Glowforge or Silhouette Cutter?

zathros

*****SENIOR ADMINISTRATOR*****
Staff member
Administrator
Moderator
No, we're not off topic. This all is part of why you are getting the Cameo. I think that if the timbre of your voice is pleasant, it will add much to the books. Much more than you may realize. You should ask people if there are books that they would like you to read. I do hope you put your own stories out there. I would love to see pictures of the models you made so very long ago posted again, so new members could understand just how talented you are.
 

lizzienewell

Well-Known Member
I've had several people encouraging me to go back to making boats. I hope to. Right now I have a goal fo producing enough planet models for a panel/table in a sci-fi con art show. Maybe next year I can start going through my files for the boat models and redo them for another art show.
 

zathros

*****SENIOR ADMINISTRATOR*****
Staff member
Administrator
Moderator
You boats were the bomb. That would be so nice to see!! I'm really good at lofting Hulls, if you ever need that kind of assistance. :)

form1-jpg.117837
her-un1-jpg.117255

her-4-jpg.116947
her-7-jpg.116979
 

Gandolf50

Researcher of obscure between war vehicles...
Staff member
Moderator
Hi Liz , Just got back online and Zathros asked me to drop in and take a look at what you are doing and thinking about doing with the Cameo, first off I am no expert but I have made the Cameo do what I want it to do and not the other way around. Corel will save to DXF and that is what you should save as when sending ONLY LINES to the Cameo (that will also save you from buying any additional software or plugins! ( I know Black Friday just went by...sorry I just missed it) ). You can then import the DXF directly into the cameo program with no messing around at all. Here is a goofy video on this
There are a few things I change, one I save my files as Acad12 files, but that is because I use Inkscape (FREE) to draw stuff and it also has a A-Cad DFX robo-cutter option.

I don't know what your files you wil be cutting are like but I will make a few assumptions as you were talking about printing and registration marks.. Videos online are TERRIBLE so you end up going through 20 to answer 1 question, I had to learn by doing! ( You should realize shortly I hate spending money for anything if I don't have to,also)!!

I don't have Corel Draw (oh wait I do have it, guess I have never used it, hmm) so I can't help there but the process is the same no matter what the original software is.. except it requires the purchase of ADDONS! Cameo connect will let you to cut directly from Corel Draw BUT it is only a cut not an image and a cut!

To have an image and to cut it, there are 2 ways, one is the scan and cut mat or Pixscan as they call it which is a special mat that you can take a picture of or scan and then add the cut lines https://www.silhouetteamerica.com/pixscan again added cost!
Or import the image in what ever formats Cameo will accept, and use the tools within there to , what is called, Print and Cut. From in Cameo you add registration marks on 3 corners of your page with your drawing, then print the image, you still have to add in the cut lines using the software and the settings for cut depth and so forth, then mount the printed image onto a tacky mat, feed into the cameo and tell it to scan for the registration marks, once that is done and all the other settings complete cut away. The first one takes a bit of time to set up, but after that only the amount of time it takes to print and cut, the cut lines are saved with the cameo file.

The cutters are so small that you can barely see the blade! So I don't think that would be a problem but you never know!

As Zathros also mentioned, there are also tools in there to draw the vector lines around your image and control a PRECISE CUT, and repetitive small cuts on several objects makes all the setup WELL WORTH the TIME!
I can do some pictures of what I mean as well as I believe there are a few scattered with-in some of my post that should give you some idea of the Cameo. I have not looked as of yed but there is a open source print-file I picked up awile back that alows me to cut directly from Inkscape so there might be one for Corel draw as well, as it really is only a print program on steroids.

Most of the stuff they sell at the store is (*^&*) and not worth 2 cents, a few good cutters a good mat ( you can re-store it with some spray adhesive) as far as cutting metal..YES you can, as well as up to about 1mm plastic like they use for scratch building model train stuff, start off with a shallow cut, increase the depth of cut, cut again, replete! I have cut some .12 mm sheet brass which is fairly sturdy stuff, but ya got-ta have the carbide blades, and diamond for etching on metal or plastic.

Just ask away and I will try to help out!
 

lizzienewell

Well-Known Member
Here are two pages(screenshots) of my model designed in Coreldraw made up of 20 ring shaped units which go together as a "buckyball." The first photo shows how each of the units are formed. The second photo is of my 8" model. The screenshots are of the 2" model.
I'd like to set this up as kits which could be assembled by kids and to put together an art show with a bunch of model planets. But the cutting of the shapes takes too long and would be impossible for a kid. I'd like to focus on the skins without spending so much time cutting. If I cut I still need the doted lines marking if I'm going to do a mountain or valley fold. It looks like possibly I can do the scoring with Cameo. If not I might be able to print and score first then have Cameo do the cutting.

With the skin I need a bitmap along with were to cut. It's set up so that I have the shape I need to cut and then I place the bitmap inside it. A Coreldraw thing.
Thus my reason for getting a Cameo. I have a portfolio of models all as Coreldraw files.
Thanks for the pointer that I may be able to convert to DXF in Coreldraw. I'll try it before buyig Silhouette Business. It looks as though it will do layers, which may be what I need. Fortunately it looks like I can get Sihouette Business almost immediately if I decide that's what I need.
20151207_6022 (640x480)_1.jpg 20160413_6551 (1) (640x512)_1.jpg


page 1.png page 4.png
 

zathros

*****SENIOR ADMINISTRATOR*****
Staff member
Administrator
Moderator
I'm happy you guys have communicated. Gandfolf50 is "the Man" when it comes to his knowledge of software, and everything else it seems. I don't think there will be a end to the bastion of knowledge he has! :)

And YES Lizzie, you boats are fantastic! Also Buckyballs instant attract my attention as this man was a iconic genius.

Buckminster Fuller:)

 

Gandolf50

Researcher of obscure between war vehicles...
Staff member
Moderator
OK.. Your cuts and fold lines are a piece of cake..that will be simple to do!! You will have to do a Print and cut for every sheet though. DXF will help you there as it will only do the lines part of things// it ignores all the patterns or colors etc.
But that will still not be a problem just a bit of work of set up for the first time. Quick examples...with just a plain ole Cameo

Took a .svg file of a Polyhedron template, copied and arranged etc..and saved as a .dxf and imported to cameo. Lines as .dfx are imported as vector lines so you can do anything with them just like Adobe stuff.
ImportsCameo.jpg Imported a texture that can be used as a fill on any enclosed area.as you can see I arrange it in the upper 1/3 or so..( that is a function you might be able to use ?? perhaps )

They are also figured automatically as cut lines, no messing around, in the cameo usually a cut line is determined by its color, which you can set. Here I have set it for Black, and for a4 sheet /regular card stock and you can see there are options for thickness of cut , double-cut etc.
CutLinesCameo.jpg

Just to show ..I threw in a dashed line, same weight but, red and on the cut screen, I have not set it for a pen nib/ ball point sketch pen/ but by changing your cutter to a shallower cut you can score the fold lines on the same drawing. So nof Black is cut and red is score...
ScoreLinesCameo.jpg

Best thing ...If your going to do quite a bit of this sort of thing... BUY IT IF YOU CAN AFFORD IT! You won't regret it after it cuts your first sheet and saves you all that time!
 

Gandolf50

Researcher of obscure between war vehicles...
Staff member
Moderator
Have been following this thread for a while now and the Silhoutte always looked promising to me, but can anybody tell something about the practical experiences with it? Especially setting it up from cold start to finished cut in regards to time and more than just 1 sheet of paper and in regards to paper weight?

For both the CAMEO 3 and Portrait 2 models
  • AutoBlade compatible (included with purchase) to allow automated adjustment of your blade during cut job processing -- No more worrying about manually adjusting your blade! The Portrait 2 will do it for you.
  • Deeper cutting ability of up to 2mm depth (requires Deep Cut Blade)
  • Ability to communicate wirelessly via Bluetooth® (Bluetooth adapter included with models sold in the US, Canada, and select regions of Europe)
  • An optical scanner for print & cut applications
  • Compatible with Silhouette Studio® allowing you to cut fonts and images from your PC or Mac®
  • Matless cutting option for adhesive-backed materials
  • Both models offer the same capabilities to cut the same material types (vinyl, paper, cardstock, fabric, etc)
The CAMEO 3 offers the following features which the Portrait 2 does not:
  • 12" width cutting area (with the ability cut an actual 12 inch rather than a 11.5 inch cutting area like other comparable machines)
  • Dual carriage to hold multiple tools for faster job processing (i.e. cut with a blade and sketch with a pen during the same job)
  • Adjustable pinch rollers and adjustable spring rollers to better secure loaded materials
  • USB slot to read and cut specially formatted files directly from a USB drive without being hooked up to a computer
  • LCD Touchscreen
Ok! that's the Silhouette spheal .. I have the old Cameo, and honestly when I first got it I was not impressed, and frustrated, mainly for lack of info for details on how to use it for what I wanted it to do. REMEMBER, the cameo and all the related stuff is primarily aimed for CRAFTERS to do cutesy little cards and clip-art stuff , which is just about all there is available at the Silhouette Store ( it is nauseating)
BahHumbug.jpg

But I really found a love for it when I decided to use it for the tire treads for the 1945 Scammel http://www.zealot.com/threads/silhouette-cameo-tool-or-not.178454/ There is a lot of info in there... But to continue...
If you are comfortable with using any type of vector software , Inkscape, Corel Draw stuff like that.. you can get a handle on the included drawing tools inside the Cameo..But most will prefer there own favorite software for drawing... If you are looking to cut out some-one else's drawing from the net as .pdf or such it is possible, but you would be fare better off just cutting out there work by hand! It is not worth the effort to re-trace every line of an air craft model, to try and save your-self the effort of cutting it out! On the other hand..If you have designed the model as a vector drawing to begin with it is all ready to be cut out as long as the rules of cut lines are followed ( just like any other rule for a cutter this color cuts this doesn't,this color on it's own layer and hidden when printed, viable when cut)

Set up time is just going to depend on what the project is.. http://www.zealot.com/threads/what-do-you-mean-its-december.179663/ This card design with complicated cutout took no more than an 1 HOUR to complete from design to finished cut-out, and well worth the effort! This was a very heavy weight Mylar on card stock approx .5mm thick+-, and I don't have the deep cut blade, just the plane multi-purpose blade.
?More than one sheet of paper? not at the same time...Cameo uses a tacky mat to hold down the stock and the rollers move the mat in and out and the blade moves back and forth.
Paper weight? any card model that you could ever make and what ever card stock it would use , the Cameo could cut it! ( and if you need more than .2mm thick...cut more of them! I made clock gears for a steampunk automata stacking .5mm till I had the thickness I needed, the preciseness was good enough that the gears meshed perfectly at a build up of 10mm. and That was A LOT of gear parts!!!! I would still be cutting them out if done by hand!!
 

lizzienewell

Well-Known Member
Making gears is so cool.

I share your disgust with the cutesy junk associated with cutting machines. Ick. If I didn't design in and didn't make it, I don't see the point in "making" the stuff. It seems like a big time/money sink. The price of the paper really bugs me, and that they do it all in 12" format so that it's not compatible with ordinary printers and low cost paper. But it's great the equipment is available and can be made compatible with other equipment, programs, and paper supplies.
 

zathros

*****SENIOR ADMINISTRATOR*****
Staff member
Administrator
Moderator
What they offer is nauseating to say the least. Maybe if they see what people have done here, they would be smart and post the work (they'd better post the source of the pictures, or zathros will use big machine, transport them 10,00o years into past, then they meet zathras, he not so friendly, knows how to fix anything though.). :)
 

Gandolf50

Researcher of obscure between war vehicles...
Staff member
Moderator
Yep..the 12x12 format is an exclusive sort of thing for all the scrapbook crowd, they have some great card stock and transparent velums that are wonderful, but they got you when you go to buy anything with the outrageous prices, still there are sales and things that that crowd don't find appealing like brown paper sack card stock in approx 110 lb weight which I find great also they have sheets of 12x12 unbleached superfine linen which is perfect for skinning a biplane or canvas for a truck top or bed cover. Just have to watch for the sales and discount bins!
 

lizzienewell

Well-Known Member
I was tempted by some of the foil cardstock but not enough to pay $2.40 per sheet. Instead I'm going to buy or scavenge wrapping paper and laminate it to standard white cardstock.
 

lizzienewell

Well-Known Member
I love it. Are you aware of the use of polyhedra in science fiction books by Catherine Asaro. The idea is a game(Dice) which involves arrangement of polyhedra in a way which also acts as prediction and modeling of social systems. I made dice as described in the story but found the cutting became too cumbersome. You're art related to the game. You might have a market for it among Catherine Asaro fans. You could do what I'm planning which is enter work in sci-fi art shows. I've seen some other really nice paper work at these shows. Unfortunately I don't alway jot down names of the artists. Hm I see we don't have a model build category for polyhedra. Oh well. It fits in a number of other categories.
 

Gandolf50

Researcher of obscure between war vehicles...
Staff member
Moderator
I was tempted by some of the foil cardstock but not enough to pay $2.40 per sheet. Instead I'm going to buy or scavenge wrapping paper and laminate it to standard white cardstock.

Duc Brand..same as Duc Tape..have a Deco Metallic Laminate that comes in a roll of 20"x5' in Gold Copper Silver Etc. sortof like the stuff that was used for shelf liner, with a peel and stick permanent adhesive...way way cheaper than the 2.40$ a sheet price!!!
 

Gandolf50

Researcher of obscure between war vehicles...
Staff member
Moderator
Thank you all for your replies!

I'm mainly thinking of using a Cameo for geometric paper art, like this:
View attachment 161736

Assembly is quite easy and I got the right tools to design a lot more complex and threedimensional pieces, but the thought of cutting hundreds of these low poly things is what keeps me from actually starting.

Oh yeh!! the perfect thing for using the cameo for! setting up your layout and you could more than likely have little to no waste per sheet also!
 

zathros

*****SENIOR ADMINISTRATOR*****
Staff member
Administrator
Moderator
That Geometric shape kind of shows the circuitous route my life has taken.
 

Gandolf50

Researcher of obscure between war vehicles...
Staff member
Moderator
Thank you all for your replies!

I'm mainly thinking of using a Cameo for geometric paper art, like this:
View attachment 161736

Assembly is quite easy and I got the right tools to design a lot more complex and threedimensional pieces, but the thought of cutting hundreds of these low poly things is what keeps me from actually starting.
You can do a lot with this art form..

http://www.ufunk.net/en/artistes/matt-shlian/

Actually now that I think back..their are some artist that don't cut the poly's out, I know it seems impossible, but it is heavy weight art stock scored and folded from ONE SHEET Geometric Origami
https://www.flickr.com/photos/miketanis/23579223609/in/photostream/
https://hiveminer.com/Tags/geometric,papercraft/Recent
All this you can do with the Cameo. !!
 

lizzienewell

Well-Known Member
Wow! I'm in awe.
I love the medium of paper. You could probably build all of these in metal but it would be way to much work and cost too much for very little pay off. Building in paper puts the emphasis on the artistry, not on cost or difficulty of working with the material. I see this type of work and think I should be going abstract. But I'm interested in communication and in imaging science fiction worlds. Can't do everything.
 
Top