Which is a better replacement machine for the Cricut Express

[flrhcarr]

Hey everyone, it sure has been awhile since I have been on.

I am thinking about replacing the Cricut with another machine (thanks). But my concern is being able to do what I can do with the Cricut. I am leaning towards either the Sizzix Eclips, or one of the SC machines from USCutter, but am open to suggestions, of course.

What I like about the Cricut (using SCAL2) is that I can cut very thick (100# 13.9 caliper) card stock, & do so quite often. I can also, use most of the sheet (I'm not sure which takes up the 1" page loss, Cricut or SCAL). I know that I will lose some of the sheet for the calibration marks on either machine.

To replace the Cricut, the next machine has to be able to do what it does, but better. Wider is always better, but not as important as precise (or close) control of the cuts. Or at least, consistency! Alignment has always been an issue with this set up.

So has any of you who have had an early Expressions Cricut (with SCAL), changed over to a different machine? Can you offer info on the above so I can compare apples to apples?
I am demoing ECAL right now, but am not happy that it doesn't print outlines very well, nor does it print to pdf (pdf being listed as a printer), the way the current set up does.

I appreciate any thoughts on this. Thanks for reading.

[Busgoddess10]

I just received a Pazzles Inspiration (from Craft Edge) for an early Christmas gift. So far I am very very pleased with it!!

[talanhart]

I have a Cricut Expression and use it all the time. I also have a Cameo that every time I use it, I am amazed at how precise the cuts are compared to the Cricut. I have only used the Cameo to cut vinyl, so I can't help you with information on the the thicker cuts.

[sstehman]

And I have the eClips and am very pleased with it (and still have my untouched Expression). There is an topic area on the board where purchasers of the machine posted their experiences with various machines. I would take a look there and do the comparisons to see what fits your needs.

[flrhcarr]

I guess I hadn't looked hard enough sstehman. Do you have a link to that area? What pleases yo so much about the Eclips? What have you sent through the machine? Is the PNC feature that accurate? Did you have to buy your ECAl software separate from your other version of SCAL or did they let you upgrade at a better price for loyalty?

@talanhart, why the Cameo? Does it have a wider path for vinyl, over the Cricut? I hear that it can go to 10'. What made you decide to get a Cameo? Does SCAL3 work with the Cameo?

@Busgoddess10, early presents are great! What do you like about the Pazzles, compared to the Expressions machine?

I appreciate your writing & look forward to hearing more, & finding where that link would be?

[mitsim]

I have an Eclips and can maybe answer some of your questions. I really love this machine. It cuts beautifully. I cut cardstock and vinyl by changing only the media I am cutting in the cut window, without changing my blade pressure or any other settings. I am doing more print and cut (I will attach a sample here), and it works quite well. Another feature that I love is the score feature. Many cut files come with the scored area as dashed lines that cut, and then it folds where the dashed line is. Whenever I purchase a cut file, I replace the dashed lines with straight lines. Then, I just tell the eclips which layers I want it to score, and it does a real score that looks so smooth and professional.
SCAL does not work with the Eclips. Because of its extra features, it requires ECAL. Made also by craftedge. Looks and feels exactly like SCAL3, but has the score features and some other features, so a unique version of SCAL was made just for this machine. Unfortunately, there is no good guy upgrade price for this software, but if you watch for sales, you can get it for a reasonable amount. Or purchase it in a bundle as part of your machine purchase.
I was also checking out some specs, and found that that the Cameo has 210 gf (grams force), and the Eclips has 700 gf. That's a fairly substantial difference, I believe.
Here's a card where I used the p2c (5 elements printed and cut on one sheet all at the same time). I've been printing a lot of digi paper, and I now purchase the matching element packs, and use those elements as p2c embellishments. I love it.

[flrhcarr]

Thanks Mitsim. That's a wonderful piece you made, great job! Sizzix wrote me this morning & told me that it will cut 20 caliper stock, which is great to hear, as I cut many items that use 13.9. The laser preview sounds great, that I can place a piece on there (scrap), & see if it will fit. It actually working out right, is another thing, I'm sure.
One of my big concerns is losing space for the registration marks. I did a few test prints with the ECAL demo, using one of my Scut files & the marks where right on the image! At least in draft mode.

One thing I found, is that it (the demo?) doesn't print outlined shapes nor does it print to pdf for proofs. Those two things alone, can kill a good thing. Have you tried either of those yourself? That is, everything printed solid.

Thank you for letting me know about the score feature. It sounds great. Not something I have used w/my Cricut, really. Usually I just bring everything to the minimum & make a line (which has it's own scut file), or use long dashes.

Yeah, I'm bummed SCAl doesn't offer something for those of us who have supported them. Granted, I still have the version 3 upgrade to get for free :}). Which could be fine if I go with the USCutter.

Oh, one more thing, if I may? Kiss cuts. I have some very thin label stock that the Cricut can't kiss, & has to cut through. How light can the EClips cut? I am guessing it's about the thickness of a sheet of paper.

I am sure that the EClips will open a great world to me, but I want to be able to continue doing what I have done, with one machine. Thank you again for your help on this. I appreciate it very much. Actual users comments are much more valuable than a sales rep's!

[talanhart]

Since I cut mostly vinyl I liked that the Cameo can cut up to 10' of vinyl right from the roll and not have to use a mat. I have used this feature and it works great. SCAL 3 works with the Cameo.

[mitsim]

OK, I just opened up ecal to test the pdf feature. I was able to print to pdf, but nothing printed out. So, I guess that feature is not supported.
I also took a solid shape and went to the fill color and clicked on color, and chose none. Then I went to stroke and made it black, and I was able to go to the regular print menu, and print the object fine, with no fill and just the outlines. Nothing but the outlined image printed (no mat grid lines or anything).
As far as kiss cuts, that's basically what the score feature does. It scores just the top surface of the paper so that it will fold on that line. And, the vinyl setting does basically that also, in that it cuts the vinyl, but not the backing.
And, as far as the registration marks go, yes you do have to leave some space for it to recognize the objects, so that the registration marks can be outside of those objects. I have a wide format printer and, as you can see, my p2c objects are smaller. On the most recent one I did (with some of the elements on the card I posted), I left a little less than an inch at the top, so I think that if you left that much all around it would be good. I set this up arbitrarily with the registration marks in mind. I have not done any specific testing to see exactly how close to the edge I could set the images. I cut all 14 of these items out at one time on one piece of 12x12.
I really didn't mind paying the price for the software, even though I could have upgraded to SCAL3 for free. I just feel like it's its own entitiy, and love having the features that it gives me.

[flrhcarr]

@talanhart, thank you for that. It is good to know that the Cameo can cut vinyl w/o a mat, & will work with SCAL3. Do you know if you can print to pdf with SCAL3? That is one feature that I like about SCAL2, & really don't wnat to lose it.


Thanks mitsim, I appreciate your doing that for me. I wasn't able to print outlines, but that may be due to it being a demo. But lacking a print to pdf is annoying, because I use that for proofing my work.

Thank you for explaining the kiss cut to me. Having a Cricut, I am accustomed to just using the settings for depth & pressure.

I certainly appreciate your screen captures, & taking the time posting them. I know other people who are looking for something updated, will find them as helpful as I have. I would have to dink around with how much I can get away with which margins, for the registration marks. Right now (whether it's SCAL or Cricut), I lose about half an inch, with the printer's margins.

No, paying a little more for the software isn't bad, it would be nice to support your loyal customers. The software looks nice, & is similar enough to 2, that one can get started right away.

Replacing the old system seems to be such a task. I don't want to lose anything, but do want better features. Better cutting is certainly one of the most important things. I detest how Cricut can't cut a small circle, nor will it cut straight against a printed box or circle, which could be that it never lines up the same each & every time. Could just be my machine.

I hope to hear more from people, so I can make the best decision possible, & really appreciate the information that I have already received.