Cutting Machine Silhouette Curio 2

The Silhouette Curio 2 is a precision flatbed cutting machine featuring an electrostatic bed for cutting without a mat, 20mm vertical clearance for thicker materials, and two tool holders. It offers automatic tool detection and material thickness measurement. Supports projects including cutting, engraving, pen plotting, foil heat transfer and embossing.

Silhouette Curio 2 info

Usage: free for all

Model: Silhouette Curio 2

Work surface: 12x12"

Clearance: 20 mm max thickness

Booking: First come, first serve

Cost: None (but vinyl by the dm is purchased in web store)

Logging: None

Location: Big Room

This cutter is a great all-round choice and easy to load/unload as long as the material is ≤ 12" (30 cm) on both axes. If you need a larger work surface, loading vinyl straight from a roll, or just in a hurry (it's roughly twice as fast), the Cameo Pro MK-II is for you.

Setups & settings

TODO: add name of Silhouette presets for these tasks

What to make	Material	Tool	Support
Vinyl sticker/fabric transfer	Vinyl	Fixed or AutoBlade	Debris tray with taped-on Cameo mat
Shape-cut card	Card stock	Craft blade (orange)	Debris tray with taped-on Cameo mat
Cut fabric	Fabric	Rotary blade (gray)	Debris tray with taped-on Cameo mat
Embossed card	Card stock	Embossing tool (narrow/wide)	Debris tray with taped-on soft embossing mat
Foil on paper	Paper & card stock	Heat foil tool 0.5-2.5	Cameo mat or electrostatic tray
Foil on leather	Leather	Heat foil tool 0.5-2.5	Debris tray, taped-on directly or on Came mat
Foil on acrylic	Acrylic (and other hard, smooth plastics)	Heat foil tool 2.5	Debris tray with material taped down
Paper plotting	Paper	Cameo pen/adapter	Electrostatic tray
Surface plotting	Acrylic, metal, wood etc.	Marker in pen adapter	Debris tray with material taped down
Engraving	Acrylic, wood, aluminium, copper	Power engraver	Debris tray with material taped down

Cutting instructions

Important: The electrostatic cutting table must always be used with the protective plastic sheet on top. Failing to do this will cause permanent damage to the electrostatic grabbing surface.

Starting the Machine

Power on the machine by pressing and holding the power button on the right side.

Preparing the cutting Table

1. Make sure the debris tray (all plastic, raised edges) is mounted in the machine
2. To change it, flip the release levers on both sides, pull the table straight out towards you. About halfway out, it can be lifted free.
3. Insert the debris tray the same way, flip levers to lock it into the machine
4. If you need a Cameo mat, place it within the matching raised markings on the tray, use sticky tape to hold it in place

Preparing the material

1. Place the material you want to cut on the table.
2. The material must be completely flat in order to adhere well electrostatically.
3. You can also place a regular Cameo mat on top instead.
4. Wait for around a minute for the electric charge to grab the material properly.
5. Try moving the material with all fingertips on one hand. If it resists movement, the hold is strong enough to cut.
6. If the material does not adhere well, switch to the “debris” plate (made entirely of plastic with raised edges) and tape a Cameo mat onto it.

Tool selection

1. To change tools: pull forward on tool holder's protruding tab, lift the tool upward. Iinsert the new tool using the same procedure in reverse.
2. The completely white cutting tool is “auto depth” one, suitable for cutting when you are unsure of the exact settings.

Software preparation

1. Start Silhouette Studio on the computer next to the cutting machines.
2. Select Curio 2 in the top right white box. It should say "ready" in green letters, if not, check that it's
   1. Turned on
   2. Connected via USB
3. Open your design and adjust its size and placement.
4. If using the Cameo grid mat for precise placement, select Cameo Mat from the options on the right side of the window, and adjust the transparency slider so you can see lines and numbers.

Cutting

1. Click the SEND tab.
2. Select the tool(s) you inserted and the material you are using.
3. Adjust the force and cutting depth settings.
4. For textile transfers, stencils, and use cases, choose Mirror (unless you have already mirrored your design, earlier in the process).
5. Click Send.
6. Your design will now be cut / drawn / engraved

Pausing/emergency stop

• Press the ⏸️ button in the control panel (only lit while cutting)
• To cancel cutting completely:
  1. Long press the pause button again for ≈ 10 seconds
  2. Find the cut job listed next to the Send button in Silhouette studio. Press close ╳ next to the cut job.
• To resume, press ⏸️ button again

Pen plotting instructions

Pen plotting can create stunning designs using materials and inks not available with ordinary printers. The Silhouette system allows special plotting pens in a variety of colors, as well as attaching your own pens provided they fit in one of the available pen holders.

1. Choose material:
   1. For copy paper and other thin papers, use the electrostatic mat (with protective sheet, but no additional mat on top)
   2. For thicker materials that might not adhere properly to the electrostatic mat: use a Cameo mat with suitable adhesion strength taped onto the debris (non-electrostatic) tray
2. Choose pen:
   • Silhouette pen:

     1. 

        Insert pen into holder

        

        Mount pen holder to cutter just like a blade tool

   • Custom pen ("C" adapter)
     1. Try out the 3 colored adapter rings to see which one fits your pen the most snugly

        

        Inserting the pen into adapter ring of suitable size

     2. Insert pen into the white bottom part and screw the adapter into it
     3. The pen tip must reach out of the bottom hole at just the correct distance.
        1. Push the pen as far as it will go out of the white holder
        2. Attach the transparent pen holder cap, pushing the pen back in until the cap is fully in place
        3. Check that the pen tip sits centered in the cap

           

           Pen adapter assembled, note the transparent cap, pen tip should be just touching it.

     4. Screw on the white top adapter ring, gentle fingers as it is prone to breaking
     5. Check that there is no play (wiggle) in the pen
     6. Mount pen assembly in tool position 2, just like a cutting tool

        

        Adapter with pen fitted to Curio tool holder #2

     7. TODO: list of known pen types that fit one of the adapters
3. Perform the same steps in Silhouette studio as for cutting, selecting "Pen holder", suitable material, and "Sketch" instead of Cut.
4. To plot in multiple colors, use the "Cut line by color" feature to only plot lines having the currently mounted pen color. Then switch pen color, change the setting accordingly, and plot again.

   

   In the send panel, tool action can be determined by color

Accessories

• Cutting mats with registration grid​
• Heat pen​
• Power engraver​
• Leather punch
• Embossing tool​
• Gel pens
• Pen Holder (for regular pens)