(If you use this machine with Make-the-Cut, please add your opinions about this machine under the COMMENTS section of this post. Please only comment if you use the KNK Zing. Also, do mention if you are using the machine with MTC or another cutting program. If I see any comments relating to any other cutters on this page, I will move or delete it. Thank you.)
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| picture from knkusa.com |
MSRP: $399.00
Official website: Klic-N-Kut
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Update: Oct 16, 2012
The following retailer review was contributed by Sandy McCauley. Sandy supports the Klic-N-Kut Zing through her website http://www.iloveknk.com/. Thank you, Sandy, for taking the time to share information on the KNK Zing with us.
Question: Does it cut vinyl and chipboard?
Yes, to both. The Zing’s 14” wide cutting makes it ideal for cutting 15” rolled materials.
Now with chipboard, there are many types and thicknesses. Most cereal weight chipboard will cut in a single pass on the Zing. At the other extreme, I was able to cut 0.057” (1.4 mm) Grafix chipboard in four passes on a slow speed.
Question: What can you tell us about the pros and cons of the machine?
Just like with the other KNK models, the pros are definitely the power, speed, and flexibility. Additionally:
· The price of just $399 makes it an affordable high-force cutter in the hobby market.
· I also have had great success with the separately-sold Zing embossing, engraving, and punch tools. The embosser has large and small spherical shaped ends. I’ve been able to score cardstock for fold up projects and emboss images into cardstock and balsa with great success.
· The engraver can be used on vellum, acrylic, and metal. I’ve also used it to create score lines in PETG craft plastic for fold-up projects.
· The punch tool is great for those who want to do paper embroidery. Using the rhinestone outline function in MTC, a pattern of tiny circles can be created and then punched out using this tool.
· The fabric blade is exceptional. Not only does it cut the typical fabrics used for quilting, but a wide range of other fabrics as well. The results are outstanding – sharp points on stars, for example! Plus, with some of the easier fabrics, it’s not always necessary to stabilize before cutting. I’ve been able to cut cotton and summer twill by directly pressing the fabric onto a very sticky mat.
· MTC will work with in either Windows or Mac modes and cut to the Zing. Another program called Artistic Suite (distributed by Janome America) will also cut to a Zing.
· The laser light offers the ability to do perfect print and cuts. It’s not even necessary to print from the software, as MTC’s plug-in for the Zing allows users to add a rectangle around printed, stamped, or hand-drawn images, scan them in, and then use the rectangle as the printed reg marks. Refer to this video: https://vimeo.com/42691635
· The support network for the KNK Zing is extraordinary! All KNK dealers sign contracts agreeing to be the first line of contact for any hardware or software issues with the Zing. KNK USA provides an on-line user forum for freely asking Zing questions, as do Make The Cut and Paper Threads. There are also Yahoo groups dedicated to the Zing where many of the KNK dealers readily help anyone posting questions. KNK USA also freely responds to tech support calls and emails for the life of the cutter.
For other pros, please refer back above to my response to “what I like about the machine.”
The only con that seems to impact usage by some owners, is that the two pinch wheels are permanently fixed on the pinch roller bar and are not adjustable to other locations. If cutting rolled materials narrower than about 13”, then the material either needs to be cut to fit onto a cutting mat or taped to a wider material, such as contact paper, so that it can be gripped by both rollers during cutting.
Question: Is it too slow?
No. In fact, the slower speeds are essential when accurately cutting some of the dense materials, such as thick chipboard and styrene.
Question: Is it too fast?
It’s insanely fast when on the fastest speed! But there are perfect speeds to use for cutting and faster speeds to use when engraving or drawing.
Question: What don't you like about it?
Nothing! I love the KNK Zing!
Question: Would you recommend it?
For business applications, such as vinyl cutting, prospective buyers should look at the other KNK models which will cut from KNK Studio. This is due to the need for such features as controlling cut order, automatic weeding, and cut-by-color, which are not available yet in Make The Cut.
Question: How expensive are the mats and blades?
A two pack of the 14” x 15” mats (12” x 12” ruled) is $15.99. The larger Zing mat (ruled at 14” x 24”) costs $14.99 each. The blades, including the fabric blade, are $8.99 each.
Question: Are they hard to find?
You must order them from KNK USA or from one our KNK dealers. However, as mentioned earlier, other brands of blade holders and mats can be used in the KNK Zing.
Sandy McCauley
www.iloveknk.com
------------------------------------------------end of writeup -------------------------------------
Here are some photos of work done with the Zing: (photos submitted by Sandy McCauley):
Official website: Klic-N-Kut
---
Update: Oct 16, 2012
The following retailer review was contributed by Sandy McCauley. Sandy supports the Klic-N-Kut Zing through her website http://www.iloveknk.com/. Thank you, Sandy, for taking the time to share information on the KNK Zing with us.
--------------------------------------------start of writeup by Sandy---------------------------------------
Price:
KNK Zing (USA): $399 plus $19 shipping to 48 US states
KNK Zing (Canada): $450 plus $20 shipping
For other countries, contact KNK USA for quotes or referrals to nearest KNK distributors
Website: http://knkusa.com/
Accugraphic Sales offers a range of cutting machines. Thisreview writeup covers the KNK Zing which was first introduced in November 2011. It is a 750g cutter with 20 speed settings ranging from extremely slow to extremely fast (800 mm/sec), thus permitting precise cutting of dense materials or quick drawing and engraving. The maximum cutting width is 14” with no limit on length. It is equipped with a laser light for 3 point precise print and cut applications. Every Zing comes with Make The Cut (MTC) software, as well as a 12” x 12” gridded cutting mat, a blade holder, one standard materials blade, one thick materials blade, test pen with two inserts, power cord and USB cable. The Zing User manual, which contains links to on-line videos and is regularly updated, is located here:
http://www.iloveknk.com/support/zing/
To see a comparison chart of how the KNK Zing compares to other KNK models, please go to this link:
http://www.iloveknk.com/knk-comparisons/
To see demo videos of the KNK Zing, please go to this link:
http://www.iloveknk.com/knk-info/free-video-tutorials/zing-videos/
The Zings are equipped with a fully adjustable blade holder seat which allows users to insert other brands of bladeholders, engraving and embossing tools, and even pens.
Question: What do you like about the machine?
· The portability is top on my list! I finally have a fast, high force, wide-format cutter that I can easily carry under one arm! I did purchase the Zing Travel Bag to use when taking my cutter to crops. It has separate pockets to hold the USB cable, power cord, blade holders, accessory tools, and some of my other small crafting tools. The shoulder strap makes it easy to carry the Zing, a laptop bag and my crafting tote, all at one time.
· Just as with the other KNK’s the range of force allows cutting a wide range of materials: paper, cardstock, poster board, chipboard, vellum, vinyl, fabric, craft foam, felt, balsa, magnet materials, iron-on materials, different kinds of plastics and rubbers, rhinestone template materials, Duralar, Lutradur,Yupo, leather, icing sheets, fondant, and more! Even with having less cutting force than the Maxx models, the slower speeds have allowed me to cut some of the same dense materials on the Zing with accuracy.
· The Zing is much quieter than other prior models and other cutters! The decibels fall into the same range as conversation from about 3 – 5 feet.
· I have really enjoyed the convenience of having the other Zing blade holders (sold separately) so that I could keep my three blade types (thin material, thick material, and fabric) in individual blade holders which match the cap colors of the blades. I never again have to try to remember which blade type I last used in a holder!
KNK Zing (USA): $399 plus $19 shipping to 48 US states
KNK Zing (Canada): $450 plus $20 shipping
For other countries, contact KNK USA for quotes or referrals to nearest KNK distributors
Website: http://knkusa.com/
Accugraphic Sales offers a range of cutting machines. This
http://www.iloveknk.com/support/zing/
To see a comparison chart of how the KNK Zing compares to other KNK models, please go to this link:
http://www.iloveknk.com/knk-comparisons/
To see demo videos of the KNK Zing, please go to this link:
http://www.iloveknk.com/knk-info/free-video-tutorials/zing-videos/
The Zings are equipped with a fully adjustable blade holder seat which allows users to insert other brands of bladeholders, engraving and embossing tools, and even pens.
Question: What do you like about the machine?
· The portability is top on my list! I finally have a fast, high force, wide-format cutter that I can easily carry under one arm! I did purchase the Zing Travel Bag to use when taking my cutter to crops. It has separate pockets to hold the USB cable, power cord, blade holders, accessory tools, and some of my other small crafting tools. The shoulder strap makes it easy to carry the Zing, a laptop bag and my crafting tote, all at one time.
· Just as with the other KNK’s the range of force allows cutting a wide range of materials: paper, cardstock, poster board, chipboard, vellum, vinyl, fabric, craft foam, felt, balsa, magnet materials, iron-on materials, different kinds of plastics and rubbers, rhinestone template materials, Duralar, Lutradur,Yupo, leather, icing sheets, fondant, and more! Even with having less cutting force than the Maxx models, the slower speeds have allowed me to cut some of the same dense materials on the Zing with accuracy.
· The Zing is much quieter than other prior models and other cutters! The decibels fall into the same range as conversation from about 3 – 5 feet.
· I have really enjoyed the convenience of having the other Zing blade holders (sold separately) so that I could keep my three blade types (thin material, thick material, and fabric) in individual blade holders which match the cap colors of the blades. I never again have to try to remember which blade type I last used in a holder!
Question: Does it cut vinyl and chipboard?
Yes, to both. The Zing’s 14” wide cutting makes it ideal for cutting 15” rolled materials.
Now with chipboard, there are many types and thicknesses. Most cereal weight chipboard will cut in a single pass on the Zing. At the other extreme, I was able to cut 0.057” (1.4 mm) Grafix chipboard in four passes on a slow speed.
Question: What can you tell us about the pros and cons of the machine?
Just like with the other KNK models, the pros are definitely the power, speed, and flexibility. Additionally:
· The price of just $399 makes it an affordable high-force cutter in the hobby market.
· I also have had great success with the separately-sold Zing embossing, engraving, and punch tools. The embosser has large and small spherical shaped ends. I’ve been able to score cardstock for fold up projects and emboss images into cardstock and balsa with great success.
· The engraver can be used on vellum, acrylic, and metal. I’ve also used it to create score lines in PETG craft plastic for fold-up projects.
· The punch tool is great for those who want to do paper embroidery. Using the rhinestone outline function in MTC, a pattern of tiny circles can be created and then punched out using this tool.
· The fabric blade is exceptional. Not only does it cut the typical fabrics used for quilting, but a wide range of other fabrics as well. The results are outstanding – sharp points on stars, for example! Plus, with some of the easier fabrics, it’s not always necessary to stabilize before cutting. I’ve been able to cut cotton and summer twill by directly pressing the fabric onto a very sticky mat.
· MTC will work with in either Windows or Mac modes and cut to the Zing. Another program called Artistic Suite (distributed by Janome America) will also cut to a Zing.
· The laser light offers the ability to do perfect print and cuts. It’s not even necessary to print from the software, as MTC’s plug-in for the Zing allows users to add a rectangle around printed, stamped, or hand-drawn images, scan them in, and then use the rectangle as the printed reg marks. Refer to this video: https://vimeo.com/42691635
· The support network for the KNK Zing is extraordinary! All KNK dealers sign contracts agreeing to be the first line of contact for any hardware or software issues with the Zing. KNK USA provides an on-line user forum for freely asking Zing questions, as do Make The Cut and Paper Threads. There are also Yahoo groups dedicated to the Zing where many of the KNK dealers readily help anyone posting questions. KNK USA also freely responds to tech support calls and emails for the life of the cutter.
For other pros, please refer back above to my response to “what I like about the machine.”
The only con that seems to impact usage by some owners, is that the two pinch wheels are permanently fixed on the pinch roller bar and are not adjustable to other locations. If cutting rolled materials narrower than about 13”, then the material either needs to be cut to fit onto a cutting mat or taped to a wider material, such as contact paper, so that it can be gripped by both rollers during cutting.
Question: Is it too slow?
No. In fact, the slower speeds are essential when accurately cutting some of the dense materials, such as thick chipboard and styrene.
Question: Is it too fast?
It’s insanely fast when on the fastest speed! But there are perfect speeds to use for cutting and faster speeds to use when engraving or drawing.
Question: What don't you like about it?
Nothing! I love the KNK Zing!
Question: Would you recommend it?
For business applications, such as vinyl cutting, prospective buyers should look at the other KNK models which will cut from KNK Studio. This is due to the need for such features as controlling cut order, automatic weeding, and cut-by-color, which are not available yet in Make The Cut.
Question: How expensive are the mats and blades?
A two pack of the 14” x 15” mats (12” x 12” ruled) is $15.99. The larger Zing mat (ruled at 14” x 24”) costs $14.99 each. The blades, including the fabric blade, are $8.99 each.
Question: Are they hard to find?
You must order them from KNK USA or from one our KNK dealers. However, as mentioned earlier, other brands of blade holders and mats can be used in the KNK Zing.
Sandy McCauley
www.iloveknk.com
------------------------------------------------end of writeup -------------------------------------
Here are some photos of work done with the Zing: (photos submitted by Sandy McCauley):
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI use the KNK Zing quite a bit. I do not like the blade holder shipped with it, so I use other click blade holders and blades from other companies for easier blade changes. However, I get the best intricate cuts with the blade and housing that ships with the machine.
ReplyDeleteThe jaw of the Zing allows me to use the blade holders from many other machines, so I am glad not to be locked in to one single blade holder. This jaw also allows for the use of many different size pens and pen holders as well. I like this flexibility.
Zing cuts media up to 14" wide, but the adhesive mat shipped with it contains a 12"x12" grid. This works for me, since I rarely need to cut anything wider. I noticed that there is now a new mat available to purchase that has a 14" wide adhesive grid and is much longer for those larger cutting projects.
My Zing does not cut heavy media such as .022" chipboard, white on one side as well as my Gazelle. The Gazelle cuts it in a single pass, while the Zing requires two passes to get a good clean cut.
When I purchased the Zing, I was hoping for a machine that would handle chipboard better. I now know that not all Zing machines ship with the same cutting pressure, since I had two at one time to compare.
I will stick with my Gazelle for the purpose of cutting chipboard. EClips handles heavier projects better than Zing, so I cut from the ECal software to the EClips when I need 700 grams of cutting pressure.
Zing does a nice job cutting heavier cardstock, which is what I cut the most. It also does a nice job cutting vinyl and everything in between.
There are no buttons other than the power button on the Zing. All features are software controlled. This is not a problem, except when you need to stop the machine during a cut. The only way to stop it is to turn it off. It would be nice to have a pause button, to be able to make unexpected adjustments.
The buffer on the Zing will not handle a full page of intricate detail all at once. If you send too much to cut at one time, the machine will stop in the middle of the cut, and the project may be ruined. The remedy for this issue is to divide the project into sections on different layers in the software, and to cut one layer at a time. To avoid issues with this, I try to never send more than 1/4 of a 12"x12" page to cut at one time if the design has lots of intricate detail.
Once you get used to using the laser registration feature, the Zing works well, especially for print and cut projects of all types, especially when using heavier papers and paper colors other than pure white. I prefer doing print and cut projects on the Cameo, but since the Cameo is not rated to cut my heavier papers over 80#, I use the Zing for this.
It is very hard to get used to using the levers to raise and lower the pinch rollers on the Zing. Loading papers and getting accurate placement using the Zing is more difficult than it is with my other cutters. If you want the ease of quick, automatic mat loading into the machine, this machine is not for you.
The right lever frequently needs to be tightened, and mine has never worked correctly - even after sending it in for repair. I requested that this be fixed when I sent it in, but it was not fixed before it was returned to me.
I do most of my cutting from Make The Cut. Zing works well with Make the Cut. I like its nice compact size, and flat top. I can place another machine on top of it, and cut to two different machines at the same time. This can be very helpful when I have lots of things to cut.
The KNK Zing is a nice machine for the price.
Absolutely love my Zing. It's my go to machine and MTC is my go to software for all my cutters. I have successfully cut thin printer type paper (flower about 3/8") to chipboard on this machine (1" shape). The infinite adjustable blade and pressure settings give you more control than some cutters. IMO the Zing is one of the more sturdy cutters. MTC is user friendly and has the best tracing software for converting pictures to cut files! And I've used quite a few.
ReplyDeleteI could not say enough good things about the Zing and MTC. Together they are an amazing combo. I just finished up doing a bunch of stuff for my granddaughters birthdays...one is Hello Kitty and the other theme was owls. We did some mighty cute banners and lots and lots of paper piecing. Loved that we can make the size and shape of any letter we want so it fits where we need it to and how we want it. I love the control I have. I would highly recommend it!
ReplyDeleteI bought this machine when it was first announced. I have to first say that KNK USA is a great company and has excellent customer service. I use Make the Cut with this machine. (I also use a Silhouette Cameo that utilizes SCAL3, MTC, and the Silhouette cutting program, I've not had one problem with the Silhouette, not one). The variation in the blade depth seemed like something that would appeal to me with the Zing, but truly the power is the most attractive feature. The ability to cut intricate designs SHOULD be a given on any cutting machine, the Cameo certainly does it without a complaint, I know everyone seems to think that's an extra option but it isn't when you are a seasoned SVG cutter, as I am. That said the Zing has SO many variables and requirements to cut certain papers that it's one of the most frustating experiences I've had. I followed the rules, used Lettering Delights SVGS(which shouldn't have much to do with cutting simple shapes but many have said it's the SVG, and that is Bologna)one page of the same shape will cut decent then the next using the same paper, and not changing ANYTHING will just not cut. I can hear the people saying it's the humidity, it's your paper, it's the blade depth, basically, it's you.However when NOTHING is different there is no reason on Earth as far as I'm concerned, when I pay $400 for a machine, it shouldn't cut perfectly EVERY single time. I haven't tried balsa wood, nor vinyl, frankly I need the hair that I have to stay put so I'll use the Cameo and save balsa wood trees thank you very much. Yes I could probably get it to work fabulously but I have kids and a life I need to live, figuring out what the machine wants to cut a Christmas card isn't my idea of fun cutting.
ReplyDeleteMake the Cut is a great program, and this machine is great for others with alot of money for different blades but it is very temperamental and I'm not the only one who thinks so who owns one. I myself am probably going to sell the Zing. I'm sorry if I've indirectly offended someone, this is not my intention, but I don't want to see someone get burned out from a machine like it did to me.
The Zing entered the market at a time when electronic cutter users were looking for a good value machine that met a list of criteria that included (but not limited to):
ReplyDelete- pricing, preferable to be less than $400;
- wide cut path (Zing can cut 14 inches wide and has no limit to length);
- compatible with Make The Cut! software;
- could accommodate other accessories like pens, pencils, markers, etc;
- performed accurate and precise detailed cuts, including a perfect circle;
- supports Print and Cut;
- could make use of all the popular graphics file types; and
- no proprietary restrictions, ie can only buy your media (graphics) from one manufacturer.
I was on board from the very first announcement, pre-ordering my Zing before Make The Cut! announced their affiliation with KNK Zing. There was a small issue with my Zing when it was delivered, but it was replaced in very short order, and I have been enjoying my Zing since.
I love the blue blade - the heavier blade with a great angle to it, as I cut mostly card stock, but I have had excellent vinyl cuts with the same blade, so it is possible to cut almost anything with a single blade if you are patient enough to make the adjustments to blade tip length and blade height in order to work best with the material at hand. Many users like the convenience of having a different blade holder for each type of blade, I am not that granular. I don't find software or technology particularly challenging to understand or use as I have worked in a technology role since 1993, however, as a computer instructor, I do believe that the Zing is complex enough that it may be daunting for anyone coming from a click and cut experience or has limited exposure to (just does email and internet) or knowledge of computers and/or software in general.
I have tried other blade holders with my Zing, including the popular CB09 Roland type blade holder, this also works well with the Zing. I have used a popular pen holder (HotPAWS) and used ultra fine Sharpie pens with that. The Cri-Kits Glitter pens work well in the Zing too! I don't think there is much worth using when it comes to pens/markers/etc that you can't use in your Zing, including a brand of glue pens for drawing fine lines of glue for glitter application. Some users have been known to use a popular chocolate bar in their Zing!!
I use Make The Cut! exclusively with my Zing, and with the other two brands of cutters that I have currently. I have tried all other available cutting software packages...Make The Cut! has enough versatility and features that I don't find that I need to venture elsewhere to satisfy my cutting requirements. I do use other graphics design software for designing my projects and templates, so not having all the bells and whistles for that type of work in Make The Cut! is not important to me...what is important is that Make The Cut! communicates properly and accurately with the cutter so that all my projects cut so well that people have a hard time believing that I made it myself. Make The Cut! and the Zing, an awesome combination, deliver!!!
I am a scrapbooker and mostly cut just printed paper, light photo paper and 65# cardstock. Will the Zing handles these materials well? I just had a horrific experience with not one, but two Cameo machines that couldn't cut corners so now I'm nervous about any cutter. It looks like the Zing is confusing to use where Cameo was so fast and easy. I did notice however that Zing cuts very quickly and quietly. I cannot say the same for the Cameo.
DeleteHi there I make cards and I have a zing this is the first time I have had a cutting machine did alot of reaserch of different modles. I find the zing handles cutting realy light papers well. It will cut phote copying paper no trouble with cutting force of 20 and off set35 and speed of around 10.I have not yet tryed photoe paper but the cutting settings are glossey hp blade red force 100 speed 10 blade off set.35 you may need to add just acording to thickness of paper. hope this helps I still have along way to go my self as iam also new to this and learning all the time .KNK help line is realy good to join and is free.One more thing when you go into make the cut click on the help icon then click on instuctions it will take you to alink were you can down load or print off which parts of the users manul for the knk zing you want this is were I got info for the different cutting forces for different materials hop this helps. from a happy fellow zinger.Deb.
DeleteI have the zing, and I think it cuts very well, but the mats looses the sticky so quickly, so I need to use a sticky spray every time i want to cut something, and even doing that sometimes the paper moves. I think the problem is the mat
ReplyDeleteI got the zing delivered just the other day.... I have an E-Craft which was a learning curve as it was my first cutter, and it was a good first cutter but it had a few problems which i could never fix. I love MTC, i don't know where i would be without it... so useful. The Zing, i spent a while reading the online manual and following it step by step. This machine is great, i am using it 100% and i'm soooooooooooooo happy with the intricut cuts and all the detail. I had terrible trouble with doing in particular little cuts and even letters or numbers. This machine does it with ease and it cuts them all sooooooooooo fast. The laser is the best, it also aligns everything perfectly. So favour boxes and any cuts can be made at the 12x12 page size. I'm going to get a bigger cutting matt and more of the blade holders and embossing and engraving and all the other accessories available. I'm in paper cutting heaven.... I recommend this cutter.
ReplyDeleteThe Zing's flat design and compact size makes it a front runner of machines in its class. Its frame and parts are metal, making it a sturdy workhorse for repetitive projects.
ReplyDeleteAt this point, I've only used it to cut card stock and I have no complaints with the detail and precision of cuts I receive. I have put it to work on many repetitive jobs and have not had the issue mentioned above where it cuts great one time and not the next. Just the other day I used it to cut out thirty shaped cards and I only had to restick the mat once. I use a repositionable glue stick on all my mats (I use 4 other machines).
There is definitely a learning curve with this machine. You have to make sure the blade depth is correct, as well as how the holder is positioned in the machine. Once you get the hang of it, you get the feel for the right depth and pressure for the material you are using. Because you don't just stick the blade in one way, you have the freedom to cut other mediums such as chip board, balsa, material, and craft foam.
Paired with MTC software, the Zing is a fantastic option for anyone who wants a sturdy machine that will cut a variety of materials.
I ordered the Zing when they first came on the Market in Australia. I've never used an electric cutter before so I have no comparison. It's been and still is a learning curve. I think it takes a lot of practice to get the most out of this machine. I discovered I lived only 20 mins from the distributor (Skat Katz) and lucky for me Fred the owner allowed me to pick it up and gave me a demo in store. Had I not had that I would have been lost. I still have lots of questions regarding make the cut / lettering delights. On the whole I'm happy with what I have, I think however if I had bought the cameo I'd have a lot more reference points for using it as it seems every blogger out there has one. The Make the cut forum has a wealth of info that I am slowly working through. Verdict - I love it but I'm currently not using it to it's full potential.
ReplyDeleteI have had several cutters and started with Make the Cut for use on the Cricut. My next machine was the Ecraft. I was so excited to get a machine that would not need a mat for making cards, boxes and envelopes. I was very frustrated at this machine and ended up selling it on ebay for half of what I paid for it. Then I got the Silhouette SD . . . loved this little work horse. My only complaint was the paper size limitations. So, when MTC came out with the Zing I was on board and in the first batch of shipments. What a learning curve! It only comes out when I have something heavy to cut and then back it goes in the storage closet. I wish that MTC would show a picture of the project and how it is loaded in the machine like it does for Silhouette SD & Cameo. So, a couple months ago (cyber Monday to be exact) I ordered the Silhouette Cameo. This is an amazing machine and can do the most delicate cuts imaginable. I love vinyl and use this medium for my sandblasting and card overlay projects. Anyway, Cameo is my favorite and Zing is my least favorite.
ReplyDeleteWow. These mixed reviews are daunting. I waited for almost three years before buying my Cameo. I opened it on Christmas 2012. For the first 5 weeks, it worked beautifully, after that, it was an experiment in terror. It simply could not handle anything with a corner, be it obtuse or acute. It went from cutting the most delicate pattern, on any paper, to tearing and ripping galore. After two agonizing weeks and multiple blade replacements, Silhouette, at my expense, had me mail it back to them for replacement. It took two weeks after they received it to mail the replacement. I was so excited! Lo and behold, it cut as poorly as the one I sent back. I'm not sure if I got a poorly refurbished machine or they stuck a new serial number sticker on the back of my old one and mailed it back to me, but it was horrible. I was thinking I was going to be saddled with a $279 paperweight just six weeks after receiving it when I decided to give Amazon a call. They were so nice! They sent me a prepaid shipping label and are refunding the entire price of the machine. I wanted so badly to love the Cameo. At first, I did. I was so stinking pleased with it. What went wrong? I haven't a clue. All I know is it could hardly cut semi-intricate cuts that had been blown up to fit a 12x12 page. I changed to new blades 4 times! On the plus side, the auto-load/unload and ease of use of the studio designer software was wonderful. Too bad the two Cameo's I got were problematic. I'll never buy another and cannot suggest them to anyone else. I'm looking at the Zing, but see others have issues with those too. So now I"m up in the air again. I do notice in videos however that the zing cuts quickly, the cameo, while cutting at a fair pace, seems much slower than the Zing.
ReplyDeleteThe intricate details the Zing can cut are amazing. I especially like the fact that I can use small scraps of vinyl with it, so if I cut something big, the parts I trim off are not wasted.
ReplyDeleteI've been using Make the Cut software which shipped with the machine, and there is a great abundance of online help and guidance available, as well as an excellent online user manual that is updated as needed to cover updates to the program that are made from time to time.
I have only cut vinyl with mine so far, and it really exceeds what I thought it would be able to do. I've had a few operator error problems with having the blade stick out too far, and other little things, but I have never had any problem with the machine itself.
I also cut a piece of "vac u form" plastic with it, and I had to use a few passes, but I was able to cut a nice leaf out of that plastic. The plastic is made for a Mattel Vac u Form toy that was sold years ago, but original and after-market plastic sheets (about 3 inches by 3 and a half) are readily available online in many colors, including clear, and gold and silver metallic.
I cut that for an experiment just to see what it would do, and I was happy with the way it turned out. With the number of passes I used it did not completely cut through the plastic sheet, but I was able to "break" it out along all of the scored cut lines pretty easily to remove the shape as it was intended to be. I also securely taped the piece of plastic to the matte before cutting, which I would say is necessary to cut something like that. I don't know the thickness of the plastic.
Vac u Form plastic was orignally available in two thicknesses. I used a piece of transparent green plastic to cut the leaf and it looked like it had some kind of potential to be used by a person with any artistic talent, of which I have none, so I didn't go further with it.
Got the Zing last spring and "Learning curve" for the MTC is not the appropriate term for this software. I find it very unfriendly and hard to learn. The print and cut is absolutely impossible to callibrate, I have spend over 4 hours trying to callibrate and it is still off, so I don't use it. At times when I turn on the machine it is so noisy, it is scarry, I have to turn it off and turn it back on after a couple of minutes. Most of the time part of a design will be torn off while another part of the same design will well cut, what a waste of paper. If you try to cut a design on a cheap piece of paper to see how it will cut out, that does not mean it will cut out the same way on an expensive piece of cardstock and I can't afford to waste expensive cardstock for "trial and error". The mats get ruined very fast and they do not stick for long. I am always having problems with the levers that are so hard to move I keep having to fiddle with them and a screwdriver. I know there is a video on how to undo the levers and kind of sand them down to make them easier to push up and down, but if this machine were built better we would not have to do this. And don't get me going on embossing on cardstock, it just does not emboss on cardstock. All in all I would not recommend this machine to anyone for the price it costs, and Make the Cut is very very hard to learn if you want to do anything out of the ordinary cuts. So here is my review for this machine for all it's worth, but maybe it will make someone reading it think twice about spending such a big amount of money for something that is just not enjoyable to use.
ReplyDeleteIf you are a Mac user and want a great cutter that has compatible software, and can cut almost anything the big dogs can, I think the Zing is definitely the way to go.
ReplyDeleteI researched which cutter to get for over 6 months. I have all Macs and do not run Parallels on any of them so the machine (or the software it runs with) had to be Mac compatible…and it is! I wanted a cutter that was able to work with Mac so I didn't have to have cartridges plus cut through lots of material. I liked the idea of being able to design something in MTC.
After much thought, I purchased my Zing a few weeks ago. I have had great success right out of the shoot. I read a lot about a learning curve with MTC and the settings for the Zing but I haven't had too much trouble at all.
A: I watched as many videos as I could about MTC and Zing that were relevant to beginners and then watched them again once I had my Zing in hand and could go step by step. I just did a search on Google and let it take me wherever. The MTC interactive Manual has been a great resource.
B: I use Photoshop daily for photography and it had a somewhat similar set-up/interface so MTC didn't seem so foreign. I do wish there were more similar keyboard shortcuts, however, for MTC.
It has MORE than beat my expectations this week! I don't have a lot of spare time but I ALWAYS make homemade gifts for the loved ones and friends that we give to. I can't believe that I've learned how to design AND cut a rhinestone template, make a rhinestone transfer, cut and apply vinyl decals, draw on paper, print and cut and image, create and cut a stencil, make an iron on transfer for a bag and cut chipboard shapes for cards…..in one week! Christmas is 10 days away and in just under an hour this evening I designed a vinyl cut in MTC, cut it, weeded it and applied it to several water bottles for all my friends. It was a hoot!
I didn't expect to be too successful with it right before Christmas. I thought I would learn more after the holidays and things slowed down for us but it truly wasn't as hard as I expected. It may have been the fact that I poured over all those videos in my spare time and the manual for MTC. Or it could have been a combination of that and the familiar interface being like photoshop. At any rate, I highly encourage you to take the plunge if you are on the fence about the Zing.
Happy Cutting!!!!
help , i moved my rollers beyond the smallest size and now it wont move, and i cant get it back to its side.. what can i do
ReplyDeleteI need a cutting machine, about to bin the eCraft, it never did work properly and wouldn't cut svg files without tearing. My Robo I sold, it was lovely but didn't cut thick enough material, only the thinnest card and paper so it was frustrating. That is why I bought the eCraft. The Silhoutte Cameo is I think a later Robo. So I am looking at the Zing or the Scan n Cut, and like someone else on here I find the reviews so confusing. It seems that half the people find it wonderful and half hate it and say it is terrible - so I don't know if I should buy it or not. I read the Scan n Cut doesn't really cut thick materials either. I'm in the UK and retired now so it is a major purchase for me.
ReplyDeleteim very interested in buying the KnK zing air i recently have the silhouette cameo 2 and although i love it i need something that cuts thicker material, i am wondering if i can use the files i design in the silhouette studio in the MTC studio? should i buy this machine i dont want it to be a waste of money! TIA
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