This entire process would be considerably faster if it were possible to load two of these tools at once. When I'm making a card, for example, I need to first load the Scoring tool to press in to the cardstock and establish nice folds before removing that tool and putting the cutting tool in to cut out the card.
The ability to just and draw without having to swap anything is super handy, but the Maker 3 would be so much more useful if I could have two QuickSwap tools loaded instead of one. Having the pen slot is awesome, especially for making cards. Every Cricut Explore and Maker has two slots for accessories, but one of them is always dedicated to using pens. My only real complaint with the Cricut Maker 3, a machine designed to give me more options to do more faster, is how limited I am by only having one tool slot. You may not see it in photos of the two Cricut machines sitting side by side, but the Maker 3 is clearly a better made machine in person. That roll also works with the Cricut Explore 3, but when connected to the Maker 3 it's a more secure fit and requires a little less management to use. The textures used in the outer plastic feel nicer, the weightier top platter makes holding tablets on top easier and the base tray more easily supports accessories like the Smart Materials roll.
More than what it's capable of, the Cricut Maker 3 both looks and feels like a more premium Cricut. I've even started exploring with acid-etching glass with the help of the vinyl creations in a Cricut, something I never would have considered within my skillset until recently. I have engraved metal, cut perfect pockets to sew onto shirts and made super cool shirts to give to family members without any more effort than it took me to make a fun sticker for my friend's water bottle. What does all of this mean? The Cricut Maker 3 does a whole lot more than its predecessors without adding an enormous amount of extra expense.
And unlike other Cricut machines, the Maker 3 can use many of these extra tools without requiring a safety mat thanks so the Smart Materials system Cricut uses to feed the machine precision depth information. This means you can use a rotary tool for precision cuts of fabric, or cut into thicker materials with a deep point blade. The QuickSwap tool system includes a gear at the top of the housing which is used for controlling the direction the tool is facing. The Maker line allows you to use way more tools and offers a lot more control with those tools.
#AMAZON VINYL CUTTER SERIES#
Every Cricut unlocks a certain level of creativity within its owner, but the Maker series is for people who want to push themselves even further.