Using SCAL4 with my Cricut

For your help and questions
coolmcgeee
Posts: 1
Joined: Thu Feb 09, 2017 11:56 am

Using SCAL4 with my Cricut

Post by coolmcgeee »

1. Download and install Sure Cuts A Lot 4 from
http://www.craftedge.com/download

2. Download and install latest USB Driver
http://www.ftdichip.com/Drivers/VCP.htm

3. Download libcutter plugin from
https://github.com/DThunder1000/libcutt ... master.zip

4. Unzip the downloaded libcutter-master.zip and you will now need to copy the needed plugin files to your SCALCutPlugins folder which will be located in your Documents folder. if the SCALCutPlugins folder does not exist, you will need to run Sure Cuts A Lot so all the default folders for the program get created and then quit the program.

- If using Windows, copy libcutter-master\Windows\Build\LibCutterPlugin.dll and libLibCutter.xml to
C:\Users\{YOUR USERNAME HERE}\Documents\SCALCutPlugins

- If using Mac, copy libcutter-master\Mac\Build\libLibCutterPlugin.dylib and libLibCutter.xml to
{MAC DRIVE}/Users/{YOUR USERNAME HERE}/Documents/SCALCutPlugins

5. Start Sure Cuts A Lot and go to the Cutter menu and choose Manage Cutters. You should now be able to choose Cricut from the Company/Brand drop down list and click <-- Add to list.

6. Sure Cuts A Lot should now be able to make a connection to your Cricut, however in order to cut correctly, a valid key file is needed. This is not included with the plugin due to the DMCA rules, however it can be found elsewhere. The key file must be renamed to keys.h and also be placed in the SCALCutPlugins folder we just copied the libcutter files to in step 4.

Key download links:
http://www.jestinstoffel.com/files/keys.h

http://web.archive.org/web/201305090245 ... s/keys.txt

http://jimlund.org/build-to-spec/Settin ... 0Wiki.html

Here is an interesting read with regards to the libcutter project and the DMCA
http://www.jestinstoffel.com/?q=node/152
andyson
Posts: 2
Joined: Fri Feb 24, 2017 9:23 pm

Re: Using SCAL4 with my Cricut

Post by andyson »

conchihood
Posts: 1
Joined: Thu Jun 21, 2018 4:45 pm

Re: Using SCAL4 with my Cricut

Post by conchihood »

hi help
it doesn't detect my cricut expression with scal 4
SandyMcC
Posts: 1114
Joined: Mon May 09, 2011 7:01 am

Re: Using SCAL4 with my Cricut

Post by SandyMcC »

Provo Craft does not legally permit 3rd party software programs to work with their Cricut cutters. After SCAL2, Craft Edge had to remove Cricut from its available list of compatible cutters. That being said, you can use SCAL4 for designing and then export as SVG with a special "Design Space" option to mark in that SVG export window. This ensures the design is sized properly to cut to your Cricut from that program.
Sandy McCauley
Owner of http://www.iloveknk.com/
firstcut
Posts: 1822
Joined: Sun Dec 21, 2008 6:19 pm
Location: FL; SCAL1, SCAL2; Mac; Ink .47, AI CS4
Contact:

Re: Using SCAL4 with my Cricut

Post by firstcut »

Please contact Cricut and encourage them to release the encryption keys and/or open source drivers now for pre-Explore machines now that CCR is closing and cartridges have been discontinued. There's no reason this should be illegal on an otherwise useless machine.
Last edited by firstcut on Fri Jun 29, 2018 7:25 am, edited 1 time in total.
firstcut
Posts: 1822
Joined: Sun Dec 21, 2008 6:19 pm
Location: FL; SCAL1, SCAL2; Mac; Ink .47, AI CS4
Contact:

Re: Using SCAL4 with my Cricut

Post by firstcut »

Also to clarify, the libcut hack is for the Expression and earlier machines. Sandy's suggestion is for Explore and later machines.
BradnerTwins
Posts: 1
Joined: Mon Jul 23, 2018 8:09 am

Re: Using SCAL4 with my Cricut

Post by BradnerTwins »

I have a Cricut Expression machine and I have a Mac computer. With Craft Room no longer available, I was pointed in the direction of Craft Edge. After emailing Craft Edge (letting them know that I have an Expression and a Mac computer), they point me in the direction of this forum post. I bought and downloaded Scal4. I went through the steps on this post, only to hit a wall....... From what I understand, Design Space doesn't even recognize Expression machines. So I feel like I spent money and time on something that is never going to happen. The person I emailed assured me that this would all work, but clearly it doesn't. Maybe its user error on my part, but I'm beyond frustrated. Scal4 is up and running on my Mac, but now I have no way to actually cut the designs. Am I missing something? Does anyone have any suggestions?

TIA

Courtney
SandyMcC
Posts: 1114
Joined: Mon May 09, 2011 7:01 am

Re: Using SCAL4 with my Cricut

Post by SandyMcC »

In case no one else posts about compatibility, I'll try to find out if the Expressions works with Design Space. I thought it did, but I'm not a Cricut user, so I'll need confirm.
Sandy McCauley
Owner of http://www.iloveknk.com/
Sumbassz1
Posts: 1
Joined: Sun Jul 29, 2018 4:31 pm

Re: Using SCAL4 with my Cricut

Post by Sumbassz1 »

coolmcgeee wrote:1. Download and install Sure Cuts A Lot 4 from
http://www.craftedge.com/download

2. Download and install latest USB Driver
http://www.ftdichip.com/Drivers/VCP.htm

3. Download libcutter plugin from
https://github.com/DThunder1000/libcutt ... master.zip

4. Unzip the downloaded libcutter-master.zip and you will now need to copy the needed plugin files to your SCALCutPlugins folder which will be located in your Documents folder. if the SCALCutPlugins folder does not exist, you will need to run Sure Cuts A Lot so all the default folders for the program get created and then quit the program.

- If using Windows, copy libcutter-master\Windows\Build\LibCutterPlugin.dll and libLibCutter.xml to
C:\Users\{YOUR USERNAME HERE}\Documents\SCALCutPlugins

- If using Mac, copy libcutter-master\Mac\Build\libLibCutterPlugin.dylib and libLibCutter.xml to
{MAC DRIVE}/Users/{YOUR USERNAME HERE}/Documents/SCALCutPlugins

5. Start Sure Cuts A Lot and go to the Cutter menu and choose Manage Cutters. You should now be able to choose Cricut from the Company/Brand drop down list and click <-- Add to list.

6. Sure Cuts A Lot should now be able to make a connection to your Cricut, however in order to cut correctly, a valid key file is needed. This is not included with the plugin due to the DMCA rules, however it can be found elsewhere. The key file must be renamed to keys.h and also be placed in the SCALCutPlugins folder we just copied the libcutter files to in step 4.

Key download links:
http://www.jestinstoffel.com/files/keys.h

http://web.archive.org/web/201305090245 ... s/keys.txt

http://jimlund.org/build-to-spec/Settin ... 0Wiki.html

Here is an interesting read with regards to the libcutter project and the DMCA
http://www.jestinstoffel.com/?q=node/152
macman005
Posts: 1
Joined: Wed Aug 22, 2018 1:19 pm

Re: Using SCAL4 with my Cricut

Post by macman005 »

I followed this tutorial with a Cricut Expression using the 2.34 firmware and I don't get accurate cutting results using the supplied keys.h file. It does try to cut the shape but doesn't look right. Do I need a different keys.h or is there some setting on the cricut that could help me achieve accurate cutting? I'm using SCAL5.
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