The Cricut Maker 4 is a desktop manufacturing device designed to cut, score, draw, and engrave a vast range of materials. It utilises an Adaptive Tool System that intelligently controls the direction of the blade and cut pressure to match the specific material.
The Risk Assessment can be found here
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1V4-u50gEDjoxyHj7RPr2QvPiWhuubbvZcKuBK2Sp1bI/edit?usp=drive_link
The Safety Induction
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1aapDmQQrl5fhojJ9JYQJ2ZxSdl3xTtE6dz-zKjDMb18/edit?usp=sharing
Manufacturer Documentation
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1zTiXXum-1ggfUEv-eMcvyukG71aXXhAi?usp=drive_link
The machine uses two distinct clamps. Clamp A is generally for accessories (pens/scoring), while Clamp B is for cutting blades. The below is not an exhaustive list and more information can be found online. The Hackspace may not have all the cutting tools and accessories available.
| Name | Description | Best Used For |
|---|---|---|
| Premium Fine-Point Blade | The standard blade for intricate cuts in thin to medium-weight materials. Included with the machine | Paper, cardstock, posterboard, vinyl, and iron-on transfer material |
| Rotary Blade | Uses a rolling, gliding action to cut fabric. It can cut without the need for a backer material (stabiliser). | Cotton, fleece, poly blends, denim, felt, and canvas. |
| Knife Blade | An extra-deep blade designed to slice through dense materials up to 2.5 mm (3/32") thick | Balsa wood, matboard, and chipboard. |
| Bonded Fabric Blade | Designed specifically for cutting appliqué out of fabric that has a backer material applied to it | Fabric with an iron-on backer/stabiliser |
| Scoring Stylus | Creates creases and fold lines for 3D paper crafts, cards, envelopes, and boxes | |
| Pens | The machine can draw shapes and text using various pen types, including Fine-Point (0.4mm), Medium-Point (1.0mm), and Calligraphic (2.0mm) | |
The Cricut Maker 4 is calibrated to cut hundreds of materials, ranging from delicate tissues to dense woods.
Thin to Medium Materials
Paper & Cardstock: Standard printer paper, heavy cardstock, and posterboard.
Vinyl: Standard adhesive vinyl (for decals) and glittery vinyl.
Iron-On (HTV): Standard iron-on and bright iron-on foils for clothing/textiles.
Fabrics & Textiles
Thick & Dense Materials
Choosing the correct mat is critical for safety and cut quality. The mat holds the material in place during the high-speed cutting process.
All cutting jobs must be sent via Cricut Design Space, a cloud-based application. This is installed on all machines at the Hackspace and logged in via the Hackspace account.
Files: You can upload your own standard image formats (.svg, .jpg, .gif, .png, .dxf, .bmp).
Offline Mode: Design Space allows you to download projects to use offline if internet access is unavailable.
YouTube Links: