Vinyl Cutters and Heat Presses in the Makerspace: Models, Manuals and Settings

Which machine do you have?

Status and specs are from each maker’s current product page, support article or manual. “Older” means the maker no longer lists it for sale but still posts its manual and supports it in its software.

Silhouette’s own pages give different maximum cut lengths for some models, so we’ve left length out; check the manual for your model. Cut widths for Cameo 3 and Portrait 3 aren’t on Silhouette’s current pages.

Which file should you use?

Every free file on Clean Cut SVG comes as SVG, DXF and PNG, so it opens in all of these. Roland VersaWorks print-and-cut jobs use a spot color named CutContour on the path to cut (PerfCutContour for a perforated cut), explained in Roland’s VersaWorks 6 help.

Cut settings for heat-transfer vinyl

Siser, a large HTV maker, publishes starting settings for its vinyls on seven cutters. These are copied from its cutter settings chart (September 2026 edition). Siser calls them “suggested starting points” that may need adjusting for blade, cutting strip and mat wear. Always cut a test square first.

Siser notes that on the Roland GX/GS-24, Brick 600 needs the blade extended further and a 60° blade, not 45°. Cricut “settings” are the material names to pick in Design Space.

Heat press settings for common HTV

Use the chart from the vinyl’s maker, not a generic one: the same temperature can be right for one brand and wrong for another. All iron-on is cut mirrored. Siser’s numbers are for a heat press; Siser says EasyPress users add about 30°.

Cricut’s Heat Guide gives settings by material, base fabric and press; EasyPress 3 and Hat Press settings are in the Cricut Heat app. Siser’s full application chart covers its other vinyls. Values read October 6, 2026.

Heat presses you’ll see in makerspaces

From each maker’s product page or manual, October 6, 2026. “Not stated” means we didn’t find it in the sources we read. Mug Press settings are automatic; it’s for sublimation-type (Infusible Ink) mugs.

Safety

• Age limits. Cricut’s manuals say the EasyPress SE and the Autopress are “not intended for use by children 12 years of age and under”. The Mug Press product page says “Adult use only”. Silhouette’s CloChé safety manual says not to let children use the machine alone.
• Heat and fumes. Heat presses are hot surfaces that can cause burns. Cricut says to use its presses in a well-ventilated area and never leave them unattended; Infusible Ink gives off vapors that “may be irritating to sensitive individuals”.
• Blades. Cutter blades and weeding hooks are sharp. Keep spare blades in their holders and the hooks in a cup, points down.

Sources: Cricut Autopress safety, EasyPress SE user guide, Cricut Mug Press, Silhouette CloChé safety manual, Cricut Infusible Ink safety.

Free cutter test files

Three test files for any cutter: a 1 in test square with a star (cut it first on every new material; it should measure exactly 1 in), a line-and-gap ladder from 0.3 to 2 mm, and a dot ladder from 0.5 to 3 mm.

⬇ Download the test files (ZIP)

SVG, DXF and PNG. The two ladders deliberately go thinner than our own software check allows (about 0.9 mm in vinyl), so you can see where your blade, vinyl and weeding hand stop. Free to cut, copy and share. Single files: test square SVG · DXF

Printable station cards

Two letter-size cards to laminate and keep next to the equipment. The heat press card has the makers’ settings for common HTV and blank rows for what your space stocks; the cutter card has a test-cut checklist and a log for settings that worked.

Links that moved

If your makerspace page links to any of these, here is where to point it now.

Common questions

Can a Silhouette Cameo open SVG files?

Yes, in Silhouette Studio Designer Edition or higher. The free Basic Edition opens DXF files and traces PNG or JPG images, which is why our files come in DXF too.

What heat press temperature should I use for HTV?

Use the chart from the vinyl's maker. Siser lists EasyWeed at 305°F for 10-15 seconds with medium pressure on a heat press, and says EasyPress users should add about 30°. Cricut's Heat Guide gives settings for Cricut materials by press and fabric.

Do I need to mirror iron-on vinyl?

Yes. Iron-on is cut from the back, shiny carrier side down, so turn on Mirror before cutting or your words come out backward.

Can kids use a heat press in a library makerspace?

Check your press's manual. Cricut says its EasyPress SE and Autopress are not intended for children 12 and under and that the Mug Press is for adults only. Silhouette says not to let children use the CloChé alone.

Cite or link this page

More for makerspace staff

The Cricut makerspace guide has a full materials and settings chart for Cricut machines; the library makerspace pack has beginner files and a kit card; your first iron-on shirt walks through a first HTV project.