As crafters, we are always on the lookout for the best-performing tools to help us work in the best possible way 👨🏻🎨. Whether you are a small, medium or large business, you should always be searching for the best tool available, the one that will save you time and money in the long run.
Investing in quality tools is essential to make quality products for your customers. Weighing the pros and cons of an investment is something we all have to do.
So in this blog post, we are going to reveal everything you need to know about the Cricut Auto Press so you can decide whether it is right for you! 😉
What Is a Cricut Auto Press Machine?
The Cricut Auto Press is the craft equipment recently put in the spotlight by Cricut, part of the royal line of its heat presses. This equipment is designed to blend in functionally for commercial, home and personal use.
Its many new features guarantee the production of more work in less time and are far more user-friendly. ✅
What Are the Handy Parts of the Cricut Auto Press and Their Basic Features?
The Cricut Auto Press machine does not just have a pretty design. It also features full professional equipment, with a body made up of many parts that each serve a specific function and are meant to make your work easier:
The Power Switch
It is located at the bottom right of the machine, next to the lock button. It lets you turn the Auto Press on or off.
The Heat Plate
It acts as the upper platen, measures 38 cm x 30 cm and is made of a non-stick ceramic layer that ensures even heat distribution 🌡️. It is the only part of the Auto Press that gives off heat when transferring your design.
The Platen
The platen is the firm lower plate that does not heat up, but can become warm during repeated transfers.
The Removable Mat
A removable non-slip mat made of a silicone material is included with the purchase of the Cricut press, and it should be placed on the lower platen of the Cricut Auto Press.
This mat is designed to remove the need for a heat press pillow and helps your project align properly on the upper platen of the machine.
The Fan
The fan allows the machine to keep the entire press at the right temperature while the plate is heating up 💨. It is essential during long sessions with the press.
The Cricut Auto Press Control Pod
This tool is the control unit and gives you convenient access to preprogrammed time and temperature settings. This control is suited to the most commonly used materials. Using the preset buttons, you can choose any of the built-in options. At the same time, you can adjust it manually thanks to the control dials located beneath the time and temperature display.
The Handles
They have two functions. First, the front handle is used to pull down and close the main lid. The rear handle is used to carry the machine when it needs to be moved to another location, or simply when it needs to be put away.
How Is the Auto Press Different From Other Heat Presses?
Although the general function of the Cricut Auto Press is the same as that of other heat presses (sticking a design onto a textile backing), Cricut has truly rethought the entire heat press process.
Here are a few of the features that are different from other heat presses on the market:
1️⃣ - Overall Look and Feel
The first thing you will notice is that instead of being a big chunk of metal, Cricut designed the Cricut Auto Press to be sleek and elegant. It fits perfectly into the design language of all Cricut products.
The look of the machine may not be a real advantage for many crafters, but it is a small plus!
2️⃣ - Pressure
There are three variables when using a heat press: time, temperature and pressure. When these three variables work correctly together, they create a perfect press on the textile.
Pressure is often the most neglected or the most poorly applied of the three. On traditional heat presses, pressure is usually set with a crank located at the top of the machine. You can "test" the pressure by placing a piece of paper between the two plates of the machine and turning the crank until you can no longer pull the paper out. That is supposed to be "medium" pressure.
The problem is that this pressure is hard to set, and once you change the pressure of the press for any reason, you have to test the pressure again, which is tedious.
So Cricut decided to do away with manual pressure adjustment entirely. Instead, the Cricut Auto Press automatically adjusts the pressure on materials up to 5 cm thick!
Once you have pressed the press down to close it, you will hear it adjust the pressure from the upper plate to the lower platen. It is really clever and it is one of the best features of the Auto Press. 👍
3️⃣ - Four-Point Hinge
One of the other innovative features of the Cricut Auto Press is the type of hinge it uses. There are two types of heat presses on the market: the swing-away press and the clamshell press. They each have their pros and cons.
The advantage of a swing-away heat press is that the platen is set down fully vertically onto a project and can adapt more easily to thicker projects. But it requires a lot of space to work and the swing arm may start to wobble after several uses.
The advantage of a clamshell heat press is that it is faster to open and close, and some models have an auto-open feature when the press is done. But you are more exposed to the heat plate, and thicker projects are sometimes trickier to press (they tend to shift out of place when you close the press)
Cricut looked at these designs and thought "Why not do both?". When you lower the press plate, it first closes like a clamshell, and once the plate is about 5 cm above the lower plate, it lowers vertically, like a swing-away press.
The Cricut Auto Press gives you the convenience and speed of a clamshell press along with the ability to handle thicker projects like a swing-away press.
4️⃣ - Minimal Effort
If you have ever worked with another heat press, you know it takes a certain amount of force on the handle to close and open the plate. It is no coincidence that many people screw their heat press onto a table, because it can bounce back when opening, especially on high-pressure projects.
With the Cricut Auto Press, on the other hand, there is no need to put all your weight on the press! To close it, you just lower the handle and press lightly with only 2 fingers. It locks and the pressure mechanism starts up automatically. When the time is up, it will open automatically too. 🤩
This is a great feature for people whose strength is limited by age, a disability or other factors.
5️⃣ - Safety Features
With this heat press, Cricut has really thought about the safety of its users. The top part of the press is cooled by a ventilation system, which keeps it from getting too hot on top. Unlike other heat presses, which burn you if you touch them by accident. This is an important point, especially if you have children!
The press also has a steeper tilt than other clamshell presses, which keeps you as far away as possible from the heat plate.
Finally, the feature that automatically opens the press once the timer is done is very useful and helps avoid scorching the pressed textile.
6️⃣ - Storage
The Cricut Auto Press can be stored very easily. Remove the power cord and close it back up. That way you can stand it upright. Although it is a decent size, it slides easily into small spaces. This is ideal if you do not need your press all the time and want to free up space on the table for other work. 😊
What Is the Maximum Temperature of the Cricut Auto Press?
The heat plate heats up to 200 degrees Celsius, which makes it compatible with heat-transfer vinyl and sublimation products like infusible ink.
How Long Does the Cricut Auto Press Take to Heat Up?
On average, the Cricut Auto Press takes about 8 minutes to heat up fully to 200 degrees. So we recommend turning your Cricut press on right from the start while you prepare your designs alongside it.
What Is the Cricut Auto Press Control Pod?
The Cricut Control Pod comes with the machine, and it lets you control the temperature and pressing time for each project you need to press with the Cricut Auto Press. It is connected to the press by a cable. 🔌
The Control Pod has 4 presets that are preprogrammed with the most commonly used materials and bases. If needed, the presets can be changed to better suit your specific requirements.
Preset 1: SportFlex/Polyester, 155° C/25 seconds
Preset 2: Everyday Iron-On/Cotton, 155°C/30 seconds
Preset 3: Glitter Iron-On/Cotton, 165°C/25 seconds
Preset 4: Infusible Ink™/Polyester, 195°C/30 seconds
Why Does the Cricut Auto Press Cost So Much?
The Auto Press was not designed as a simple heat press, it is a fully functional professional heat press that was built to outperform every competitor in this price range on the market.
This machine will not suit every maker. It was designed for people who love Cricut tools, who make custom items in large quantities and who are looking for professional-quality results while saving time. ✅
Although it is designed for professionals, that does not mean it is hard to use. On the contrary, the Cricut heat press is easy to use thanks to its automated features that take the guesswork out.
Setting Up the Cricut Auto Press
Setting up the Cricut Auto Press is simple. All you have to do is unbox the machine by removing the black handles from the box so you can separate the two parts of the box. Use the supplied USB cord to connect the Auto Press control module to your computer. Go to Cricut Setup and follow the on-screen instructions to set up your press. You can also set it up in the Cricut Design Space software by going to the top left menu and selecting New Product Setup.
Mac users: if you have a recent computer that does not have a standard USB port, you will need to get a USB to USB-C converter.
Using the Cricut Auto Press
Start by creating your project in Cricut Design Space and cut it out with your Cricut.
While your project is being cut by your machine, unlock the Cricut Auto Press and turn it on. Then set the control unit to your time and temperature settings based on the Cricut Guide provided in order to preheat your press.
You will also find other instructions specific to your cut there, so read the instructions carefully.
Place the t-shirt or textile of your choice on the base of the Cricut Auto Press, as flat as possible. 👕
Then close the Auto Press and press down on the handle until it clicks into place. The preheat countdown starts automatically, and when it reaches zero, the press opens (it beeps before it opens)
Let the textile cool down. Place the iron-on design on the textile. You can also use heat-resistant tape to make sure the design stays in place.
Set the control unit back to 45 seconds and press down on the handle until you hear a click. Once again, the countdown will start and the device will open when the timer reaches zero. ⏳
Let your textile cool down and remove the transfer!
We hope this article helped you learn more about the new Cricut Auto Press machine.
If you feel like making textile flocking projects, you can take a look at the heat-transfer vinyl we offer in our Shop!
