free copy of GreatCut 3 software.
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Specs
Cutting force:
5.9 N
Max. cutting length:
Not stated
Max. media width:
30.3”
Max. cutting speed:
60 inch/sec
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Experiences
$2,090.00
5
0
Roland GR-640
All
7
Experiences
Pros
5
Cons
1
Specs
Top
Pro
Excellent for massive cuts
The total cutting area of this machine is 65” x 984”. It is suitable for cutting huge outdoor vinyl signs and even automotive signs (signs for commercial vehicles).
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Top
Con
Very expensive
This machine doesn't have a price that's affordable for most people, since it costs almost $7,000.
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Top
Pro
Can cut many materials
Besides vinyl films, this machine can cut cardboard, corrugated e-flute, heat transfer material, diamond grade films, sandblast mask, high-intensity reflective films, and window films.
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Top
Pro
Accepts various media sizes
Even though the maximum media width you can feed into this vinyl cutter is 70”, it doesn't mean that the machine only works well with this massive size. According to its specifications sheet, the Roland GR-640 handles any media width between 6” and 70”.
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Top
Pro
Accessible software
This industrial grade vinyl cutter does not require you to spend a fortune on its software. Even more, it uses the same software as all the other Roland machines. It is very unusual for an industrial grade CNC machine to share the same software with consumer grade units.
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Top
Pro
Decent warranty options
By default, this cutter is covered by a full 3-year-manufacturer warranty, available upon the registration of the product (it has to be done online). This warranty will cover you if the machine fails. Furthermore, there is an option to upgrade the standard 3-year warranty to a 5-year period by purchasing a Roland Care Premium Service Contract (the exact pricing is available only on request).
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Specs
Max. cutting length:
984”
Max. cutting speed:
41.33 inch/sec
Max. media width:
70”
Cutting force:
5.88 N
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Experiences
$6,995.00
4
0
Graphtec CE6000-60
All
13
Experiences
Pros
11
Cons
1
Specs
Top
Pro
Great for production runs
There are two main things you need in large production runs: speed and repeatability. This machine has a good maximum cutting speed of 35-inches/s, which is more than enough for home business applications. An automatic paneling feature takes he repeatability to a whole new level. It allows the machine to separate multiple long jobs into smaller blocks and cut them individually. This feature highly improves accuracy and media tracking.
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Top
Con
Software isn't very user-friendly
The software is not intuitive. It will take some time to explore its full functionality. Specifically, some parameters might seem very unclear at first.
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Top
Pro
Ideal for commercial use
The Graphtec CE6000-60 is a professional machine, designed specifically for commercial use. The machine will easily deal with 24/7 production runs.
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Top
Pro
Can do complicated cuts
It is a perfect machine if you need to cut complex shapes. Due to the combination of tangential emulation and overcut features, the device can cut almost any shape you can come up with.
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Top
Pro
Can cut pre-printed graphics
This vinyl cutter has a registration mark sensing system. This system allows you to contour-cut the pre-printed graphics (full-color heat transfers and stickers).
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Top
Pro
Spare parts are easy to get
Many spare parts, including motors, pulleys, bearings, and gears, are easily available online. You can buy those parts on Aliexpress, Amazon, or eBay.
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Top
Pro
Sturdy and durable
This machine is built with high quality materials. The body of the machine is made mainly from metals. Therefore, it is very heavy, stable, and durable.
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Top
Pro
Can do long cuts
Graphtec CS6000-60 can produce extremely long cuts, up to 1968” (at the maximum width of 23.7”). This allows for high volume production runs even in a domestic environment.
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Top
Pro
Can cut thick vinyl
Due to the 4.9N of cutting force, this machine will easily slice through any vinyl you would ever want to cut.
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Top
Pro
High precision blade controls
A digital servo motor control system is used to precisely control the position of a blade. The used digital control system is a high-precision, very expensive one usually only found in premium grade machines.
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Top
Pro
Free software
A free copy of Graphtec Studio software is included with this machine. The software is used to either create new vector designs or import the existing models in various file formats. You will also get the necessary Windows drivers.
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Top
Pro
A stand is included
This vinyl cutter comes with a free stand. This is remarkable, because manufacturers usually provide a stand only as an optional accessory, and brands like GCC and Roland charge between $200 and $500 for their stands.
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Specs
Max. cutting length:
1968”
Max. media width:
24”
Cutting force:
4.9 N
Max. cutting speed:
35.43 inch/sec
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Experiences
$1,745.00
4
0
Silhouette Portrait
All
13
Experiences
Pros
7
Cons
5
Specs
Top
Pro
Great value for money
For a price tag below $140, you're getting a fully functional vinyl cutter. Even though this machine does not have the ‘fancy’ features more premium cutters have, such as tangential emulation or overcut, it still can cut any standard vinyl sheet.
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Top
Con
Can only handle standard vinyl
Attempt to cut extra thick or extra thin vinyl will jam this cutter. It has neither the precision nor the power required to handle these thicknesses.
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Top
Pro
Ideal for sign cutting
The maximum cutting length of this machine is quite impressive: 120” in total. Therefore, the effective cutting area of this vinyl cutter is 8” x 120”. You can easily cut medium-sized signs with this amount of workspace available.
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Top
Con
Works only with bitmap files
The Silhouette Studio can only import bitmap files (.gif, .tif, .jpg, .png and a few others). Unfortunately, there is no way of importing proprietary files from Adobe Illustrator or CorelDraw.
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Top
Pro
Clear and simple software
Silhouette Studio is the software this machine works with. No special skills are required to work with it. Even a new user will easily produce his/her first cut within 10-30 minutes. All the buttons and tabs are easy to find and use.
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Top
Con
Spare mechanical parts are hard to find
Silhouette does not provide spare mechanical parts (like rollers, belts, motors, or gears) via their online store. Therefore, it is very complicated to find any functional spare parts for this machine.
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Top
Pro
Capable of contour cutting
This machine has got a registration mark system, being able to detect printed registration marks with the aid of a camera, mounted near the toolhead. This feature allows you to cut multi-colored stickers and heat transfers.
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Top
Con
Not the most reliable option
If you need a cutter for a business, maybe it's not the best idea to rely completely on this machine, since it is not a professional grade unit. Cheap vinyl cutters are well known for sudden breakages.
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Top
Pro
Affordable blades
Silhouette offers very affordable blade replacement options. For under $8, you can buy a new replacement blade with a cartridge. The blade (and its cartridge) is a consumable part that needs to be frequently replaced.
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Con
Poorly built
This vinyl cutter feels very cheap, it is very noticeable that the manufacturer sacrificed build quality to lower the machine's price. The body of the machine is very fragile, users need to be very careful not to drop it.
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Top
Pro
Multiple designs are available online
You do not have to be an artist to work with this machine. You can easily buy artwork from the Silhouette design store. The prices are more than affordable: the majority of the shapes are priced between 50 cents and 3 dollars and several free shapes are also available. All the purchased forms are imported to your shape library automatically.
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Top
Pro
Very portable
Due to its compact size (16.25” x 5.6” x 4.5”) and light weight (3.5 lbs), this machine is a perfect solution for those who need a portable vinyl cutter.
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Specs
Cutting force:
2.06 N
Max. media width:
8”
Max. cutting speed:
Not stated
Max. cutting length:
120”
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Experiences
$136.14
3
0
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