Hey, what's up? Sami here.
This is the xTool M1 from Makeblock.
It's not only for laser cutting, but also for blade cutting.
And I've been with it for some days and I tried tremendous things you can think of.
So how is it?
And what's new about it compared to the laser engravers I've reviewed before?
Let's dive into it.
I want to start off by saying that this video is not getting paid for by the Makeblock company,
but I will get the official unit once the crowdfunding campaign has ended,
because I liked it and asked to keep one for my own use.
So for this review it is based on this prototype I have now.
The official unit might be different in the end,
normally, from my experience it will be better and improved.
And if you are interested in this product, you can find out the link in the description.
Also please don’t forget to subscribe, it’s free, you won’t lose anything.
Now moving to the xTool M1.
Unlike those open-style laser engravers we normally see, this M1 is fully concealed in
a safe and sound white box.
On the front outside shell, we see the logo and a Start/pause button.
On the back, we have the Power button, USB port, Power port, Extension port,
and the Smoke outlet.
On the top is the lid, yet it is not just a lid, it filters
blue light to protect your eyes and when you open it, the engraving stops automatically.
Safety matters.
As for what’s inside, in order to show us clearly, Makeblock was kind enough to supply
another machine with part of the outer shell cut off.
Rich people!
Inside we see the Laser head, it also integratesa knife module.
You can easily take it out or install it like the video shows.
If you are wondering what the Blade cutting is,
it’s just using that sharp blade to cut stuff.
We also find a camera inside, which they use for a really interesting function
that I will talk about later.
Beyond those, there is a chain that drives the laser head to move around.
That’s basically all the design.
For me, I really like it.
It’s minimalistic, elegant, and safe.
I can just leave it there to engrave while checking my Tinder without worrying about anything.
Since the M1 offers laser cutting, engraving, and blade cutting.
I’m all good with the size, not too heavy and I can still have fun with it.
Now let’s talk about the real stuff, the engraving and cutting ability.
First I want to start with something new that I haven’t seen on other laser cutters,
which is the blade cutting.
There are many benefits for blade cutting.
Like for soft materials like vinyl, it normally can’t handle heat very well.
Laser cutting would just leave burnt edges and generate toxic fumes.
Blade cutting instead can perform perfect clean cutting, thus it is the perfect solution.
Now I’m going to show you how the blade cutting works.
They have a fancy name for it called “Bring sketch to life”.
Namely you draw or write whatever sketch you like, put it into the xTool M1 box, and then
place the material you want to cut beside.
Here I’m using the vinyl sheet because I want to stick that to my clothes.
Then go to the Laserbox App, click the “Plus” icon, the camera inside the M1 box then identifies
the material and transfers the sketch to the App.
Follow the prompts on the screen to draw a square around the image to extract it, and
magically, the image you drew is separated.
You can rotate it, resize it, and place it where you want to blade cut.
After that, click on “Flat surface mode” then choose “Blade cutting mode”, and
then adjust the cut pressure and speed.
Currently as the Makeblock team is finalizing the App I have to do this manually.
Later when you get the official unit, you won’t need to adjust all of the parameters.
It will automatically fit as they recognize all the cutting stuff.
And then press “Start” on the top right corner.
Lastly, you press the “Start/pause’ button on the machine to start.
Once it finishes, the indicator on the Start button turns to flashing green.
To be honest I’m really surprised how well and delicate it cut, not too deep or too shallow,
just good enough.
After that, just peel off the rest and leave the drawings on the sticker.
And then I used an iron to stick to my T-shirt.
Though I’m not a DIY guy and have little interest in customizing something to my T-shirt,
man, I just loved it.
And if you compare with the original drawings I drew, it’s an accurate cut!
And if you are wondering if the stickers last long, it seems it resists water washing quite well,
at least for once.
Secondly, I’m also impressed by the laser cutting of xTool M1.
According to the Makeblock team, they use a diode laser head and the 10W version can
cut up to 8mm basswood in a single pass.
I didn’t have one with that thickness but I tested it on 3mm wood, and it cuts perfectly.
I made a cute phone stand for myself.
Like I said I’m not a DIY guy, but if you are,
then just imagine what you can do with this little cute machine.
They also have a 5W version, which I also think is enough for home use.
Thirdly, I’d like to mention the rotary attachment.
It is optional and you can use it to engrave cylindrical objects
ranging from 3 to 70mm in diameter.
This means you can easily engrave something like rings or bottles, well the latter would
take some extra work.
You would have to remove the base and lift the machine with four wooden supports officially
provided, they are included in the package btw.
But I guess it is totally worth the hassle especially when you see the results.
Speaking of engraving results.
As always, I tried numerous prints on numerous materials.
Wood,
bamboo, (sorry it’s a bit off the center),
leather,
ceramic,
black stones,
tile,
stainless steel,
Aluminum card,
and even cookies.
The image quality is just mind-blowing.
They look crystal clear and many details are kept.
All look nice and sharp with high definition!
No visible flaws or had any significant problems.
It definitely has one of the best performances so far.
You can go as creative as you can.
Or if you are too lazy, you can just apply the default models in their software
and the choices are also plenty!
Now to my conclusion.
I’ve got to say I’m really impressed with the xTool M1.
It combines the laser cutter and blade cutter so well that it enables you to create something
on the widest range of materials as possible.
If you are a creator and want one flawless hybrid laser & blade cutter and engraver,
I think this is the one.
It’s easy to use.
You don’t have to put too much effort on adjusting focus.
With the AI system and built-in smart camera, this laser cutter can automatically focus
and detects the shape of the material and processes the same ones in batches at one time.
Another great highlight is its safety.
It’s all in the box!
Great for families with naughty kids or curious pets, isn’t it?
But just like reviewing all products I always point out the disadvantages in addition to
all the good stuff.
I think there is only one thing that exists for this product
and that is you will have to wait.
You can’t get the xTool M1 shipped to you right now to use for your project.
They are still finalizing the product, still tuning their software
and testing all kinds of stuff.
By the time I was reviewing it, I had to connect the machine to a computer to use.
Good news is they’re working on the phone App
and things will be more convenient and easier.
Also it’s a crowdfunding project, so the estimated delivery time
would be about two or three months later.
But if that’s the only thing I point out then there is really nothing to complain about it.
After all, good products are worth waiting for.
And I deeply believe Makeblock has every ability to bring this project to life and get it done.
Do you believe more than 7 years I ago I visited the Makeblock company when it was just a startup
with tens of people? And now they have over 400 staff and with millions of users worldwide,
and still, they are focusing on producing great products for different people.
And I think this is the faith.
Alright, that’s the video, if you are interested in this xTool M1, definitely give it a try,
link is in the description.
Currently it’s at the crowdfunding campaign stage and has the best price ever.
So, what will you do with it?
Please let me know in the comments section below.
I'm Sami and I will see you in the next one.
He was so excited and fell down...