Having problems ripping everything you try to cut with your cricut expression?  That is not surprising.  Top of the line $40,000 vinyl cutting machines have this problem as well unless they are calibrated to cut the particular material.  Some vinyl cutting shops will even have separate cutters to cut different types of material.  It is another art altogether to get them to work properly.

Not having the proper depth, speed and design can cause all number of problems when trying to cut something thin like vinyl.  Things like not cutting all the way through and having to use an exacto knife to finish cuts is common.  When trying to remove extra vinyl from lettering you can actually rip the letters if you cut to shallow and leave little sections uncut where the blade turned or didnt cut properly.  Cutting thicker items like heavy paper can be done and done easily.  You just have to take into account a few factors.  When a carpenter cuts wood he uses a particular tool.  When he cuts different types of wood he may use different types of tools or blades.  You need to do the same thing.  How do you do this on your cricut expression and stop ripping up you paper and other materials?  Simple read on.

Different materials need different pressure settings, blade settings and speed to accurately cut paper, vinyl, chip board and everything else you run through your cricut expression.  Some items may even need to be cut twice.  Cutting twice is not recommended for small intricate designs as it is almost impossible to recut the same exact line on the cricut.

Having a sharp new blade is also the best way to make your cricut expression work to its full potential.  Ask any chef what is the best way to cut your self?  They will answer – With a dull knife.

I have created two different charts to help in adjusting your settings between materials.  One in PDF format and one in XLS format.  It should help immensely to reduce ripping paper and other materials when cutting and then switching paper on your cricut.

Here are some general guidelines you can reference to figure out other types of materials.

Speed Settings Chart:
1 min – extra slow for vellum and/or detailed cuts
2 low – slow for lightweight paper and/or detailed cuts
3 med – factory default setting for printed papers and/or normal cuts
4 high – fast for cardstock, textured paper and/or simple cuts
5 max – extra fast for heavy cardstock and/or very simple cuts

Pressure Settings Chart:
1 min – light for vellum
2 low – for lightweight paper
3 med – factory default setting for printed papers
4 high – firm for cardstock, textured, high fiber content papers
5 max – extra firm for heavy cardstock

bladeChart PDF – bladeChart XLS