Looking for most precise small cutter - recommendations

[henryjames7 0]

Hi All- new here.

I've been using (learning) on a Cricut Explore.  It's been fine so far, but now I need to get greater precision on my cuts.  Most of my shapes are 1-4 inches (imported as JPEGs from Adobe Illustrator) and have intricate curves and circles.  I find the Cricut to be choppy and not as smooth on the shapes and curves as I'd like.  The cuts are very consistent from one cut to the next - each time I cut, they are choppy in the same way- but I need smooth and precise cuts.

Based upon reading, I think I may need a different machine.  I'd appreciate any recommendations on the most precise cutters I should be considering (preferably 12" width, but not necessary.)

Many thanks in advance!

[Sue2 918]

Is it possible that it's not the cutter but the files you are cutting that are jagged, not smooth?

Sue2

[Dakotagrafx 7,293]

thinking the same thing as sue that it may very well be the files and no matter what cutter you have it will always cut what quality of image you feed it.  zoom in and inspect your file closely to see if it is smooth - if you are still looking for the most precise cutter then about $1100 gets you the best in a 15" graphtec - but again it will only cut as good as the file you give it to cut

http://www.uscutter.com/Graphtec-CE-6000-Vinyl-Cutter-Bundle

[Primal Decals 621]

I have a  cricut cutter and they are not very good at cutting things at certain sizes etc.. They are just for basic craft cutting etc. you will be much more happier a real cutter that doesnt require a cutting mat under your material if your using vinyl that is ,,For doing card stock stuff then you will have to use something similar to the cricut.

[mark-s 1,124]

Graphtec 15 inch you won`t be sorry.

 

mark-s

[Primal Decals 621]

Get what you can afford but i suggest staying away from the startup cutters like MH,SC andLaser Point, I know people have them and they work ,but the next level of cutters will produce a much higher quality in the end with way less problems.

[Sue2 918]

If you attach one of your files that are cutting choppy, one of us can look it over and 

let you know if it is the file that is choppy....and not a problem with your cutter.

Sue2

[henryjames7 0]

All I can say is "wow".  What a terrific community! I very much appreciate all the feedback and suggestions- it's so helpful for somebody who is just starting out.

Based upon the feedback so far, I messed with my source files a bit- trying to improve it.  I'm totally self taught so I probably have been making lots of rookie mistakes.

Using an ancient version of CS-2 AI, I tried changing line thickness, removing/ using solids etc. and just generally doing a bunch of experiments.  And... things improved quite a bit.  But, they are still not great.  It looks worse in person than in the attached scan.

Here is the latest source file that's giving me the "best" results. I save it in Illustrator as a PNG and then import it into Cricut and re-scale it to the proper size.  And it gives me this result.  Not bad... but not as good as I get printing the same source file directly to my HP OfficeJet.

Attached are the AI source file and a 600 DPI scan of the cut vinyl next to the source file directly printed from AI using my  basic HP inkjet.  If you zoom in on the scanned image, you will see that the circle edges of the vinyl cuts are a bit lumpy and in some areas look like linked flat segments rather than smooth curves.

Any ideas on how I can squeeze a bit performance out of my Cricut are welcome.  Or, if the consensus is I need to upgrade to get a better result, so it is....

Thanks in advance!

 

 

 

Circles Source File.ai

[Primal Decals 621]

Sent you another message bud..

[darcshadow 1,604]

Don't save the file as a PNG, that is a raster image so you're forcing your cricut to revector it and that is where you are loosing your detail. I believe Cricut can import ai files, but if not save the file as an eps or svg and import that into Cricut.

[henryjames7 0]

On 6/30/2017 at 1:40 PM, darcshadow said:

Don't save the file as a PNG, that is a raster image so you're forcing your cricut to revector it and that is where you are loosing your detail. I believe Cricut can import ai files, but if not save the file as an eps or svg and import that into Cricut.

Thank you.  I had previously tried to do an EPS but Cricut wasn't having it. I then did a SVG and some funny stuff happened with layers when I tried to cut.  But I played around with the Cricut "group" and "delete" settings a bit and things improved.  So, now I've got much better, although not perfect, circles. 

 

Thanks for the suggestions- with all your help, I think now I'm approaching the max of what I can expect out of my Hobby-cutter (which is much better than it was before!)

[Primal Decals 621]

UPDATE ON THE CRICUT SOFTWARE!!!!!      Just to let you know they have improved the cricut design space .They upgraded it and the web browser is now 100 times faster ... My girlfriend uses this and thats how i know , She also ended up getting a free Explore air 2 and the difference between the cricut explore and the air 2 is actually 100 times better as well.. Her cuts improved much cleaner as well.. And i ended up getting her  the fine point pen set for the new machine , and lets just say im very impressed with the upgrade in software and cutter ...

Also the cricut explore is no longer running on Internet explorer at all. Which it was before , and i hated IE.. Now it runs on firefox ( which is what i use ) and chrome now runs it.... Such a big difference..... If you need help getting the new software to work on firefox etc let me know..There is a little bug on certain pc's when it comes to downloading the update. Chrome as far as they told me was the only browser that is letting the download run on. But once it is installed on your computer , it will work perfect on firefox...