Questions before I buy -Klick-N-Kut 13"

[elegance]

Hello, I am so glad I found this forum! I hadn't heard of some of these die cutters until I found the comparison chart.

I am an invitation designer and also do some custom pieces for wedding receptions & ceremonies. I currently design everything in Adobe Illustrator. A few questions....

1) From what I've read, you can't cut directly from Illustrator, but you can import your vector artwork into the KNK program, correct? Does this work easily?

2) I see a lot of mentions about the 13" Element. All I see is the 13" Groove in the comparison chart and store. Is the Groove the new version? Any issues people have come across?

So, I'm thinking the 13" Groove might be the one. I am interested in cutting cardstock and possibly vinyl too.

Thanks!
Christine
Elegance on Paper
www.eleganceonpaper.com (http://www.eleganceonpaper.com)

[Paperthreads]

The Groove is one of the new model machines, and just started shipping a week before Christmas!

You can take your illustrator file and open it in KNK Studio!!

[Shirley803]

Welcome Christine! Glad you found us!

Yes, you can import your AI file into KNK. It takes a few steps, but is fairly easy! Most of the designers here use AI and all either have KNK cutters or have one headed to their house!

The Element which is an 9 inch cutter, is not longer available unless you buy it second hand. The 13 inch Groove is the smallest cutter KNK offers now. It will easily cut the cardstock and vinyl!

I have the 15 inch Maxx and love it. It is a top notch machine. The Groove is not much different! You'll love it!A-Ok

[elegance]

Another question...do you have to manually load each piece of paper? I'm thinking that could get tedious if I am die cutting 100 invitations. Is there a tray and can it self feed?

[slsonly]

Unfortunately, there is no self feeding tray. You need to apply the paper to your mat so it can't self feed. I'm not sure what your options are for this! I hope someone else has more input.

[Paperthreads]

You would manually load each piece. The machines require that you use a lightly adhesive sticky mat, that keeps the cut pieces in place, preventing them from catching on the blade, and jamming up, as well as keeping them from falling off all over the place. Because of that, each sheet is manually loaded.

I use my machines in production, and we cut WELL over 6000 pieces a week. It's not tedious at all, when we consider the ability to completely customize our orders.

[scramper75]

I would go for the 13" groove, not that I am biased at all. I LOVE mine.

[mpluess]

I only have a Silhouette but if I were getting a new cutter right now it would be one of the Maxx's.

I answer in this thread because you mention about cutting multiple items at once. This is real easy with the maxx because you can use a mat that is unlimited in length. Mats can be taped together to make longer ones. This way you can make multiple items at once.

Plus the pressure is amazing and you will be able to cut thicker items for your business. Just think of the new possibilities!

Light foam gazebos on the tables!

Michelle

[Shirley803]

And even though you have to "load each piece," you can cut multiple pieces out of that one sheet or cardstock. For instance, you load red cardstock. You can cut all the red pieces that will fit on that one piece of cardstock. Hope that makes sense to you!

[sabarrett]

An interesting thought - if you get the wide 24" ones, use a wide mat, you would be able to run more through at once on one mat - like stick 2 12" pieces of paper down (or 4 if you can get a 24x24 mat, 6 for 24x36). The cutter would run for quite a while and allow you to do other thing. Myself, I know how things go for me, and items would jam up or miscut in the first minute and I would be stuck with a wad of paper (I too only have a Silhouette). However, larger machines may have better cutting success and this would not be an issue. Sure it is more money, but may improve your effectiveness and time use. You could cut more while doing other things.

[jadkinsmd]

LOL! That's one of the reasons I really like my 24 inch machine. I load up all the colors for paper piecings on a large mat and then just reset the origin and send it to cut.

[scramper75]

That is just brilliant. I never thought about that. Boy do I wish I would have saved my pennies now...lol (j/k I love my Groove)

[games]

I know if I'm cutting various little things, different colors, I put different pieces of paper on the mat, cut, then move to next one and so on. Just like Jen said but this is with my element.:)

[scramper75]

I should do that with Mr groove. I have done it with my ellie.