Brother Scan and Cut CM350 Review

Ian Mutuli
Updated on
Ian Mutuli

Ian Mutuli

Founder and Managing Editor of Archute. He is also a graduate architect from The University of Nairobi, Kenya.
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Brother CM350 Electronic Cutting Machine, Scanncut2,...
  • 300 DPI Built in Scanner: The ScanNCut2 Machine Allows You to...
  • Large Color Touchscreen: The Brother ScanNCut2 CM350 Includes a...
  • Wireless Network Ready: The CM350 Permits Multiple Connectivity...
  • Large Scanning and Cutting Area: Use the Included 12 Inches x 12...
  • On Screen Editing: The Brother CM350 allows users to edit designs...

This is a versatile machine that scans and cuts any image, even your own drawings and text. Of course, like any crafting tool, it's not for everyone, so read on to find out if it would be a good investment for you.

The Pros

Use it for any project!

Really, the machine's countless possible uses are what make it great. You can make customized gifts with beloved family photos, children's artwork, or even your own designs. It also comes with more than 600 built-in designs and pre-installed fonts. Add that to the fact that you can print on all kinds of surfaces, including fabric, and your options become limitless.

Quality graphics

Unlike a lot of other crafting scanners, the Scan and Cut CM350 prints out designs that look as good on materials as they did on screen. It comes with a 300 DPI scanner and an LCD touchscreen display that lets you edit your images before you print them, so you don't need to commit to printing until you think it's perfect!

Precision cutting

If you like working with intricate designs, this is the machine for you. It's perfect for those of us that love beautiful images but never perfected working with scissors or a blade. The CM350 does all of that for you! It's amazing how professional a project can look using this machine.

The Cons

Takes time to learn... a lot of time.

This machine can do almost anything in terms of cutting out custom designs, but the learning curve is intense. You'll need to spend a few hours in front of YouTube or even sign up for a class to get this machine to do its job for you. And do take the time to read the manual from front to back or you'll be re-doing more projects than you'd like.

You’ll need to invest in accessories, materials, replacement parts, etc.

The machine is able to cut through multiple materials, including fabric and vinyl, but it will last a lot longer if you invest in different blades for different kinds of crafting. You'll also need to buy all the materials you want to craft with and be prepared to replace certain parts. The mat, for example, will lose its stickiness as it wears out.

Only scans and cuts images with complete outlines.

If you need to cut anything that isn't completely “enclosed,” you'll have to shell out about $180 to get the advanced imaging feature. You need to get this from a Brother dealer.

Brother customer service isn’t great.

This company keeps a tight hold on their products. A lot of users have had trouble getting answers anywhere but from the 800 number and if you use any third-party accessories or parts, you could damage the whole system.

I hope that this Brother Scan and Cut CM350 review gives you a good idea of what the machine can do.  It really is a great tool if you're up for a challenge!

Ian Mutuli

About the author

Ian Mutuli

Founder and Managing Editor of Archute. He is also a graduate architect from The University of Nairobi, Kenya.
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