Best Silhouette Machines
The Silhouette is an electronic cutting tool for personal use. It can cut dozens of different materials, including paper, fabric, adhesive vinyl, and heat transfer vinyl.
Some models are compatible with photos too. The software works on Mac or Windows computers and can connect to your machine wirelessly so you don’t have to be right next to it when you’re cutting designs.
The first thing to think about when looking for a Silhouette Machine is what you’ll be using it for. The Silhouette brand has a few different models, all with slightly different features.
This article will go over some of the best Silhouette machines.
Best Silhouette Machines Reviews
Silhouette Mint Custom Printer
The Silhouette Mint is a cutting plotter that has some awesome features. One of the best features about this machine is its size, it’s small enough to put on your desk and use without taking up too much room! Its ease of use makes it great for anyone starting out with Silhouettes; however, the firmness of the bed could make it difficult for people who are more experienced with Silhouettes.
The price of this machine makes it perfect for anyone on a budget; however, due to its lack of software you would have to buy the Silhouette Studio Designer Edition which is not included when you purchase this machine, so just bear that in mind when making your choice.
The cutting plotter can cut through a variety of different surfaces, including paper cardstock, vinyl, ribbon, and chipboard. It will not cut fabric or foam, however, so if you are looking to do this with your machine then the Silhouette Cameo is better suited for this type of job. The Mint also comes with a variety of software; this means you can pick and choose which one is best for your needs.
The Silhouette Mint has a small and sleek aesthetic, and the cutting plotter comes with a small foot pedal to make it easy to use, making it great for beginners who are not used to using machines like this before. The clamp on the side makes it easier for you to make sure your paper stays in place while the machine is cutting.
Pros
- Small and easy to use.
- Comes with a wide variety of software included.
- Comes with a clamp to hold materials in place.
Cons
- The clamp might be too flimsy for some people, making it difficult to secure your paper in place while cutting.
Silhouette Portrait 3 Electronic Cutting Tool
The Silhouette Portrait 3 is one of the best machines on the market for beginners, and it should be at the top of your list when you are looking for a cutting plotter. The machine has such a sleek design that makes it look like you could add it to any room in your house without clashing with the décor.
It’s easy to understand how to use this machine – there are two buttons that let you pick which design you want to cut out, as well as an attachable pen holder at the bottom which comes with 2 pens included! This means that this machine is ready to start using straight out of the box! For anyone who might forget or not know how to use a machine like this, there is a small LCD screen to help you get the hang of things before you even start cutting.
The Silhouette Portrait 3 can cut through different materials and has a variety of new and exciting features, which makes it perfect for any customer that is looking to try something new! One of the best new features on this machine is that it comes with an attachable storage box. This means no more losing pens or blades while working on your next project! It also has a rotary blade holder so if you ever need to replace your blades then this machine will make it easy for you; simply slide one in and off you go!
Pros
- Attachable storage box – no more lost pens or blades!
- Rotary blade holder is included.
- Cuts through different materials
Cons
- It’s easy to use but might not be perfect for beginners.
Silhouette America Curio Electronic
The Curio is a great machine for those who are wanting to really step up their craft projects. The Curio can cut through different surfaces as well as handle custom shapes, so if you need a machine which can do more than just cut out your silhouette sticker designs – this could be the one you’re looking for!
This machine has some awesome features too – it’s super quiet and the blades never need to be replaced; however they will wear down after 100,000 cuts (which should take you around five years!) That means that your blades only ever need changing once every five years*, which makes this cutting plotter perfect for anyone who wants to work on DIY crafts at home without any noise interruptions.
Pros
- The Curio is really quiet so you can work on your crafts without any noise problems.
- The blades never need to be replaced.
- Cuts through different surfaces.
Cons
- It’s slightly more expensive than other cutting machines.
Silhouette Cameo 4 with Bluetooth
The Cameo is the iconic silhouette cutting plotter and it has been around since Silhouette America was first founded. The machine comes with a USB cord, which means you can plug straight in and start using it (unlike other machines that might need to be hooked up through Bluetooth or wifi).
Another great feature that came with this cutting plotter is that it can cut through different surfaces – not just paper! It also works on harder materials like leather and balsa wood, as well as special materials like heat transfer vinyl (if you don’t know what this material is then scroll down for more information!) This means that the Cameo could be one of the best machines for beginners because it can be used on so many different projects without any problems.
One of the best things about this cutting plotter is that it’s so easy to use! There’s no messy wires or software limitations – you can just plug in and start using your machine straight away. The machine also has some great features such as a rolling blade holder, which allows you to replace your blades easily without any hassle.
Pros
- The USB cord makes it perfect for beginners who might not know much about cutting machines yet.
- It’s super quiet so you can work on your projects without noise distractions.
- Cuts through different materials – not just paper.
Cons
- The USB cord means you need to make sure the machine is plugged in at all times while using it.
Silhouette America, Inc Cutting Machine
The Silhouette America, Inc Cutting Machine Connect offers a new and innovative way of using your Silhouette cutting machine – it makes the whole process wireless! This might be great for those who don’t want to have any messy wires lying around or who simply forget where they put them! The best thing about this is that there’s no software to download onto your computer, which means you can use it straight away (after the initial set up of course).
The cutting plotter works with a Bluetooth pen and uses different materials like paper, transfer paper and cardstock. This machine also has an auto blade release function, which helps to make sure that you don’t need to know much about how to use your machine in order to get started.
Pros
- The lack of software means that there’s no need for any additional downloads or complicated cutting machines.
- It’s wireless so the machine is super easy to use.
- Comes with an auto blade release function for easy cutting.
Cons
- It might not be suitable for more experienced cutting plotter users. The initial setup could also cause problems and frustration for some people.
Conclusion
As you can see there are lots of great cutting machines out there and it might be hard to know which one would be best for your needs.
The most important things to bear in mind are the cutting materials and the size of the machine.
If you’re looking for a professional cutting machine then you might want to consider the Silhouette Cameo 4 with Bluetooth. Although if you’re just looking for something that’s easy to use and can be used on a variety of different materials, then the Silhouette America might be for you.