Brother ScanNCut Cutting Machines & Accessories

The blade is matched to the material, and using the wrong one is the usual reason a cut fails partway through.

What we stock:

• Standard Cut: Paper, cardstock and vinyl. The everyday blade.
• Deep Cut: Thicker craft materials that the standard blade cannot get through.
• Rotary: Fabric, cut with a rolling action rather than a drag.
• Thin Fabric Auto: Lightweight fabric on DX machines.
• Vinyl Auto: Adhesive and heat transfer vinyl.

Blades and their holders are sold both together and separately, so check which you need before ordering.

The mat controls how firmly the material is held, and that is as important as the blade.

Mat types:

• Standard: General cutting for paper and vinyl.
• Low Tack: Delicate materials that a standard mat would tear on removal.
• Fabric: Made to hold fabric steady for the rotary blade.
• Scanning: For scanning artwork rather than cutting it.

Each comes in 12" x 12" and most in 12" x 24" for longer pieces. Match the mat size to your machine.

No. The machine works on its own, which is the main thing that sets it apart from cutters that depend on a connected computer. The built-in scanner reads artwork you place on the mat and turns it into a cut line on the machine's own screen, so you can design and cut without software. Connecting to a computer or to Brother's design service adds options, but nothing about the basic workflow requires it.

We carry three, and the differences are in scanning resolution, blade compatibility and which built-in features come loaded, all of which the individual listings spell out. Rather than guess from a spec sheet, think about what you will cut most: fabric work leans toward a DX model because the rotary and thin fabric auto blades are built for it. Compare the current lineup under ScanNCut machines and accessories, or ask in store.

Both are consumables, and most cutting problems trace back to one of them being worn rather than to the machine. A mat loses its grip as adhesive picks up lint and fibers, and material that shifts mid-cut is the first sign. A dull blade tears instead of cutting cleanly, or stops going all the way through at a setting that used to work. How long each lasts depends entirely on what you cut, so replace on symptoms rather than on a schedule.