The Explore series cutting machines is the best-selling range of machines from the Cricut family. And with the newest addition to the product lineup, the Cricut Explore 3, your crafting experience is all set to be bigger, better, and bolder.
The Cricut Explore 3 cutting machine is a smarter and faster machine ever that combines the power of a professional cutting and crafting machine with the simplicity of Cricut. So, if you are a beginner that is looking for an ultimate guide to Cricut Explore 3. Or are you a first-time Cricut buyer, and you are trying to find all the right reasons to get yourself a Cricut Explore 3, then keep reading this blog to find every important information and much more.
Overview Of Cricut Explore 3
Cricut Explore 3 machine is a DIY cutting machine that is compatible with Cricut Smart materials making matless cutting possible for the first time. The dimensions of this cutting machine are 62.2 cms X 25.4 cms X 26 cms. You can use this machine for your vinyl craft projects, custom vinyl decals, custom Heat Transfer Iron-on T-shirts, and other intricate paper projects.
This machine is equipped with modern cutting techniques to help you create crafts faster and elevate your creativity as this is a DIY dream machine. With the all-new Cricut Explore 3 cutting machine, you can cut, score, and draw with more precision at a skyrocketing speed that will leave your jaws dropped. Cricut Explore 3 is two times faster than older cutting machines from the Explore series. You can create customized iron-on craft projects and customizable party-time banners in no time.
This incredibly fast cutting machine is compatible with all the Cricut smart materials like Cricut Smart Vinyl, Cricut Smart Paper, Cricut Smart Iron-on, and Cricut Smart Heat Transfer Vinyl. You can make super-precise long cuts up to twelve feet even without a cutting mat with the Cricut Explore 3 machine. It also works with six different tools for cutting and embellishing over a hundred materials, including iron-on, glitter paper, cardstock, cork, and bonded fabric.
What Items Come With Cricut Explore 3 Machine?
When you purchase a brand-new Cricut Explore 3 cutting machine, you will get the following items along with it:
- Cricut Explore 3 Machine
- Welcome Card
- Premium Fine-Point Blade
- USB Cable
- Free trial subscription to Cricut Access (For New Subscribers)
- Premium Fine-Point Blade Housing
- Power Adapter
- 100 ready-to-make projects online
- Sample materials for practice
Apart from this, if you are getting your Cricut Explore 3 machine from the official online website of Cricut or from any other online shopping platform, you can add other important materials too. For example- you can combine your machine with an expanded suite of Cricut materials, tools, and other accessories.
How Is Cricut Explore 3 Different From Other Models Of Explore Series?
The fact that cutting mats are not required by Cricut Explore 3 cutting machine for certain smart materials makes it very different from its predecessor machines. The older Cricut cutting machines mandatorily require a mat beneath the materials they are working on. In fact, you can cut 12 feet long smart materials without the mat like the Smart Iron-on, Smart Vinyl, and Smart Vinyl. You have to load the smart material in your Cricut Explore 3 machine, and you are good to go. These smart materials are available in a wide variety of different colors. The smart materials are available in roll sizes lengths from three feet up to 75 feet.
The new Cricut Explore 3 has a roll holder which can hold big rolls of Smart Iron-on and Smart Vinyl in its place during the cutting process. This roller is sold separately and is not compatible with older explore series machines; it even comes with a handy built-in trimmer.
See, this roll holder is an accessory part to Cricut Explore 3; it is completely your choice if you want to buy it. But it is extremely helpful when it comes to the management of bulky, long rolls of materials. The roller will keep your Smart material in its place and perfectly aligned to the blades whiles you are making long cuts on it.
Since mats are not required while cutting smart materials, it makes Cricut Explore 3 two times faster than the Explore 2 cutting machine. This newer Explore 3 machine works at a speed up to 8 inches per second when it is cutting smart materials. The longer and faster cuts possible on Cricut Explore 3 make it a perfect match for easily creating oversized craft projects. In fact, you will be able to cut projects for an entire group with just one simple pass.
Despite its immense capability of working with Smart materials, Cricut Explore 3 is still compatible with the classic cutting mats and can work on over a hundred different kinds of materials. The key difference, in my opinion, between the older models and the new Cricut Explore 3 machine is their speed, cutting length, and ability to work without a mat. The older Cricut machine is limited to a 12 inches X 24 inches mat size for cutting.
The Cricut Explore 3 machine’s material settings are now integrated into the Cricut Design Space software. This new advancement has given this machine a sleeker and more defined body without any dial for material setting. The best part about Cricut Explore 3 is that it has a sensor upgrade which gives it the ability first to cut print and then cut projects on colored paper in addition to the classic white paper.
What Can Cricut Explore 3 Do?
Some of the things that Cricut Explore 3 can perform for you are mentioned below:
- Cricut Explore 3 cutting machine can cut and besides also write, draw, score, and foil with more than a hundred different materials.
- This machine is also compatible with some of the important blades, tools, and accessories like the Fine-point blade, Deep-point blade, Foil transfer system, scoring stylus, Bonded fabric blade, pens, and markers. All these versatile and efficient tools can work on more than a hundred compatible materials. This can create endless crafting possibilities for the crafters, as it makes so many projects possible.
- Some of the Smart materials that Cricut Explore 3 machines are compatible with are listed below:
- Smart Iron-on- this is available in glitter, solids, matte, and holographic varieties.
- Smart Vinyl- this is available in a wide variety of colors, effects, and material lengths in both permanent and removable adhesives.
- Smart Paper Sticker Cardstock- this comes backed up with a double-sided adhesive that allows the crafter to skip the sticky glue, enabling mess-free projects. All you will have to do is peel the clear plastic and stick it.
