Still trying to spend a bit of money- recommendations for cricut maker machine?

[Safoura Seddighin]

Hi,

So I spent some of the small money I had on microbit.

Thinking of getting this small innovation lab a tShirt design machine too( or something with more potential)

Any recommendations on that?

Always appreciate the feedback I get here.

Thank you,

Safoura 

[Anna Delia]

Hi Safoura, a cricut or silhouette for your lab would be great if you do not already have that item. Please note the material cost of these can be high in terms of consumables – the vinyl and heat transfer vinyl can really add up if students are using it all the time.

 

If you have a little money left and do not have one, I highly recommend a button maker from American Button Machines. We have the 1” and 2.5” in our labs and they are used all the time. They are fantastic to incorporate into an art project, to make badges to complete items, for students to DIY magnets, making game pieces, etc. Ours have held up to 6 years of constant use by our whole community. We also have groups use them to make items for fundraisers, who reimburse for the cost of materials out of the fundraiser profit. The material cost is relatively low for the value these bring to your makerspace.

 

Anna

Hawken School Fab Labs

Cleveland, Ohio

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[Maura O'Toole]

One thing I did this year was convert an Epson Ink Tank into a sublimation printer. You can google it, but here is a You Tube Video describing the process: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNjZp4-v9sw 

You would also need a heat press.

I have a Silhouette too but it isn't something that kids got excited about- I see it more as a me and other teachers too. 

You can do so much with sublimation including phone cases, t shirts, stickers, bags etc. The one key thing is that sublimation generally works best on polyester material. My students went nuts for sublimation printing. We used google slides to create the design. 

I also have two button makers and love them. 

[Rachel Okazaki]

I second the sublimation printer! SO many things to do and if you also get sublimation pens, students can color and design their own. Keep in mind it needs to be backwards when drawn so it shows the correct way. I've printed outline images (think coloring book style) and it can be customized and a fun easy project.

I really like sublimating puzzles, mugs (you would need a mug press), and polyester/nylon t-shirts. You can sublimate on certain glitter vinyl.

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[Katie Topper]

Can a human please explain sublimation and the process as well as big draw for it?

Yes - I could google but am super interested and want to hear a simple explanation from my peers.

Kindly,

katie topper

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[Clint Johns]

It is like printing, but the "ink" vaporizes and bonds to a porous surface when heated (ideally a heat press so you can control the set point and time of contact).

Ceramics, polyesters (or poly blends), specially painted coatings all work well with sublimation.

There are printers designed just for aub printing, but they are $$$ and their ink is $$$$. I have been pretty happy with draining an epson 2760 of printer ink and swapping it with sub ink that you can buy in larger cheaper bottles. Run the cleaning tool every so often so it doesnt gum up the system when not in use.

-Clint Johns

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[O'Toole, Maura]

Hi Katie,

I think of sublimation printing of iron ons that we used to have when I was kid (in the 80s!) you used to buy them and iron them on t-shirts or sweatshirts. However, sublimation printing is a million times better. You print the picture with sublimation (backwards as noted in the last email) and then you use a heat press to apply the print out to an item. The heat makes the ink change to a gas and so the print is embedded into the item.  And the items are endless- phone cases, bookmarks etc. I will find some pictures of phone cases we made.

Maura O'Toole
Teacher Librarian

Boston Public Schools

"We have to constantly critique imperialist white supremacist patriarchal culture because it is normalized by mass media and rendered unproblematic.” bell hooks

[Katy Garnier]

Hi Safoura:

I'd resisted Cricut because of the eco-unfriendly nature of vinyl, but then I found this supplier of PVC free vinyl. So I got the Cricut Maker 3 and found it really easy to use. The students love making stickers with it. I second the pitch for a button maker. So fun!

Another related thing I've been looking for is a low cost but decent quality silkscreen setup. Any suggestions anyone?