Re: Cricut Expression Cutting Machine If the CriCut is actually a diecut machine, it uses what are known as dies to cut shapes out of your paper. What this means is that you need to pucrchase die set for each thing you would like to cut. You can only cut shapes that you have dies for.
With a vinyl cutter, you can cut any shape you'd like from your computer. You don't need special dies for each font you'd like to cut, and you can cut any contour you've designed.
The other difference between a diecut machine and a vinyl cutter is that a die cutter cuts ALL THE WAY though whatever you're cutting, so you couldn't really cut apparel vinyl with it. Well, you could, but each individual letter or shape in your design would need to be laid out by hand on your garment, whereas with a vinyl cutter, it cuts only through the vinyl itself, and leaves the backer in-tact, so you can cut out multiple letters or shapes, and they will all stay in the layout that you've cut them in when you press.
Lastly, if you press shapes that you've die cut, you stand more of a chance of getting your upper heat platten all mucked up with glue. The glue on your vinyl will seep out past the backer and will get on your upper platten, unless you use a teflon sheet. |