This Desktop Machine Prints, Slices, and Engraves
▼ Summary
– xTool’s new M2 Color Craft Laser is a modular machine that can print, cut, and engrave on materials like paper, wood, felt, and metal, with swappable tools.
– The base M2 costs $599 ($549 for the first week) with a 10W laser, but printing requires a $749 bundle, and thicker materials need a $1,149 bundle with a 20W laser.
– The M2 uses a 5-megapixel panoramic camera and a 2-megapixel close-up camera to help users accurately align projects using xTool Studio software.
– The machine uses AI to detect material type and automatically adjust settings for cutting, engraving, or scoring.
– The M2 has an integrated air pump but vents exhaust into the room, requiring a $999 air purifier accessory for heavy cutting use.
xTool has unveiled a new multi-purpose crafting machine that could become one of the most budget-friendly ways to launch an Etsy shop. Its modular design accommodates a CMYK print head capable of working on materials like paper, wood, and felt. Later, users can swap it out for laser-based cutting and engraving tools. The M2 can both print and cut stickers, for instance, but it is also versatile enough to etch designs onto metal water bottles. The machine’s upgradeable features justify its footprint, which is considerably larger than a typical desktop printer.
The xTool M2 Color Craft Laser is priced at $599 and becomes available today, with a temporary discount to $549 for the first week. However, that base price only includes a version with a 10W laser diode that can cut over 300 thinner materials. For printing capabilities, the $749 bundle adds the CMYK Inkjet Printing Module, which can produce about 400 pages before needing a new ink cartridge. For printing and cutting thicker materials, a $1,149 bundle with a 20W laser is required. An additional $499 adds an infrared laser module that excels at engraving metals.
What truly distinguishes the M2 from its predecessor, the M1 Ultra, is the inclusion of a 5-megapixel panoramic camera and a 2-megapixel close-up camera inside the new model. These cameras photograph the material placed inside the machine, allowing users to accurately position designs and cutting patterns using the xTool Studio desktop software. To simplify the process for beginners, the M2 uses AI to detect material types and automatically adjusts settings for cutting, engraving, or scoring to make thinner materials easier to flex and fold.
More powerful laser cutters often require external air pumps and filtration systems. While the M2 has its own integrated air pump, the exhaust is simply released into the room. For frequent cutting sessions, xTool recommends pairing the M2 with an accessory like the SafetyPro AP2 Air Purifier, though at $999, it costs more than the crafting machine itself.
(Source: The Verge)