Silhouette CAMEO 4 Tools and Blades: Which Tools are Compatible (And How to Use them)

Confused on which tools can be used in the Silhouette CAMEO 4? You're not alone.

Between two different tool carriages, various tool adapters, and multiple versions of the same tool, it's easy to see why knowing which tool to use in the Silhouette CAMEO 4, 15" Silhouette CAMEO 4 Plus, and Pro can seem like a guessing game.

The first thing you should know is all the same tools can be used in the CAMEO 4, Silhouette CAMEO Plus and Silhouette CAMEO Pro. So when I say "CAMEO 4" I mean the Silhouette CAMEO 4 series of machines.

The Silhouette CAMEO 4 has two different tool carriages..different in that one is "standard" and one is "high force."

CAMEO 4 Standard "Flat Back" Tool Carriage Tools

The standard tool carriage is the the left tool carriage. I call this the "Standard Flat Back" tool carriage.  It's standard in that it delivers the standard cutting force.

The standard flat back tool carriage is different than the rounded back carriages on the Curio, CAMEO 1, 2, and 3 and Portrait 1 and 2 in four main ways: 

• It has a flat back to account for the tool's sensor strip which allows for auto-tool detection 
• It has a wider opening
• It has a teeth-style locking mechanism 
• Three evenly spaced alignment grooves

These changes mean the older style tools, now known as "A" tools don't fit in the CAMEO 4 unless you use one of the adapters. The adapters are going to be phased out as new "B" tools are introduced.

The Silhouette CAMEO 4 tools, known as "B" tools are designed to fit perfectly in the flat back standard carriage. These tools are:

• CAMEO 4 Autoblade "B"
• CAMEO 4 Pen Holder "B"
• 2mm Kraft Blade "B" - coming soon
• Ratchet Blade "B" - coming soon 
• Deep Cut Blade "B" - coming soon 

 

There are also a few additions to the list that can be used with a Silhouette adapter:

• Black-bodied Sketch Pens + Blue Adapter
• Ratchet Blade "A" + Black Adapter
• 2mm Kraft Blade "A" + White Adapter
• Deep Cut Blade "A" + Gray Adapter
• Premium Blade + Gray Adapter 

*The black-bodied sketch pens will remain dependent on an adapter and can only be used in the Standard Flat Back carriage.

Finally there are several third party tools which can be used with a third party adapter:

• WRMK Foil Quill + WRMK "D" Foil Quill Adapter
• WRMK Cutting Machine Pens + WRMK "D" Pen Adapter

CAMEO 4 High Force Tool Carriage Tools

The High Force Flat Back carriage, which is ONLY found on the Silhouette CAMEO 4, has a different type of motor than its neighbor to the left.  The High Force carriage delivers high force and is therefore reserved for just three specialty tools: 3mm Kraft Blade, Silhouette Punch Tool, and Silhouette Rotary Blade.  These will be known as "C" Silhouette tools. 

The High Force carriage is also a flat-back carriage with auto tool detection, however it's grooves are spaced differently only allowing "C" tools to fit. Likewise the tools on the back of the C tools prevent them from being inserted into any other tool carriage. 

Silhouette CAMEO 4 High Force Tool Tutorials

Need help on how to use any of the high force speciality tools in the Silhouette CAMEO 4 or CAMEO Plus? Check out these Silhouette CAMEO 4 tool tutorials: 

• How to Use the Silhouette CAMEO 4 Rotary Blade
• How to Use the Silhouette CAMEO 4 3mm Kraft Blade
• How to Use the Silhouette CAMEO 4 Punch Tool

Need a quick reference on which tools can be used in the Silhouette CAMEO 4..and in which carriage keep these Silhouette CAMEO 4 tool compatibility charts handy! 

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