Best Machine for Making Boxes--Cutting AND Scoring

[Kryana]

Hi!

I'm new here and am anxious to buy my first cutting machine! Like everyone else I'm not sure which machine to buy. I'll be using it to make boxes...which means I'll need a machine that cuts AND scores accurately.

I've been reading reviews, looking at comparison charts and watching videos on-line and I've narrowed it down to either the Klik n Kut 13" or the Craft Robo Pro. I'm leaning more towards the KNK because of price but I'm not sure if it's the best machine for cutting and scoring boxes. I'm a graphic designer so I'm used to working in Illustrator. I understand you can import AI files into the KNK so that's not a concern for me.

If anyone can give me some advice on which is the best machine for my purposes I would really appreciate it!

Also as an aside, can both these machines punch holes in specific places? I'll be putting 1/8" eyelets in the holes so I need them to be in certain spots.

Thank you! I'm so excited to be getting close to my purchase :)

Vin

[jadkinsmd]

Welcome!

I have the 24 inch KNK MAXX, I got the large one "just in case" I wnated to cut larger boxes and pop-ups. If you've been hand cutting before, I think the most important thing is to figure out what the maximum width you may need to cut your templates, then go for that size machine.

I have made quite a few "nugget" boxes even from smaller pieces of stock, and many pop-up cards and have always been happy with how my KNK lines up the scores and the cuts.

Now, you know what? I never have tried my eyelet punch tool in my KNK. I don't know how much force it would require to go through. You could cut a 1/8 inch circle fairly easy (again depending on material). If that didn't work, you could always use the "punch" kind of cut to mark your place to hand punch the eyelet hole.

[Kryana]

Thanks Jen! That's the reassurance I was looking for to make my final decision.

One more question: Is the KNK good for cutting large numbers of the same die cut? Say if I had to make 100 boxes of the same box, is it simply a matter of loading the paper and pressing "cut" or "score" each time?

Thank you,
Vin

[slsonly]

The KNK makes it very easy to do multiple boxes. There is a setting that will automatically score (called pounce in KNK) your fold lines first then it will start cutting. So it is a matter of loading your paper for each box and hitting cut. I think you will be very pleased with a KNK. I think most of the PT designers have KNKs.

[games]

Welcome! If you want to see one in action, look for someone near you. You could send a sample of your material to be test cut also.

I have a Groove and love it! Had an element but wanted to cut bigger, so do like Jen said go for the biggest size you want to cut.

[Kryana]

Thanks for the tip Ginger.

Shelly, thanks for letting me know about the Pounce feature. That's exactly what I was looking for. After getting all my answers I think the KNK is the right one for me...I can't wait to get it!! Up until now I've been hand cutting and scoring and visions of a life of carpel tunnel flashed before me :)

[janbryson]

Just wanted to make sure you know that none of the machines do a true "score" line that I know of. I have the KNK MAXX 15" and I use the pounce on all my boxes. The pounce line is a dashed or perforated line. You can control the size of the dash and the space just like you do on a stroke in Illustrator. I don't think you have that much (if any) control over the dash style on the CR Pro.

Hope that helps!

Jan

[games]

Even with the score blade? :confused:

[Paperthreads]

Even with an emboss tool, it just doesn't give a good enough of a scor line, more like a light marking.

I too use the dashes...however, sometimes, on my projects, I won't use either, and will use my scor board instead, as I like the nice fold line that produces. (When cutting en-mass though, I go for the dash lines!)

[games]

Thanks Michelle! I know I use my little score board.

[Kryana]

Will the KNK cut exactly where the dashes are on your screen? Just worried about the cut dashes ending up on the edges of the box and giving the folds "rips" on the edges.

[Shirley803]

I don't make my dashes go from point to point for that very reason. I usually end the dashed line about .5 inches from the end. It still folds easily and I don't get any tears! See the attached jpg of a card back.

[Narijonn]

Hi Shirley - I see that you are an administrator. If I send the file over, is there someone that can score and pounce a sample for me? My primary use of the machine is for scoring and I need to see how the Zing and the Maxx can score 80 - 100 lb. card stock. I need to see how well the line will fold using:

Partial-Cut
Pounce
Score

One of the three or a combination of them should work for my purposes. Thanks.

[Shirley803]

It would probably be best to get Michelle to handle this task for you. I haven't tried scoring with my KNK. I always use my score board and like the results. So I haven't had the need to try to do it on my machine. Contact Michelle at support@paperthreads.com

[rugersmum]

I dont have a knk mainly coz you cant get them in the uk (boo hoo) but i have used a crobo - pazzles and cameo (just bought it so not pushed it to its limits yet) an whilst I dont pounce or score anything using the cutter if I can help it but like others have said I use my scoreboard sadly even for long runs of same item (but maybe I m a bit anal as I hand stitch booklets for say "order of service" rather than use staples even if the client says staples are ok - go figure LOL!!!!

If I do use the pounce - dashed cut then I ususaly set my pressure lower and dont have the blade as deep - reason ------if you use a deep cut the finish on the fold is not to my personal liking --- subjective

[Narijonn]

It would probably be best to get Michelle to handle this task for you. I haven't tried scoring with my KNK. I always use my score board and like the results. So I haven't had the need to try to do it on my machine. Contact Michelle at support@paperthreads.com

Thank you, Shirley. I will send Michelle an email.