First time using a Cricut for labelling

[drdn0]

Cliffs: saw a guitar up for sale I was interested in. Asked the guy if he'd be interested in a trade, and he said the only thing he'd be interested in was an Aclam Mocker...so I built one.

I'm usually a stamped bare aluminium kinda guy, so figured for this one I'd try and finish an enclosure properly. Used a PedalPCB PCB including flush-mount I/O board too as they work really nicely.

I figured a Cricut would probably work alright for decals, and it absolutely did. No issues in applying the vinyl, and despite all the warnings the hammertone paint actually made for a WAY better surface than some of the other matte enclosures I did at the same time. After applying the vinyl I stuck it in a dehydrator at 45c for 15 minutes, then applied a bit more pressure to make sure the vinyl was fully adhered.

Quick squirt of clear coat over the top, and very happy with how it came out - but in all honesty, I should just figure out how Tayda UV printing works as I'm sure it would be much easier!


Pre-clear


After clear


Gut shot

[GGBB]

Looks fantastic! Forgive my ignorance - is the whole front a Cricut sticker (including transparent areas) or is it just the lettering? Is the gold colour the actual vinyl or is that some kind of ink/dye/paint on clear vinyl?

My sister-in-law does Cricut (non-pedal-related). I've never seen how it's done, but I've been thinking about asking her to do a pedal graphic for me.

[PRR]

I figured a Cricut

Letter to my father about making new gaskets for a 1915 racer engine. Gaskets is not the same as graphics but the machine is excellent and I'm sure it can draw too.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMNJGhZjaIw

"You once taught me to make a gasket by tapping with a ball-peen hammer. Gaskets for 70 year old engines are scarce. A Cricut is a 2D pattern-program cutter for crafters, cloth, felt, cardboard.... and while not sold for the task, it can cut gasket material. See video.

Start of cut:  https://youtu.be/VVuYlaSBrns?t=1023  (17:03)
Finish of cut: https://youtu.be/VVuYlaSBrns?t=1045  (17:22)

There's a LOT of tutorials, YouTube search "cricut gasket".

Here is a better picture of the Cricut working. The CPU figures the vectors so the blade runs in the path of the cut. Chainsaw gaskets.

The Incredible GASKET MAKER your WIFE already knows about!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hejUzvfGuY8
Showing pulling a pattern from a ragged scrap and tweaking it good.

The Cricut is $200-$400, but a lot of crafters have one and know how to program patterns. https://cricut.com/  "

[drdn0]

Looks fantastic! Forgive my ignorance - is the whole front a Cricut sticker (including transparent areas) or is it just the lettering? Is the gold colour the actual vinyl or is that some kind of ink/dye/paint on clear vinyl?

My sister-in-law does Cricut (non-pedal-related). I've never seen how it's done, but I've been thinking about asking her to do a pedal graphic for me.

Basically, you feed it vector images and it traces the outline. Once it's done, you pull the excess vinyl off (weeding) and you're left with the decal - but it's the right way up (adhesive down). You use another vinyl called transfer vinyl to lift the vinyl off, apply the whole thing to the enclosure, then slowly peel the transfer vinyl off to be left with a decorated enclosure.

I was broadly familiar with the process because my uncle was an insanely busy signwriter/pinstriper, and I spent a few weeks working with him when I was younger. Even at a scale of 20-30' across, it's effectively the same process - just on a way bigger scale!

[amptramp]

There are some fine-grain sandblasters and I always thought a cricut could make vinyl shields for a sandblasted etched finish.  Unlike chemical etching, you have a lot of control over depth that way.  Want to go deeper with an etch?  Just sandblast a little longer.  Want bas-relief finishes?  Just use it like an air brush to put in detail by blasting some areas more than others.  This is a typical fine grit sandblast air brush:

[amptramp]

BTW, if you think an air brush sandblaster is a bit of an expense just for doing enclosure finishes, you can use the same thing to generate circuit boards.  Maybe not fine line surface mount stuff, but almost any through-hole design can be done with it.

[rustypinto]

After clear

Lettering on hammertone is difficult, very nice job.

I tried it once with ceramic decals and laser printing, the result was so-so.

[ElectricDruid]

That looks really stunning. And the Pedal PCB boards inside make for a very professional-looking job inside as well. Nice work!

I hope you're pleased with the guitar, because I bet the guy is chuffed with the pedal!!

[Phend]

Laser cut gaskets of many shapes.
Vellumoid from 0.010 to 0.062 inch thick.
Nice, "rubber" yes, not nice, it stinks and makes a mess.
Mylar too.
Cuts very very fast.
Here are some for a Bulldozer, kinda like a Harley.

[PRR]

air brush sandblaster is a bit of an expense

In the 1950s, S.S.White invented a precision air abrasion system. I didn't know, but they made dental equipment and made it to remove decay before fillings. It was not stellar in that job but they promoted it into all sorts of other industries. The company was sold and bought and split and mostly does other stuff, but the AirAbrasive unit is still around.

Here they do a tricky cut in an eggshell. From 1963.
https://www.hteabrasiveblast.com/Item/Index/Airbrasive
Used ones appear on eBay, this one at $500.

S.S.White also invented the speedometer cable everybody used for a century. And spent years developing the design rules for these things.

[amptramp]

There used to be ads for AirAbrasive in Scientific American.  It seemed like a great idea.

[PRR]

ads for AirAbrasive in Scientific American

I think that is where I am getting them?
Here is the spectacular one: sliced lightbulb. Also hatches in an egg and a glass Christmas ornament.

   

[drdn0]

That looks really stunning. And the Pedal PCB boards inside make for a very professional-looking job inside as well. Nice work!

I hope you're pleased with the guitar, because I bet the guy is chuffed with the pedal!!

Still waiting for him to pick it up - the fact he's repeatedly offered me money additionally is always a good sign haha.

I do like making my own PCB's and have made heaps, but I LOVE building from well thought out kits. Aion kits and PedalPCB boards are just phenomenal, even though the cost including shipping to Aus is so bad.





It's also really hard to photo, but I did a gloss on matte Obsidius (Darkglass B3K) build as a gift for a friend who helps us out with special needs events. He's been a bass player for almost his whole life, and up until a few months ago had never used a pedal - just ran a Thunderbird straight into an Ampeg head + 2x 4x12's. Brought it over to him yesterday and goddamn it sounded incredible.

I don't think it's as 'professional', but it's definitely my favourite build.

[Shoeman]

Old thread but thought I'd chime in for anyone looking into these machines. I bought a Cricut Joy a few weeks ago on sale for $100 at Michaels. Normally $150.  It's the smallest of the line but for the scale we work on for pedals it's all you'd need.  I also am using it to make numbers, letters and round number backgrounds for 1/25 scale models I make of 60's era road race cars.  So far I'm real happy with the machine.  I'm still working out the best cut pressure settings for the real small stuff like control labels but I'll get there.  I also bought some vinyl made for making paint stencils too and made a sample but have yet to fire up the airbrush and give it a go.  It's mind blowing what you can do with a $100 machine compared to what it took 20 years ago to cut vinyl at home. 
For anybody contemplating one, I'd say go for it.

[PRR]

Cricut Joy a few weeks ago .... It's the smallest of the line

JOY = Width: 4.5 in
Xtra = Width: 8.5 in
(by like 4 feet)

[amptramp]

I picked up a cricut a few years ago at a garage sale for $20 but really had no project in mind for using it.  A friend of my late wife was interested in it as she does arts and crafts but could never afford one new, so I gave it to her.  Maybe I should have started using it as soon as I got it but it has gone to a good home and her friend has used it.

[drdn0]

Old thread but thought I'd chime in for anyone looking into these machines. I bought a Cricut Joy a few weeks ago on sale for $100 at Michaels. Normally $150.  It's the smallest of the line but for the scale we work on for pedals it's all you'd need.  I also am using it to make numbers, letters and round number backgrounds for 1/25 scale models I make of 60's era road race cars.  So far I'm real happy with the machine.  I'm still working out the best cut pressure settings for the real small stuff like control labels but I'll get there.  I also bought some vinyl made for making paint stencils too and made a sample but have yet to fire up the airbrush and give it a go.  It's mind blowing what you can do with a $100 machine compared to what it took 20 years ago to cut vinyl at home. 
For anybody contemplating one, I'd say go for it.

I've done a heap of vinyl since this post, and I found a couple of things help massively:
*use the officially official Cricut vinyl (it actually makes a big difference)
*use the super fine tip blades (aftermarket ones have been very hit and miss)
*use a heat gun to flatten the vinyl out before putting it into the machine
*multiple light passes work better than one heavy pass
*use a heatgun after cutting to soften it as it seems to help the adhesive on the backer remain stuck
*after the heatgun burnish everything with a soft straight edge on a flat, hard surface (such as a glass tile)
*use a scalpel to cut the material you're removing into multiple smaller pieces instead of one big piece

[Shoeman]

I've done a heap of vinyl since this post, and I found a couple of things help massively:
*use the officially official Cricut vinyl (it actually makes a big difference)
*use the super fine tip blades (aftermarket ones have been very hit and miss)
*use a heat gun to flatten the vinyl out before putting it into the machine
*multiple light passes work better than one heavy pass
*use a heatgun after cutting to soften it as it seems to help the adhesive on the backer remain stuck
*after the heatgun burnish everything with a soft straight edge on a flat, hard surface (such as a glass tile)
*use a scalpel to cut the material you're removing into multiple smaller pieces instead of one big piece

Have you used it for any PCB projects?

[drdn0]

I've done a heap of vinyl since this post, and I found a couple of things help massively:
*use the officially official Cricut vinyl (it actually makes a big difference)
*use the super fine tip blades (aftermarket ones have been very hit and miss)
*use a heat gun to flatten the vinyl out before putting it into the machine
*multiple light passes work better than one heavy pass
*use a heatgun after cutting to soften it as it seems to help the adhesive on the backer remain stuck
*after the heatgun burnish everything with a soft straight edge on a flat, hard surface (such as a glass tile)
*use a scalpel to cut the material you're removing into multiple smaller pieces instead of one big piece

Have you used it for any PCB projects?

Nope, I just CNC or get things manufactured - not an etching kinda guy.

[stallik]

Vinyl makes a pretty good etch mask for enclosures. I've got a 24" x 100ft roll of decent black vinyl but no cutter atm. Keep thinking of getting one...