What is a Craft Robo?

A Craft Robo is a desktop digital cutter. It interfaces with your computer and can be used to cut any shape that you desire. You may use it to create outlines using any fonts that you have on your computer. In this way, the Craft Robo provides much more flexibility than a device such as the Cricut, for which you would need to purchase a new cartridge every time you wanted a new font.


You may use the software that comes with the robo, Robomaster. This is a simple CAD program that allows you to draw simple to complex shapes.

You may also use a plug-in to Illustrator that comes bundled with the robo. This allows you to use the professional-grade illustration program to design and to send the items to be cut all from the same application (you may also export the Illustrator file as a .gsd file.

The plug-in (or bridge) may also be used with other applications, such as CorelDraw or Inkscape, which is an open source illustration program.

How does it know where to cut?

In whatever application you are using, you specify certain lines to be cut lines. You may even have different kinds of cut lines -- some lines you may specify as cutting more lightly than others (to score or to "kiss" cut labels so that the backing sheet remains intact) or to cut a dashed line, as for a perforation. You may specify certain color lines to do certain types of cuts.

In Illustrator, you may specify the different types of cuts by layer, so you may specify one layer as a fold layer and another as a cut layer. The Craft Robo will then make two circuits around your project, to do the different types of cuts.

When you design a project, you will place registration marks on your project using the registration marks function. These will be printed on the sheet of paper or cardstock with your graphics, using your printer. This sheet will be fed into the craft robo. When you set the robo to cut this piece, the first thing it will do is to search for the three registration marks. If it finds them successfully, it will then proceed to cut your project.

What can you do with a Craft Robo?

Some people use it to cut elements for their scrapbooking. Some designers are using it to do elaborate paper automata, popup cards, paper sculpture. If it can be cut out of a piece of paper, chances are, the craft robo may be able to help you.

Can you simply have it cut shapes out of paper? Do I need to have it print first?

Yes, you can simply cut shapes, such as letters for a project. If you do that, you will not need registration marks and can send your project directly to the robo without first printing it.

Is it Mac-compatible?

The Robo Master software works only with the PC, however, the Illustrator plug-in works with both Mac and PC. (this plug-in also works with CorelDraw and Inkscape, an open source Illustration program).

How is this different from other digital cutters, such as the Cricut?

The Cricut is a standalone cutter, so it does not interface with your computer. This makes it more portable and attractive to some crafters. The advantage of the Robo is that you can have it cut any shape that you can make with your computer. If you are using your Craft Robo to create words, for example, you may use any font that you have on your computer. For any new font (or shape) on the Cricut, you will have to purchase another cartridge, which can add up.