The Xyron Personal Cutting System (PCS) comes with all the pieces (portable cutting unit, AC power adapter, self-healing cutting tray, tweezer, basic fonts and shapes books, user manual) you see above.  The unit is pretty much ready to use right out of the box... no computer is needed.

There is a shelf underneath the cutter which slides out.  This shelf is actually the input pad for the PCS.  Each of the little white dots is a little button.  The slot directly above the tray is for the cutting mat.  The mat has a self-healing pad.  The pad is sticky enough to firmly hold the material to be cut in place.

Different books can be plugged into the PCS to give it different cutting capabilities.  Each book contains directions for a set of shapes or fonts. 

Selecting the desired shape or font is a simple push-button operation.  The steps are clearly outlined in each book and on the LCD panel at the front of the machine.

The cutter is a small steel blade attached to a 2D X-Y axis mechanism, similar to a plotter.  The top of the cutter has a transparent lid so you can see what is going when it is cutting.

To use the machine, first load it with some paper, next select the shape or font, then hit the green button and watch it cut.  It is really as simple as that.

We were pleasantly surprised at how easy this machine was to use.  The cuts were clean and fast.  We had no problems with setting up the unit and successfully getting our project done on the first try.

The shapes available for this system is limited to what is available from Xyron.  There are quite a few books available for the PCS, but you cannot program your own shapes or letters.  Xyron does have higher end models with user definable shape cutting capabilities.

Adding your own touches to cards is one way to further personalize a note or gift for that "special" someone.  Some of us are creative and dextrous enough to cut patterns with scissors or an exact-o knife, but others can use a little help.

Xyron has created a machine called the Personal Cutting System to help with cutting patterns in different sizes on all kinds of materials.   

In the FirstLook review, we will take a look at this portable cutter and all its parts.

In the FirstUse review, we'll cut some patterns and letters to see just how easy it is to use. 

Review:

1. FirstLook

2. FirstUse

2. Frosted Window

3. KeyPad repair

Review Summary:

Initial Impression - portable

Usability - push button patterns

Durability - test in progress

Price - $170

Other Xyron Reviews:

1. DesignRunner

2. Xyron 900 Laminator

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