1st Cricut Hack

[canuckscottsmen]

if your steppers are compatable with the ramps board you may want to look at simple replacing the electronics with those from a RepRap ramps board

[Tater79bj]

so I have that same machine, and it wont even power on. Any ideas what part could be bad? im thinking the relay on the power button? if I can get it fixed I will show a vid cuz this seems to be a common problem. Thanks

[Katelove101]

I am cracking up!!!

[TheFocalPrice]

So Cool So Great!!!!!!!!!

[katmomsinger]

You're a genius!

[outletbroker]

so what?..u don't have a printer? what is the meaning of this?

[scheppach69]

and the point of this, is?

[psychicadvisor]

I Like this ideal ty

[DOMINIE4EVER]

that is sooo cool

[nadonnell]

I think I'd have to kill my hubby if he took my Cricut apart!

[Atinkerbell09]

This is pretty awesome! Any tips/suggestions on how I can hack to get more templates so I don't have to buy the expensive cartridges???? lol thanks for sharing this video!

[jamesj629]

Excellent idea! I've been wanting a decent method to print circuit board designs. I think you might end up with some troubles though: (1) Both images for double sided boards will need to be aligned very accurately, and (2) the cricut must move the board forward/back -- might be problematic?

You may not need to hack the IC board though. Write a program to output a custom font (a single letter) which is the positive circuit design, and send that to the cricut instead. Just an idea :p

[gmglickman]

@jamesj629 : there's software available (Sure Cuts A Lot is one, about $60) that will enable you to:

1. use any font installed on your computer -- no more overpriced cartidges!!

2. import .svg graphics

3. convert .jpg, .bmp etc to vector graphics for cutting.

This. will let you make masks out of vinyl for printed circuit board prototyping, but I doubt you'll be able to get less than about 20mil traces. Doubt you can do SMT pads. I just cut some vinyl from Eagle designs but haven't yet etched.

[Atinkerbell09]

@gmglickman Hello. I was looking into that sure cuts alot. I have just seen the videos online about it. Can you get any animal prints and card making things with it also? Thanks ;-)

[babyblueagle1]

@Atinkerbell09 YES, There are TONS and TONS of free diingbats. fonts. and .svg files online. NO MORE CARTRIDGES TO BUY!!!!!!! I love the Sure Cuts A Lot program. Just read the instructions BEFORE installing and connecting it to your cricut as the firmware must be updated from cricut first, then it is all free flying. Check out these two sites: svgcuts site for free shapes, fonts, etc. For software:go to the scrappingtable site it's only like $59.00! one time!

[duckeedoom]

@babyblueagle1 So, I'm researching this as well, but wanted to know if you knew offhand - does this work for the expression? I bought one to use for fabric cutting, and it'd be wicked if I could do this! Thanks!

[babyblueagle1]

@duckeedoom actually, you cant get sure cuts alot for cricut anymore. there was a lawsuit and sure cuts a lot settled with them. so, its not for sale anymore. ;( it works if you already had it, but otherwise that is it. sorry! it just happened in june i think. i know sure cuts a lot works on a silhouette and some other systems... but no more cricut usage. ;(

[babyblueagle1]

@gmglickman quit buying cartridges...There are TONS and TONS of free diingbats. fonts and .svg files online. NO MORE CARTRIDGES TO BUY!! I love the Sure Cuts A Lot program. Read the instructions BEFORE installing and connecting it to your cricut as the firmware must be updated from cricut first, then it is all free flying. Check out these sites: svgcuts site for free shapes, fonts, etc... and there are a lot of other sites too. For software:go to the scrappingtable site it's only like $59.00

[svrwthr]

This isn't a hack this is a disassembled machine to use with a marker. Big whoop.

[jofloresz]

so now you have a 250 dollar printer with one marker great

[fiveironjessi]

I can do that with the markers that came with it!

[shmell2086986]

why didnt you get mini markers or highliters!

[SeeJaysPlace]

you can buy markers for your cricut you don't need to do this no more

[papillionbella]

hack it bc you can! why use the cricut as intended if you're so inclined & love the challenge!

[altosoul]

So...I wonder if you could potentially use those short sharpies in place of the blade so that you wouldn't have to take it apart...hmmm....

[wewake1234]

How can you cut thin foam paper using this....

[Cristalyellen]

theres a program called SURE CUTS ALOT and it uses n e font on ur computer to cut with cricut. as for the markers.... cricut sells special size markers to replace the cutting blade. if u can do everything u just did to hack it i'm sure u can turn ur image to a font and replace the ink on the marker to permanent ink... lol

[tippmannxtremez]

What was Hacked other than the Cricut itself? Why did I waste my time looking for something never to be revealed by the title??  MAKE IT... OWN IT... No Thanks!

[nemesisdog2]

you guys are missing the point...

basically us geeks do this because its fun to see what we can make instead of just doing it the easy way

[peacelovefashion5112]

im sorry but if someone ever did this to my cricut i would kill them! for all that troble i could have just bought the markers for the cricut! i am very protective of my cricut mostly because it costs $400!!

[alizayoneluv]

@peacelovefashion5112 ...I think you paid way too much for your cricut.?

[tanderson0318]

Is all that banging in the background his wife trying to get into the garage to get her Cricut back? :o() I wonder what the purpose of this was, all he had to do was buy the Make the Cut software and he could have saved himself some trouble.

[kibrenner]

And in the background you hear his wife, "Honey... Where's my cricut???"

[SweetaliciousArt]

So if the marker was shorter....you wouldn't have to take anything apart...right?

[joeybus183]

oh my god.soooooooo where's the hack in this.lets see? the covers off the sides and the cartridge.not much to learn from.sorry.oh and bye the way they sell cricut color ink cartridges.

[AlyAldred]

True, but there is very little options in color choices or pen type and true to the Provo Craft way, they are expensive. This way you can choose practically any marker type or color.

[iluvdaizeys]

you know they sell markers for the cricut right?

[neuronscream]

Congrats on recreating the pen plotter - I thought we got rid of those back in the 80's!

[dydefox]

Pretty DUMB...why not use a small feltpen??

[rockriver9]

I don't know too much about the Cricut machine but I think you were ahead of your time with this one. Guys like you are so smart and can build a shopping mall with nothing but a toothpick, a pocket knife, and a little spit to hold it all together. lol love it!!

[lkalifa]

I wouldn't ever have the nerve to do that...i wouldn't be able to put it back together!! Still, it was very interesting. Thanks for sharing!!!!

[hotirisbabe]

OMG you are a brave man! Does your wife know that you hacked her cricut?? If not, U better start running now! LOL

[ambrosiaimports]

i think its great - i know everybody is saying that they sell the markers to do the same thing now - but did anybody consider the cost of the cricut marker and how long it lasts and with that is shown here it looks like u can use any other similar marker that's not as expensive! keep up the work ,hacking it to work with pc i need it to work with my graphic stored in my corel file - whenever u get there be sure & let me know -in the meantime i'm going to try this sure cut alot software have you?

[purplek77]

awesome!

[omniwelder]

Incredible to think how far technology has come i knew of a machine that does exactly the same job as this but on a much larger scale I used to work for a small metal fabrication shop an like 2 doors down was a sign maker an there machine cost like £15K so $30k that was like 2 years ago so who knows maybe the same thing costs more

you can get all kinds of incredible things done with CNC these days like making 3D shapes out of wood an metal which could take years to craft by hand.

[kspurr1]

The Sure Cuts A Lot software from craftedge lets you hook up the cricut to a pc or mac via usb and print/cut just about any SVG image. I think that might get a bunch of you where you're actually trying to go with this.

Happy Hacking!

[micromause]

I just saw this on TV, went to the site and saw they require cartridges! Would be cool to see a hack that'll allow you to design your own stuff from the PC. Why the hell didn't they do that.

[decodecals]

@micromause They have it's called Sure Cuts Alot. It is a program you pay for and it makes the cartridges obsolete as you can design and use your computer. I love it!

[justjessie99]

This is not a hack?? Ive had the Cricut markers that do the same EXACT thing for years now. They come in a variety of colors. This is nothing new??

Instead he takes apart your Cricut... voiding any warranty!! Smart.. real smart!!

[TheCandidate]

Actually, the markers came out last year... after my video.

By the way, just because you can go out and purchase a solution that does the same thing, doesn't make it less of a hack. The point here is that you can do other things with the Cricut than cut paper. I also use it to apply etch-resist to copper-plated boards and then dissolve away the exposed parts with acid.

[papercollector]

This is totally stupid

[TheCandidate]

Yes. I agree. papercollector is totally stupid.

[loser0214]

No, papercollector is not totally stupid. The hack that TheCandidate did is totally stupid! When you hack it so that you don't need cartridges, then I will not question your intelligence.

[Nater104]

Um.... they sell little markers that fit in without a hack... also there is software for making other stuff... other posts probably already said this

[TheCandidate]

Please look at the date!!! They didn't have the markers then! Duh!

They don't have pencils, or paint brushes, or crayons, or chalk, or glue guns. Think outside the box.

[graceee11]

how much does a small one cost? medium? large?

[gfg250]

actually it is sorta smart, you could use diferent colour markers!!!

[justjessie99]

They already have a whole line of colored markers made for this EXACT purpose.

[gfg250]

what if the marker runs out dummy

[TheCandidate]

Sentences like yours should always begin with a capitol letter. There should also be a comma after out. And finally, your statement is framed as a question, so it should, at the very least, if at all possible, end with a question mark. Right dummy?

[jupzchris]

how is this a hack?

I would be impressed if you found a way for the machine to interface with a computer and design from what you input or tell it to

all it looks like you did was hooked a marker up to it and took alot of shit apart that didnt need. You could of just added the markers that cricut already sells? Am i missing something?

[gardenwife]

I think at the time this video was posted, the Cricut Inks hadn't been introduced.

[urbabymo]

what the fuck is this? stupidity comes in different forms!!! IDIOT

[TheCandidate]

You must represent at least three of those forms urbabymo!

[Jossiah1979]

Own it? You've just ****ed it!! :p Aaargh - I've been saving months for one and you've just pulled one apart for no reason!!!!!

[shaneforney]

how do you remove the sides from the cricut. I think the power switch is broke on my wifes

[TheCandidate]

Use an old credit card as a spudge tool to release the plastic clamps. It takes a little patience.

[TheCandidate]

Don't worry. I also put it back together. It's not hard.

[TheTinkerzz]

@Jossiah1979 Uh oh, you better close your eyes through most of your life! Even if he did ruin this machine this would not even in the top MILLION of wasteful things people have done. It's people like him that make products BETTER at the sacrifice of a bit of time, obviously it still works if you can see it moving or hear it working. And obviously it was for a reason if you watch the video....

[mgblue]

@Jossiah1979 rofl @ you've just ****ed it lol <3

[seonfox]

@Jossiah1979 lmao. settle down, retard.

[minervamomof6]

Um- this machine takes markers....no need to tear it apart.

[Duffytoler]

Not a hack. Interface it to the computer, THAT's the hack.

[craftscurious]

was it the zooballoo cartridge used?

I am convinced that there is catch with the company over the free cartridge supplied with the smaller 6x12 machine after stripping it to bits like you have done with yours.

It appears there are no chips or other circuitry on the cartridge.

Could this potentially mean that the George and Basics cartridge is built into the original Cricut Machines ROM??

[TheCandidate]

Yes, one of the the two is built in. It depends where you bought it. The font is stored in the firmware.

[santhony]

Not sure if you knew this or not but the cricut expression is 12" - might work better for your projects if you can hack the baby...

[santhony]

I just use the mini permanant markers...

The software for this thing comes out first week of december. I assume a driver will be included as well - I've been able to use a plotter driver but the darn thing isn't accepting jobs. Something on their website made me think too - as they say the $90 software will come wiht a special cable - makes me wonder how they modified the USB port.. Good Hack though :)

[Turppa21]

your the man

[BigGurlx]

DUDE....YOU ARE FREAKIN SWEEET!!!!

[baybeehmushie]

hack the cricut expression!!

[ecfu]

FREAKIN' AWESOME!!!!!!!!! I'd so love to get my hands on a completely customizable one where I can control the lines and everything on a computer! And thanks to you the world is that much closer to having one :)! Hehe...in ten years when they're on sale I'll remember this! Thanks in advance!

[gardenwife]

The Wishblade hooks to a PC and lets you cut any TrueType font. If you make a graphic into a TTF, you can cut it out.

[pbbs90210]

What would really be great is if you could write software to build a driver the the cricket. Good idea, and keep up the good work.

[aldanasol14]

its cricut not cricket.

[HTPmedia]

Try hacking the new edition!

[alfonsocruz73]

mmmm

and how it's made?

I mean any howto's my wife has this thing and ia think that usb connector is for something they don't have any software for this expensive machine

[TheCandidate]

I'm currently working on hacking the USB port for PC control. There is absolutely no information about the manufacturer (Cognitive Devices, China), so progress is very slow.

[alfonsocruz73]

thanks for the response and i think many people is waithing for a hack for this ltl thing

[tmlampwork]

very cool that you did this but Provo came out with one via QVC that does this now called the cricut Script I believe ;-)