brother scan and cut
 

I have been researching the brother scan and cut to see which model is best for me. In doing my research online i found that there are 2 models, one is around $500 and the other around $700.
I read on one site that the cheaper model is not for fabric as it does not have the files that you need to cut fabric..can anyone advise me if this is indeed true?

I am going to follow this thread, because I am very interested in the Brother Scan & Cut too. I saw one demonstrated. The lady who did the demo was using several computer programs (all of which she sold) to get the picture to the machine for the cut. It looked like it was going to cost over $1000 to use it her way. I really want to know what the machine does on it's own.

Edited to add:
I haven't watched these yet, but they could hold the answers.

Bro Scan & Cut 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzvN9krKWJY
Bro Scan & Cut 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=clvjJPbL9Jw
Making a stencil http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvrNCwjCvME
How to cut quilt blocks http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddhD1Go_8Ig
Making fabric applique http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtVcTVgZ7uE

Well, looks like I could learn what I need to know from this last video. There are more on YouTube.

I have the more expensive one, which I paid 449.00. From what I've seen they both cut material. The more expensive one has more designs built in.

All of them are exactly the same the differences are included accessories and built in patterns the most expensive one comes with all the built in designs and accessories, the 2nd one has all the accessories but less built in designs, the cheapest has the least accessories and built in designs. They all cut everything including fabric, the cheapest one can cut fabric but has less built in quilting designs. There is a comparison of the 3 online

not sure if it varies by region
http://www.brother-usa.com/ScanNCut/...x#.VHbWfzHF-So

I know that my friend who is a member here bought the one for $499 and I know she is cutting her fabric hexes with it.

I saw a demo at LQS...wish I could afford one! The demonstrator showed many of the quilts she had made using it and ways she had found to save money, pointed out which features she felt added value and those that didn't depending on the type of use it was for. As Dolphyngyrl pointed out, most of the differences are the accessories that you can get.

I just bought one. I can't wait to try it out.

I will be watching this thread. I thought you could SCAN any pattern you want into this machine and cut it. What are the built ins you all are talking about.

Does anyone know if you can just use plain cotton, or if you have to attach some sort of stabilizer to piece?

If you go to this link, just click on the number of built in designs for each model and it will bring up a PDF of all the designs in the machine...

http://www.brother-usa.com/ScanNCut/...x#.VHkN-MlvCu1

You need stabilizer to cut. Otherwise, it's like trying to cut fabric with an exacto knife.


It's like the digitizing or customizing software - if you buy the software, there are usually bonus designs.
Brother includes some usable ones that you won't have to buy. You might not use them, but they are in the machine when you want them.

It does have a built in scanner and because of the way it cuts you don't have to buy additional dies to cut different shapes.

I would think that adding stabilizer to each piece of fabric could add up $$$ after a short while. I don't think this is going to be for me...unless they are willing to throw in a lifetime supply of stabilizer!

I have the more expensive one but here its about the cost of your cheaper one. The only difference in the two is that with the more expensive one you get all of the accessories and lots more built in designs. They both use the same things and have designs built into them its just a matter of the quanity. Its a great machine. There is a website they have so that you can design on it and then save down to your device making it easier because you aren't using the little screen on the machine. The machine will also allow you to scan documents, pics, etc to save on your pc so it has more than just crafting features to use. Other than that, they both do the same thing and both are very good at it.

Not all fabric needs stabilizer, some you can use heavy starch too. I buy my stabilizer on the bolt on sale at Joann's or hancocks. Even Walmarts has it. Not to expensive. I already buy it for my emb machine too.

The built ins are lots of different things along with lots of quilt designs. You make the size anything you want, you can even have it draw the 1/4 in seam allowance or any other seam allowance right onto the fabric. Just google it and you'll see lots of tutorials on it, including at Brother's website.

To cut fabric without adding stabilizer you need to add the fabric stabilizer sheet to the cutting mat. It is like applying a protective screen protector to your cell phone or tablet screen. The stabilizer sheet stays on the mat, so plan to make it a dedicated fabric mat, as opposed to one used for paper.

I guess I'm not understanding this...how could the machine cut through the fabric and not the stabilizer sheet every time? In my mind, I am kind of seeing this like fusible applique..where the stabilizer is always attached to the fabric...

How is it different from say a Silhouette cutting machine?

There are actually 3 out now. The purple is middle ground. Has less than the last one but lots more than the lowest one. The cheapest one is made for the mass retailers to sell. Trust me, if you look at all the items with prices beside of them, those are the cost of the added items, add those up and compare it too the cheapest one and you'll see that you more than get your money's worth buy buying the higher cost one. They all do the same thing and you can buy all of the stuff that goes with them but would spend more buying the extras for the cheapest one.

Its not fusible fabric, its fusible clear, looks like fabric. It gets applied to the mat and has sticky stuff on the top so that you can put the fabric on it and it helps hold it in place while its being cut. If you have your blades up to high even the matt can get cut. After awhile the stabilizer will wear out and then you get a new one. I've also added spray adhesive, not permanent to my fabric when I needed a little extra to hold it to the mat. even though they say not too. I just give it time to dry before cutting

Thanks for the clarification roman ojg! Sometimes it's hard to visualize something if you can't see it.

I have the same question. The Silhouette is less expensive, and I don't think it scans, but since it connects to a computer and you can use a scanner to get the image onto the computer I didn't think this was a deal breaker. I would love to hear from someone who has seen and/or used both machines to get a comparison.

There is a special on HSN today for the Scan and Cut with lots of extras for $399. I watched the presentation to see the demo of how it is used. It is amazing for papecrafts but she didn't do fabric just said it would cut one layer of fabric into whatever shape you wanted. My friend has one and wore out the cutting blade cutting enough squares for a quilt.

I have the Silhouette and it works just fine with any scanner I have. However, if you want to cut lots of pieces for a quilt, you'd be better off with an Accuquilt, Sizzix or Fuse. Those dies will last a lot longer and will cut more than one layer at once.

I normally only cut fabric I from stuff I draw or take pictures of, anyway. That means I can use the drawing software I'm familiar with and send the SVG file to the Cameo. I do some greeting cards and that's mostly the use for the Silhouette. I can make stamps and use those stamps with fabric paint, or paint on fabric itself with the Silhouette. That the Brother cannot do.