I’ll
start by saying that this is my second Silhouette Cameo machine. I’ve
had the original Silhouette Cameo 1 since early 2012, which was just
after it was released. I have the Silhouette Curio and Mint machines as
well. I also have the Cricut Explore Air and Brother Scan N Cut. I’ve
owned several other Cricut machines in the past. I share all this to
say, I’m not new to die cutting machines and software. Of them all, I’ve
found the Silhouette Studio software to be the most user friendly, by
far.
I unboxed this machine the minute it arrived and quickly got to work following the instructions at the website listed on the decal that was stuck to the machine. Make sure you register your machine by entering the serial number.
Once you’ve registered your machine, you get a $25 download credit via email to be used in the Silhouette Design store. This credit expires one month from the date you enter it, so make sure you use it all up. If you don’t use it, you lose it. Those designs are yours to keep. The firmware actually took the full 15 minutes to download. I had issues getting the software update to download from there, so I went to the Silhouette website and just downloaded the latest Silhouette software update . The Bluetooth wasn't released when I initially wrote this review, but a week after that, I was able to use the Blue Tooth. It was a little tricky to pair it, but you go into the settings on your cameo by touching the arrow on the language screen and then turning the Bluetooth on, and then you go to the settings in your laptop to pair it to the Cameo.
I played with this thing until late last night and then 12 hours today just so that I could test everything out and write an accurate review. As far as the function of the machine, it worked flawlessly for me once I figured out the new features with it. I am uploading a video along with this review to show how I used those new features, if you want to check it out. I was really skeptical about the automatic blade.
I’ve never had good luck with the preset cut suggestions working on my selected materials in the past, so I expected this to be the same, but I was pleasantly surprised when it worked so perfectly. I tested it on card stock, heat transfer vinyl, and outdoor vinyl with and without a mat. I didn’t have to change a thing. I just fed my selected media into the machine, and it worked flawlessly. As you can see in my video, I tested the dual carriage feature using the automatic blade in the red tool 1 slot and a silhouette sketch pen in the blue tool 2 slot.
It is important to note that the automatic blade will ONLY work in the red tool 1 slot. The new dual carriages (blade holders) lock and unlock by pushing in and pulling out on the mechanism. I much prefer this to twisting like the previous models, because I know people that twisted just a little too hard on them and broke the blade holder.
You can use the ratchet blade and sketch pens in either side. The automatic blade adjusts just after you send your project to the silhouette machine to cut, unless you were using that same media on the previous project, like me in my video. In that case, it doesn't have to auto adjust because it is already adjusted to that setting. When it does auto adjust, it moves all the way to the left side and taps several times until it gets to the proper setting for the material you selected, then it begins cutting just like the previous models. This machine may be a little quieter than the previous models, but the noise has never bothered me, so I’m not 100% sure it is quieter.
Vinyl is the only material that can be cut without a mat, as far as I know. When you cut without the mat, you have to unlock the release lever on the right side, then hold the roller head with your fingers in one hand and then the roller body with the fingers on your other hand and twist them in opposite directions to get it to switch it to the unlocked position. You then slide the entire roller over to the left until it slips into the next grooves, and then twist to lock back into position and flip the release lever back up. When you want to use your mat again, just reverse the instructions. These instructions and illustrations are on the inside of the lid, but I’m mentioning because I found it very difficult to twist mine the first few times. It got better the more times I used it. I think it loosened up after a few uses, so don’t get discouraged.
I checked to see if the my Silhouette America Roll Feeder from the previous model would work with this machine and I’m happy to say it did work great. Unfortunately, the Silhouette CAMEO Tweed Rolling Tote for Scrapbooking and the Silhouette Cameo Dust Cover, Teal from the previous Cameo 1 and 2 models won’t work because this machine is larger. I really tried to stuff the new Cameo 3 in the bag, but I just couldn't get it to go through the zippered opening without ripping the bag. All of the mats, pens, and blades from the previous Cameo models can be used with this machine. You can even use your CB09 blade as well. You just have to manually adjust it, just as you did with the previous models. You just won’t select the automatic blade when using something you have to manually adjust. You will choose the ratcheting blade just as you did before.
My overall impression of the new Cameo 3 is that it is amazing! The automatic blade takes all of the guess work out of cutting the pre-set materials listed in the software. I think the Bluetooth is amazing as well. I lose things right under my nose all the time, especially when they are small, so the extra storage is a much needed addition. I keep my pick and cutter in the drawers located on the front underside of the machine in between projects and I store my extra blades in the 2 blade storage slots located to the left of the dual blade carriage. When I’m done for the day, I just close the drawer. The new mat/media guides are extremely helpful for keeping your mat or media straight as it is fed into the machine. I like that they fold away when not in use, as I don't use them often. I'm use to lining my media up on the line with 2 arrows located on the left front side of the machine.
I feel that this machine was definitely worth the wait and they really improved it over the previous models. The only feature they didn't add that I would have loved to have was a wider cut area. Maybe that will come with the Cameo 4, but I'm completely content with this for now.
thanks for come to my blog
*Update: since originally posting this review, I tested a 12x24 cricut brand mat with the Cameo 3 because it's the only brand I had in that size and I needed to use it. It worked perfectly with the auto blade. Note: someone mentioned to me that using a cricut mat voids the warranty on the cameo, so just do whatever you're ok with doing. I still prefer the cameo mats, but when in a pinch, it might help you as well.
*Update #2: After reading another review about the mat being too sticky, I figured I should come back and offer a little advice that has always helped me when I get a new mat. When you first open the mat, it is very sticky. I always put the mat on my t-shirt a couple of times to reduce the sticky a little. It always helps me, but with paper or card stock, you still need to curl the mat off of the paper rather than curling the paper off of the mat. It gives you much less curl in your paper because the mat has more give than the paper. I hope this helps.
I unboxed this machine the minute it arrived and quickly got to work following the instructions at the website listed on the decal that was stuck to the machine. Make sure you register your machine by entering the serial number.
Once you’ve registered your machine, you get a $25 download credit via email to be used in the Silhouette Design store. This credit expires one month from the date you enter it, so make sure you use it all up. If you don’t use it, you lose it. Those designs are yours to keep. The firmware actually took the full 15 minutes to download. I had issues getting the software update to download from there, so I went to the Silhouette website and just downloaded the latest Silhouette software update . The Bluetooth wasn't released when I initially wrote this review, but a week after that, I was able to use the Blue Tooth. It was a little tricky to pair it, but you go into the settings on your cameo by touching the arrow on the language screen and then turning the Bluetooth on, and then you go to the settings in your laptop to pair it to the Cameo.
I played with this thing until late last night and then 12 hours today just so that I could test everything out and write an accurate review. As far as the function of the machine, it worked flawlessly for me once I figured out the new features with it. I am uploading a video along with this review to show how I used those new features, if you want to check it out. I was really skeptical about the automatic blade.
I’ve never had good luck with the preset cut suggestions working on my selected materials in the past, so I expected this to be the same, but I was pleasantly surprised when it worked so perfectly. I tested it on card stock, heat transfer vinyl, and outdoor vinyl with and without a mat. I didn’t have to change a thing. I just fed my selected media into the machine, and it worked flawlessly. As you can see in my video, I tested the dual carriage feature using the automatic blade in the red tool 1 slot and a silhouette sketch pen in the blue tool 2 slot.
It is important to note that the automatic blade will ONLY work in the red tool 1 slot. The new dual carriages (blade holders) lock and unlock by pushing in and pulling out on the mechanism. I much prefer this to twisting like the previous models, because I know people that twisted just a little too hard on them and broke the blade holder.
You can use the ratchet blade and sketch pens in either side. The automatic blade adjusts just after you send your project to the silhouette machine to cut, unless you were using that same media on the previous project, like me in my video. In that case, it doesn't have to auto adjust because it is already adjusted to that setting. When it does auto adjust, it moves all the way to the left side and taps several times until it gets to the proper setting for the material you selected, then it begins cutting just like the previous models. This machine may be a little quieter than the previous models, but the noise has never bothered me, so I’m not 100% sure it is quieter.
Vinyl is the only material that can be cut without a mat, as far as I know. When you cut without the mat, you have to unlock the release lever on the right side, then hold the roller head with your fingers in one hand and then the roller body with the fingers on your other hand and twist them in opposite directions to get it to switch it to the unlocked position. You then slide the entire roller over to the left until it slips into the next grooves, and then twist to lock back into position and flip the release lever back up. When you want to use your mat again, just reverse the instructions. These instructions and illustrations are on the inside of the lid, but I’m mentioning because I found it very difficult to twist mine the first few times. It got better the more times I used it. I think it loosened up after a few uses, so don’t get discouraged.
I checked to see if the my Silhouette America Roll Feeder from the previous model would work with this machine and I’m happy to say it did work great. Unfortunately, the Silhouette CAMEO Tweed Rolling Tote for Scrapbooking and the Silhouette Cameo Dust Cover, Teal from the previous Cameo 1 and 2 models won’t work because this machine is larger. I really tried to stuff the new Cameo 3 in the bag, but I just couldn't get it to go through the zippered opening without ripping the bag. All of the mats, pens, and blades from the previous Cameo models can be used with this machine. You can even use your CB09 blade as well. You just have to manually adjust it, just as you did with the previous models. You just won’t select the automatic blade when using something you have to manually adjust. You will choose the ratcheting blade just as you did before.
My overall impression of the new Cameo 3 is that it is amazing! The automatic blade takes all of the guess work out of cutting the pre-set materials listed in the software. I think the Bluetooth is amazing as well. I lose things right under my nose all the time, especially when they are small, so the extra storage is a much needed addition. I keep my pick and cutter in the drawers located on the front underside of the machine in between projects and I store my extra blades in the 2 blade storage slots located to the left of the dual blade carriage. When I’m done for the day, I just close the drawer. The new mat/media guides are extremely helpful for keeping your mat or media straight as it is fed into the machine. I like that they fold away when not in use, as I don't use them often. I'm use to lining my media up on the line with 2 arrows located on the left front side of the machine.
I feel that this machine was definitely worth the wait and they really improved it over the previous models. The only feature they didn't add that I would have loved to have was a wider cut area. Maybe that will come with the Cameo 4, but I'm completely content with this for now.
thanks for come to my blog
*Update: since originally posting this review, I tested a 12x24 cricut brand mat with the Cameo 3 because it's the only brand I had in that size and I needed to use it. It worked perfectly with the auto blade. Note: someone mentioned to me that using a cricut mat voids the warranty on the cameo, so just do whatever you're ok with doing. I still prefer the cameo mats, but when in a pinch, it might help you as well.
*Update #2: After reading another review about the mat being too sticky, I figured I should come back and offer a little advice that has always helped me when I get a new mat. When you first open the mat, it is very sticky. I always put the mat on my t-shirt a couple of times to reduce the sticky a little. It always helps me, but with paper or card stock, you still need to curl the mat off of the paper rather than curling the paper off of the mat. It gives you much less curl in your paper because the mat has more give than the paper. I hope this helps.
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