Last Updated:
Cutting and Engraving Acrylic with Cricut
The engraving tool for Cricut is wonderful! It can work on many different materials such as Acetate, Aluminum Sheets (0.5 mm), Faux Leather (Paper Thin) , Foil Poster Board, Genuine Leather, Glitter Cardstock and more. It also works well on 1/16” acrylic and I found these awesome night lights that will display the piece perfectly. Gifts for the grand kids! Let me show you how easy it is Cutting and Engraving Acrylic with Cricut.
This post probably contains affiliated links. My full disclosure policy is boring, but you can find it HERE.
Don’t miss out, sign up for my newsletter
List of Materials
Cricut Maker
Tape
*Please note the Cricut Maker will not engrave on glass
Cutting Acrylic
When using the quick swap housing make sure installed properly by pressing plunger, align flat areas inside the tip with flat sides of housing, then slide tip into place. Ensure tip is firmly seated against the housing.Release plunger to secure tip in place.
Place the piece of acrylic on a self healing cutting mat and line your piece up with the grid. Choose your size adding 1/2” to slip down into the grove in the light and begin slicing. It will take several times to cut through. Place the straight edge ruler where you want to cut and begin slicing holding the ruler steady as you do. Create a grove my adding pressure with each pass.
I found that after 10 passes and turning the piece around and slicing the opposite direction 6 passes would make the groove. Once there is a sufficient grove, simply bend the pieces and it will snap off. Use the tool to cut the plastic covering.
Setting Up to Engrave Acrylic
Now off to the Cricut Maker engrave the piece of acrylic. In Design Space in the upper right hand corner your u will need to select Maker in the drop down box. This is the only way to use the engraving feature.
Next you will need to select engrave in the drop box on the left side of the screen.
Choose your image and size it to fit you acrylic piece minus the 1/2” at the bottom that slips into the light. I like to choose a square from shapes, unlock it and size the project then send backwards and place your design on top of it. This makes it easy to size your design properly. Do not group.
Wipe the piece clean with a microfiber cloth before placing it on the mat. When placing the piece on the strong grip mat, leave an inch on the top and left sides of your piece to attach with painters tape. Run tape on the top and the bottom to help keep it in place as the engraving takes place.
Click make it And when the virtual mat appear select the box and place it exactly where the piece is on your mat. Then pick your design and move it to the mat with the box.
Move the design and place it in the box until you are happy with it’s placement. Select the box and hide it.
Engraving Acrylic with Cricut
Alright! Time to load the mat onto the machine but first, wipe that piece one more time with the microfiber cloth to remove anything that might be on there. You certainly want you piece totally clean.
You will also want to move the rollers out of the way also. You do not want a roller going over you piece.
Click continue then click browse all materials and you will see’Compatible’ so click it for the materials that can be engraved. Go to the bottom of the list and in ‘Other’ choose thick vinyl.
Be sure you have the engraving tool installed in the Cricut Maker load and push the start button. The tool will begin engraving and during that process, don’t be alarmed when it stops and spins for a bit. That is just the tool adjusting itself. When the engraving is complete and the mat is removed from the Maker, use some of the tape to dab up any reside left from the engraving. There will be little piece.
Remove the tape and place the piece on the microfiber cloth once more and complete wipe the piece clean.
Now the Fun Part with the Engraving!
So now the fun part! Place it in your light and turn it on. Wow! Is that cool or what?! Furthermore, there is a lot to making this one, but above all, it’s totally worth it! Now I have 11 more to make before Christmas so I better get busy!
Cutting and Engraving Acrylic with Cricut
So now that you know how to make this project by engraving acrylic with the Cricut Maker are you going to take the plunge? I’d love to see anything you all create. Please share them in the comments below along with any questions or comment. Hope you create beautiful things!
DIY Scalloped Pumpkins or Ornaments with the Cricut Wave Tool
Eliminate Your Fears And Doubts About How to Do Glass Etching
The Truth About Cutting Fabric With a Cricut Maker
I have an image of a black and white horse I want to use, but the “black” areas disappear when I choose to etch. Is there a way to fix this?
beautiful
Hi! I tried posting a picture in the comments, as you suggest, of an engraving on a nightlight I’ve done, but I just can’t get it to appear. The light travels through them best if they are directly (or almost directly) vertical, so it helps to have something to stand them up straight. Some places that you buy the pre-cut, shaped blanks from also include little plastic clips that keep them standing up straight.
Thanks for your input. I’ll check out those precut blanks and clips. Good idea! I’m sorry for your trouble with the photo, I’d love to see it!
How do you stop the acrylic from wobbling around when it is less in thickness than the thickness of the slot size ? I.e the slot size is 4mm but the maximum thickness acrylic the maker can engrave is 2mm.
I just let it set in the slot. It leans slightly, but not that much. Maybe cut a small piece of cardboard to wedge in the slot to help stabilize your piece. Good luck!
Super cool project! I am looking at some blanks (shaped) to use to design some great gifts. Thank you for sharing.