Q: Is Design Space the same for Cricut Maker 3 as for previous machine models?
A: Design Space is indeed the same for the Cricut Maker as for previous machine models. Use the same URL (design.cricut.com) to download it and the same Cricut ID to sign in. However, Design Space will adjust available options - such as tools, material cut settings, and material load options - based on your machine selection.
Q: What are the differences between the different Cricut Maker models?
A: The key differences are speed, cut length, and cutting without a mat with Smart Materials.
|
Maker 3 |
Maker |
|
|
Dual tool holder |
✔ |
✔ |
|
Max material width |
13 in. with Smart Materials 12 in. on a cutting mat. |
12 in. on a cutting mat |
|
Works with Smart Materials for long, continuous cuts without a cutting mat |
✔ |
— |
|
Max single image length |
12 ft. (3.65 m) (Smart Materials only) |
<2 ft. (0.59 m) |
|
Print Then Cut capability |
On white and colored materials |
On white and colored materials |
|
Tool compatibility |
13 (for cutting, writing, scoring & other pro-level effects) |
13 (for cutting, writing, scoring & other pro-level effects) |
|
Compatible with Roll Holder |
✔ |
– |
Q: What is the USB port on the side of my Cricut Maker 3 for?
A: This is a charging port for your mobile device!
Q: What is the maximum size I can cut?
|
Cricut Maker 3 |
Cricut Maker |
|
|
Smart Iron-On |
11.7 in x 4 feet (29.7 cm x 1.2 m) |
– |
|
Smart Vinyl |
11.7 in x 12 feet (29.7 cm x 3.6 m) |
– |
|
Smart Paper |
11.7 in x 11.2 in (29.7 cm x 28.4 cm) |
– |
|
On a 12 x 12 mat |
11.5 in x 11.5 in (29.2 cm x 29.2 cm) |
11.5 in x 11.5 in (29.2 cm x 29.2 cm) |
|
On a 12 x 24 mat |
11.5 in x 23.5 in (29.2 cm x 59.6 cm) |
11.5 in x 23.5 in (29.2 cm x 59.6 cm) |
Q: Will I lose my cartridges, projects, or uploaded images if I upgrade to the Cricut Maker 3?
A: No. Your cartridges (image sets), projects, and uploaded images are linked to your Cricut ID in the Cricut Cloud, not to a machine. Use the same Cricut ID as always and you'll have access to all your content with your Cricut Maker 3.
Q: Can I cut Smart Materials on previous models of Cricut Explore and Cricut Maker?
A: Smart Materials were designed specifically for the brand-new Cricut Explore 3 and Cricut Maker 3, and these machines have been optimized and rigorously tested for use with Smart Materials. If you would like to use Smart Materials with previous models, we recommend putting them on a machine mat.
Q: Is the Cricut Maker 3 power adapter the same as the one for Cricut Explore?
A: The Cricut Maker 3 power adapter has been upgraded to allow for 3 Amps of output. Cricut Explore machines have an output of 2.5 Amps. The upgraded capacity is needed to deliver 10x the cutting force as Explore machines and enables you to charge a mobile device via the charging port on the right side of the Cricut Maker machine while the machine is in use. The power adapter for Maker 3 is also more powerful than the one that comes with Maker, to facilitate faster speeds and matless cutting.
Using an Explore power cord with your Cricut Maker 3 will not damage the machine. However, if you are charging a mobile device while the machine is cutting, especially if cutting thicker materials or materials that require more pressure, a different power adapter may cause the motor to stutter, slow down, or the machine to shut off.
Important: We recommend using the Cricut power adapter that came with your machine.
Note: Power cords for Maker and Maker 3 are not interchangeable; the connectors / receptacles are different sizes, so a Maker cord will not fit in a Maker 3 and vice versa.
Q: How is the Cricut Maker Adaptive Tool System different than the Cricut Explore Cut Smart technology?
A: The Cricut Explore Cut Smart technology cuts materials by passively dragging the blade across the material, allowing the curves and angles of your design to change the blade direction.
Cricut Maker’s Adaptive Tool System allows for active management of the blade’s position by intelligently lifting and rotating the blade into the optimal position for your next cut. This allows for greater cutting precision, especially with smaller, more intricate projects or thicker materials.
Q: Will my Maker Tools work with the Maker 3?
Yes! Your existing Maker Tools will be compatible with the Maker 3.
Q: Does the Cricut Maker have Fast Mode?
A: Cricut Maker: Yes, it does have a Fast Mode option for cutting and writing up to 2x faster when using some Vinyl, Iron-on, and Cardstock settings.
Cricut Maker 3: Maker 3 has been further optimized to more intelligently control speeds for cutting and drawing. Not only is Maker 3 2x faster than Maker, but we’ve combined that speed with a specially designed algorithm to give you the precision you need on smaller cuts, and the speed you want on longer cuts. This enabled us to remove Fast Mode for Maker 3, taking the guesswork out of your project preparation experience.
Q: How does Cricut Maker know which blade I have loaded?
A: When you proceed to cut your project, the machine will move the carriage to the right (this is calling "homing") then scan the blade to find out which one is installed.
Q: How thick can my material be with Cricut Maker machines?
A: 3/32" of an inch, or 2.4mm. Click here for an important tip when cutting thick materials.
Q: Does Cricut Maker have to be connected to the internet?
A: Not necessarily. With the Design Space software installed on your computer or iOS mobile device, you can still design and send projects to your machine without being connected to the internet. However, for certain features and functionality, such as content sync and uploading images, you’ll need to be connected to the internet and signed in.
Note: Offline feature not currently available for Design Space on Android mobile devices.
Tip: Click here to learn more about designing and cutting offline on Desktop. Click here to learn how to use the Offline feature in the iOS app.
Q: What comes in the box with Cricut Maker 3?
- Cricut Maker 3 machine
- Premium Fine-Point Blade + Blade Housing (pre-installed in the B clamp)
- Accessory Adapter (pre-installed in the A clamp)
- Quick Start Guide
- Safety document
- Warranty document
- USB Cable
- Power adapter and power cord
- Material for test cut
- Bonus materials
Q: Why does the Cricut Maker 3 not contain a Rotary Blade?
From the cut data we know that the most commonly cut materials are Vinyl and Iron-On (HTV) so we decided to make the Rotary Blade available separately alongside the other Maker Tools .
Q: Is the setup process the same for the previous generations, as listed on the Cricut website?
A: No, the experience will be new and improved! Go to Cricut.com/setup to get started!
Q: How do I align my Smart Material when loading it into the machine?
A: Align Smart Material with the left material guides, then push material gently against rollers as you press the Load button.
Q: Can I use other brands of vinyl or iron-on without a mat?
A: You can use other brands of materials, but you will need to place them on a mat.
Q: I’m new to Smart Materials. What are they?
A: These clever crafting materials work without a cutting mat, so you can just load the material directly into your Cricut Maker 3 or Cricut Explore 3 machine and go. Smart Materials come in a variety of material types, including Smart Vinyl, Smart Iron-On, Smart Paper Sticker Cardstock. Visit this article for information about Smart Materials.
Q: Do I need to measure and cut my Smart Material before I load it?
A: We recommend leaving your material on the roll until after you cut has finished. Cricut Maker 3 and Explore 3 include sensors that measure your material length for you, ensuring that you have enough material for the project you're working on. When your cut finishes, the material will load back into the machine, allowing you to trim material away from the roll. If you have a roll holder, the built-in trimmer makes this process even easier.
Q: How will I know if I have enough Smart Material for my project?
A: Cricut Maker 3 (and Explore 3) include sensors that measure your material length for you. If you don't have enough, you will be alerted and will not be able to continue the cut until you insert a long enough piece of Smart Material. You need at least 6 in (15.24 cm) of 13 in (33 cm) Smart Material in order to cut it without a mat.
Q: Do I need to buy the Cricut Roll Holder if I plan on using longer rolls of material?
A: Cricut Explore 3 and Maker 3 are designed to work with Smart Material rolls up to 75 ft (22.86 m) right out of the box. While not required, Cricut Roll Holder is extremely helpful in managing bulky, long rolls, keeping them in place and perfectly aligned for long cuts.
Q: What happened to Maker 2?
A: In short, we made substantial improvements to both Cricut Maker and Cricut Explore Air 2 to make them smarter and faster than ever. Because Cricut Explore 3 was launched in concert with Cricut Maker 3, it was easier to give them both the same 3rd generation reference, because really, they both deserve it!
Q: What kind of motors does Maker 3 have?
A: Cricut Maker 3 uses servo motors.
Q: How wide is a roll of Smart Vinyl or Smart Iron-On?
A: The roll of material is 13 in (33 cm) wide. The maximum cuttable width is 11.7 in (29.7 cm) without a mat.
Q: Where did Fast Mode go?
A: There is no Fast Mode for Cricut Smart Materials because we have optimized your machine to ensure top speed while keeping the precision you currently enjoy. Fast Mode is still available for materials on a mat.
Q: How fast does Cricut Maker 3 cut?
A: On Smart Materials, Cricut Maker 3 can cut two times faster than Cricut Maker and Cricut Explore Air 2’s Fast Mode. Cricut Maker 3 can cut up to 8 inches (20.32cm) per second on the x axis, 8 inches (20.32cm) per second on the y axis, and has 100 inches (254cm) per second squared acceleration.
Q: Why is there a delay between pressing the pause button and my machine pausing?
A: Cricut ensures a non-stop cutting experience by passing your project data from Design Space to your machine.
BACK OF POCKET MESSAGING FOR ANNOUNCE
Use if needed, not to be proactively shared.
Q: Why don't you work on Design Space before launching a new machine?
A: Here at Cricut we have a lot of things in the works! We have been very excited to launch these new machines, but that doesn't mean we won't continue to make updates in other areas. Stay tuned!
Q: When will the Cricut Mug Press launch in the UK?
A: We don’t have a date for you yet, but as soon as we do, we will communicate it across our channels.
Q: Didn’t you say you wouldn’t make another machine after the Maker?
A: Nope! We will continue to try to keep up with the needs and creativity of our members. As you create more, we will keep creating more!
Q: What if I bought my machine yesterday, can I return it for the new machine?
A: If you purchased your machine from cricut.com/shop, you can check out our return policy here: https://cricut.com/en_gb/legal#online-policies For other retailers, see their return policies!
Q: Will my Explore Air 2 or Maker stop being supported?
A: That’s not the plan! With the launch of Maker 3 and Explore 3, we are just adding to the families with additional capabilities. We want all Cricut members to find a machine that works best for them!
Q: Will you give me a deal to upgrade? Can I trade in my old machine?
A: We don’t currently have an upgrade programme running, but if that changes, we will let you know!