Laser Cutting

xTool’s New M2 Color Craft Laser is a Production Powerhouse

Desktop laser cutters have been a boon to craft sellers. Such a boon, in fact, that most laser-cut plywood products tend to camouflage with all the other laser-cut plywood products. You can stand out with post-processing, but that’s another operation. And switching to colorful materials means using something either more expensive or smellier than plywood. Today xTool expands the aesthetic scope by launching the M2 Color Craft Laser, which combines a diode laser cutter and a CMYK inkjet printhead for...

May 27, 2026Uncategorized, , , , , , 0 Comments
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Break Free from Material Limits: Gweike MCore Laser Hits Kickstarter

For makers and independent studios, processing heavy-duty metal in-house has long been an insurmountable challenge. On May 26th, Gweike — a veteran manufacturer with 22 years of industrial laser R&D and manufacturing experience — is set to shatter this limitation with its latest masterpiece: the MCore. A 400W fiber & 80W CO₂ laser cutter for metal and non-metal, the MCore will officially launch its Kickstarter campaign on May 26th, offering early-bird backers exclusive discounts of up to $2,300.

May 25, 2026Uncategorized, , , 0 Comments
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Review: xTool F2 Laser Engraver

Manufacturer: xTool Price as tested: $1,499 Link: https://www.makershed.com/products/xtool-f2-5w-ir-15w-diode-portable-dual-laser-engraver When I first got my hands on the tiny F1 laser from xTool, I was amazed at how useful the little galvo laser was. The F1 is small and enclosed for portability, it has a removable bottom plate making it easy to place it on larger objects or create jig inserts, and the dual laser allows for cuts on a wide range of materials; all this combined to make...

May 15, 2026Uncategorized, , , , , , , 0 Comments
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Review: xTool F2 Ultra Laser Engraver

Manufacturer: xTool Price as tested: $4,699 Link: https://www.xtool.com/products/xtool-f2-ultra-60w-mopa-40w-diode-dual-laser-engraver xTool hasn’t taken their foot off the gas this year as they continue to release new models with incredible features. The F2 Ultra ups the power available to desktop laser users and brings new tricks to the table. Have you ever wanted to cut through up to 2mm of steel or engrave it with color engravings? If the answer is yes, keep reading, it’s about to get fun. The F line from...

March 18, 2026Uncategorized, , , , , , 0 Comments
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Make: Live – Volume 96 Show & Tell

Wednesday, March 11, 2026 @ 4 PM Pacific Time

Join Make: Editors live for a chat with the authors of Make: Volume 96 as they show off and talk about the inspiration and elbow grease behind their builds. Backyard Brain’s Alex Hatch will show off his neuro-powered Spider-Man-inspired web flinger, Justin Andarza will talk about how he transforms physical spaces into immersive, video game-like experiences with his company Warped Worlds, pseudonymous craftswoman sky-guided will power up her high...

March 9, 2026Uncategorized, , , , , , , , , 0 Comments
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Make: Live – Inside Volume 96, The Digifab Issue

Wednesday, February 18, 2026 @ 4 PM Pacific Time

At Make: we’ve cheered, and sometimes steered, two decades of rapid evolution in digital fabrication tools for home, hobby, and business use. But this year is an astonishing one. Make: Vol. 96 is all about the latest digital fabrication tools! Join us live as we talk about 3D printer tech, CNCs, lasers, and more! Multi-material 3D printing is finally legit, with smart, tool-changing machines that don’t waste filament. We’ll talk...

February 16, 2026Uncategorized, , , , , , , , , 0 Comments
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Review: xTool MetalFab Laser Welder/CNC Cutter

Manufacturer: xTool Link: xtool.com/pages/xtool-metalfab-laser-welder-and-cnc-cutter Price: $11,998–$14,499 xTool’s MetalFab is a piece of serious production equipment designed by people with experience making easy-to-use things. It’s an incredible laser cutter/welder/cleaner designed for shops and small businesses, and although its capabilities are tremendous, the learning curve is short enough that beginners can quickly get up and running. We met with tool ambassadors Kyle Morrison and Monim Abdullah at xTool’s U.S. headquarters to try out the MetalFab. The fiber laser comes in 800W or...

January 28, 2026Uncategorized, , , , , , , , , 0 Comments
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What Cuts What? Lasering Different Materials

One of the most important parts about deciding to purchase a new laser cutter/engraver is knowing what materials that laser can cut and engrave. Here’s a basic table to help you decide what will work best for your needs.

Laser Cutting and Engraving Material Compatibility

MaterialBlue diode laserCO₂ laserFiber laserWoodCuts & engraves (thin, up to ~3mm)Cuts & engraves (thicker cuts, up to ~20mm)Engraves onlyAcrylic (clear)Cannot cut/engraveCuts & engravesCannot cut/engraveAcrylic (colored)Cuts & engraves (dark colors)Cuts & engravesCannot cut/engraveLeatherCuts & engraves...

September 10, 2025Uncategorized, , , , , 0 Comments
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Review: Algolaser Pixi Engraver Handles the Basics

Manufacturer: Algolaser Price: $270 as tested (5W, black enclosure) URL: https://algolaser.com/products/algolaser-pixi-smart-laser-engraver-with-enclosure?variant=51274697343283 

Features:

Lasers are great. They speed up prototyping and make “pew pew” sounds. They work with materials more befitting a final product than 3D printers, but you’re free to use cheap paper and cardboard for experimenting. They’ve come a long way down from the $20K of 20 years ago when our first Ultimate Tools article came out. But high-power desktop laser cutters are still outside the...

July 17, 2025Uncategorized, , , , , 0 Comments
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Review: xTool F1 Ultra Laser Cutter

Manufacturer: xTool Price as tested: $3,699 Link: https://www.xtool.com/products/xtool-f1-ultra-20w-fiber-diode-dual-laser-engraver Previously we looked at the xTool F1; this time we bring you the F1 Ultra, a machine that is more of a big cousin than a big brother to the F1. If you are willing to give up the extreme portability for more power, the F1 Ultra is here for you. Unboxing the F1 Ultra is a surprise — it’s big. It has a 220mm×220mm cutting area, not huge for...

July 10, 2025Uncategorized, , , , , , , 0 Comments
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