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Comment by awinter-py | Hacker News Reader

what's good? have been shopping for something to cut medium EVA sheets. seems like brother scan N cut is most likely to work with SVGs + linux, but can't handle anything past 2mm. siser juliet + silhouette get recommended too but I think both rely on proprietary software

laser cutters seem better on the software side, but more expensive, less safe? (and also not safe at all for vinyl)

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The silhouette software is proprietary but I am using Linux + inkscape + https://github.com/fablabnbg/inkscape-silhouette which works perfectly (except I can't get the Bluetooth to work but that's probably a me issue). It's less user-friendly (but more power-user friendly) than the official software and doesn't have all the templates and ready-made designs but that isn't a problem for me.

I would like to get a laser cutter at some point but that's a completely different beast. Don't get a cheap ali-express one that is not enclosed if you value your eyes. You will also need ventilation for a lot of materials if you value your lungs. In comparison, my silhouette is a simple thing I can move around easily. It's also able to plotting, engraving, embossing and foiling with the right add-ons

whoa thanks for the link to inkscape-silhouette, didn't know about this

There's also this thing that I wrote. I've been meaning to update it for a long time but life...

http://robocut.org/

> silhouette software is proprietary

To an exteeeeeeeent. I will point out that Silhouette is owned by Graphtec (who makes normal commercial cutters).

You can get a very smooth upgrade path going from a Silhouette machine to a Graphtec machine running Silhouette software to then moving designs into the Graphtec packages.

Otherwise... yeah. Silhouette machine driven with the Inkscape plugin is 100% the way to go to handle cutting.

I like my Silhouette Cameo, which I use from Linux and Windows with Inkscape + the silhouette plugin. However, the maximum thickness that the latest machine can cut is 2mm, and it seems that is also the maximum thickness that the Circuit Maker 3 can handle. So, you probably do want a laser if you want thicker eva than that. In my book, the best choice is probably both.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQyvCix8sQI xTool M1

I would probably prefer the laser and the pen/knife machine to be separate, and for the price that seems like it would be reasonable to accommodate. However, this is a nice looking machine and the Hot Foil Pen is interesting.

I realize that op asked for a Linux solution. But for those on Windows, Adobe Illustrator with the $30 Silhouette plug in on a Silhouette 4 worked close to as well as the dedicated software and hardware I used professionally once everything was dialed in.

This may be helpful to you - a high-quality maker-space / tools forum: https://forum.makerforums.info/

I've seen a few HackerNews commenters frequenting both forums...

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