Silhouette CNC 101INTRODUCTION TO SILHOUETTE CAMEO

Silhouette 101

Overview

•Nova Labs

• Intro and Capabilities

•Anatomy

•Blades

•Media

•Safety

•Operation

•Hands-on

Silhouette 101

About Nova Labs

What is Nova Labs?

• A non-profit Makerspace

What is a Makerspace? (per Wikipedia)

• A Makerspace is a physical location supporting a collaborative environment and community.

• A maker's facility usually provides access to community tools and people with a wealth of knowledge

• Given access to these resources, community members are able to learn and complete projects which would otherwise be out of their capability

Silhouette 101

About Nova Labs (cont.)

How is the space funded?

• Through classes like this, membership dues and donations

How do I become a member?

• Take Green Orientation (aka GO available under NOVA Makers on Meetup.com)

• Find a subject that interests you

• First Step - Find a Sponsor!

Silhouette 101

So, what is it?

The Silhouette is a CNC (computer numerical control) cutting and drawing tool. Like a printer but instead of laying ink, it uses a small blade or pen to cut and draw. The Silhouette may be used to produce crafts that can give, depending on your need:

• a handmade feel• a clean professional look

Silhouette 101

Capabilities

What can the Silhouette do?

• Cuts

• Drawing

• Rhinestones

• Appliqués

• Paper Crafts

• Glass Etching

Silhouette 101

Made at Nova Labs!

Silhouette 101

Parts• Base• Mats➢ Standard➢ PixScanTM

Blades• Standard• Fabric• Deep

Tools• Scraper• Spatula• Pick• Burnisher

Anatomy

Silhouette 101

Blades✱

Type and Usage• Standard (Black)

Most jobs (adjust blade to proper depth)• Fabric (Blue)

Cutting fabrics • Deep (Silver) - NEVER use the Deep Cutting blade on the

CAMEO®!

✱ It is important to use

the correct blade for the job.

Silhouette 101

Vocabulary

Weeding: ━ Removing unwanted material after the cut has been made

Burnishing:━ Rubbing the surface of the media with a blunt, smooth tool

(such as the Burnisher) to solidly adhere media to mat or transfer paper

Media:━ Material that is cut or drawn on

Silhouette 101

Media

Types• Acceptable media types for use in the CAMEO® include:

➢ Vinyl➢ Cardstock➢ Paper➢ Some fabrics

Brands to use• Any brand of media may be used in the CAMEO®• If you are concerned with finding the right cut depth, Silhouette

brand media has pre-set selections

Silhouette 101

Safety

Blades• While relatively safe, the blades do protrude from their cartridge• Do not put anything under the blade that you do not intend to

cut• Do not overextend the blade - use test cuts before extending the

blade’s length!Don’t Feed the Machine

• Remember: the CAMEO® does have moving parts• Keep loose items (ties, lanyards, hair, etc.) away from the

machineProblem with the Mat? DO NOT PULL IT!

• The CAMEO® is not like a printer - forcibly removing the mat may damage the machine!

• Follow correct protocols to remove mat if you have a problem

Silhouette 101

Operation – Pitfalls

Blocked mat: ━ Ensure there is enough room behind the CAMEO® to

accommodate the entire cutting mat

Media too thick:━ Use the guidelines for proper media choice (maximum 0.8mm

thickness)

Will not cut/cuts poorly:━ Blades will need to be replaced every six months

Skewed mat: ━ Fed in at an angle

Silhouette 101

Operation – Before You Start

Fill Out the Log!• You can find the log on top of the Silhouette machines• Logging usage of the Silhouette machines is CRITICAL!

➢ Nova Labs can replace consumables (blades, mats, etc.) when appropriate based on usage

➢ The log is also used to report problems (in addition to standard Nova Labs procedures)

➢ Log the date, time used, machine used, your name, and any issues

Silhouette 101

Operation – Techniques

Adjusting Blade Depth• Place the blade into the adjustment socket so the arrow on the socket

lines up with the red line on the blade• Turn the blade to the desired number

Preparing Mat• Be sure that you select the correct mat from the

“Design - Page Setup” window in Silhouette Studio® before beginning your project

• Select the dimensions of your media from the same window• To prepare the mat for loading:

1. Remove non-stick protective liner on mat2. Position media to correspond with the display in Silhouette

Studio® 3. Use burnisher to firmly adhere media to the mat

Access the “Design - Page Setup” window by clicking these buttons:

Silhouette 101

Operation – Techniques

Loading Mat• When loading a cutting mat into the Silhouette:

1. Align the mat with the blue alignment mark at the left2. Press mat (do not force) against white rollers3. Select “Load Cut Mat” from the digital display on the Silhouette

Making a Test Cut• To check your blade depth and settings:

1. Load the cutting mat with desired media2. Select the Send button and click on the Test Cut

button at the bottom of the Silhouette Studio screen 3. Once the test cut is complete, press “Unload” on the digital display4. To retest, reload the mat and move the blade by pressing the

arrows icon in the lower right of the digital display5. Change the blade position with the arrows that appear6. Repeat steps 2-3

Silhouette 101

Operation – Techniques

Canceling Job and Unloading/Ejecting Mat• If there is a problem with your cutting job:

1. NEVER PULL OUT THE MAT!2. On the digital display of the Silhouette, press the “Pause” option3. Next, press the “Cancel Job” option4. Press “Yes” to confirm5. Once job has canceled, press “Unload” to unload mat

• If you only need to unload the mat, press the “Unload” option when your job is complete

• NEVER PULL OUT THE MAT TO UNLOAD IT! Always use the “Unload” option on the digital display

Adding Weed Lines• Only needed on larger projects• See http://tinyurl.com/hzuhem5 for instructions

Silhouette 101

Operation – Technique Weeding

Traditional Weeding:━ Pull excess media off of mat using various tools such

as tweezers, picks, or scrapers

Reverse Weeding:━ Uses transfer paper before weeding━ This technique often employed when small pieces must

remain━ Particularly useful when doing rhinestones

Silhouette 101

Software Versions and Differences

Silhouette Studio® Basic Edition (Free)• Supported files : .png, .jpeg, .bmp, .gif, .tiff, .dxf, .wmf

Silhouette Studio® Designer Edition ($50)• Adds rulers and Guides• Additional support for : .gsd/.gst, .svg, .pdf• Convert shapes to rhinestone or sketch patterns• Transfer properties between shapes• Adjustable pivot point for rotating shapes• Nesting Tool

Silhouette Studio® Designer Edition Plus ($75)• Adds embroidery file types (PES, DST, EXP, JEF, and XXX)• Unlocks Advanced Rhinestone features

Silhouette 101

Software Versions and Differences

Silhouette Studio® Business Edition ($100)• Multi-cutter support• Ai/EPS/CDR file type support• Automated Weed Line feature• Design View vs. Media Layout View• Media Layout Settings• Media Layout Nesting Preview• Tiling feature• Matrix Copy feature

To see a comparison chart of the different Silhouette Studio® editions, go to: https://www.silhouetteamerica.com/software/silhouette-studio-features-comparison-chart

Silhouette 101

References and Resources

Software and User Manuals• Silhouette Studio® software:

➢ https://www.silhouetteamerica.com/software#silhouette-studio

➢ Select most current version for your computer OS• Software User Manual -

www.silhcdn.com/m/d/software-guides/ss-en.pdf• Software shortcuts guide -

http://cdn.silhouetteamerica.com/m/d/silhouette-studio-shortcuts.pdf

• CAMEO® User Guide -

https://www.silhcdn.com/m/d/user-guides/cameo-en.pdf

Design Ideas• www.pinterest.com/explore/silhouette-cameo-free/ • www.silhouetteamerica.com/what-can-you-make

Silhouette 101

References and Resources

Premade Designs• www.silhouettedesignstore.com/ • www.bydawnnicole.com/category/silhouette-cameo-projects/free-sil

houette-cut-files

Media Sites and Stores• www.heattransfervinyl4u.com/siser_easyweed • Michaels• Jo-Ann Fabrics and Crafts

Tutorial Sites• www.silhouetteschoolblog.com/ • www.thepinningmama.com/silhouette-101-simple-step-by-

step-tutorials-to-make-learning-your-silhouette-cameo-easy/

• www.thepinningmama.com/13-must-know-tips-for-silhouette-beginners/

Silhouette 101

Project – Vinyl Nova Labs Logo

Steps to Producing:

1. Place Vinyl on Mat2. Align and insert Mat3. Make and check test cut4. Load file5. Start Cut6. Weed7. Use Transfer Paper then apply or Cover with wax paper8. Cleanup Machine Area