How Do You Cut SVG Files with a Brother ScanNCut Machine?

We aren't "affiliated" with Brother, however, we regularly get e-mails from people asking how to cut SVG files with their Brother ScanNCut machine.

So, let's break it down! 🙂

The New ScanNCut Machine

The new Brother ScanNCut2 machine DOES cut SVG files directly, so all you need to do is load them onto your machine and cut.

The original Brother ScanNCut machine does not allow you to plug your computer directly into it. Nor does it accept SVG files for cutting. This creates a few extra steps compared to other personal electronic cutting machines, but lots of happy ScanNCut customers do it regularly.

How to Cut SVG Files on the original Brother ScanNCut Machine

In a nutshell, you'll need to login to the ScanNCut Canvas website, import your SVG file, and convert it to an FCM file. This is what the machine reads. You'll then load the FCM file onto the machine by saving it to a USB/flash drive and plugging that into the machine.

Step-by-Step

Let's take a look at the steps involved in cutting SVG files in further detail.

1. Log into the Brother ScanNCut Canvas website https://scanncutcanvas.brother.com

2. In a new, blank project...

...click on the "SVG" button near the top of your window.

3. Navigate to the SVG file that you'd like to use by clicking on the Choose File button, locating the SVG file and then clicking the OK button. The shape now appears on your mat on-screen.

For example, here's our newest free spiderweb design:

4. Next, click the big purple "Download" button...

...to save the design as an .FCM file (which is the only type of file that the ScanNCut machine can read) by then clicking on the "Download to PC" button.

5. It will be saved as "Untitled.FCM" unless you specify a different name for it. To specify a different name for it (and to specify the location it will be saved in), you can right-click on it and use the menu that comes up.

6. At this point, your file has been converted and saved to your location of choice, for example a USB/flash drive.

7. You can then take the flash drive, plug it into your ScanNCut machine, and cut. But if you would like to use more than one SVG file, you'll have to repeat the process above for each SVG file you'd like to cut.

All of our projects are compatible with the Brother ScanNCut machine, such as the top five most-popular downloads from October 2016:

#5 Winter Lodge SVG Kit

#4 Haunted Forest SVG Kit

#3 Harvest Sunset SVG Kit

#2 Harvest Mail SVG Kit

#1 Ghosts N' Goblins SVG Kit