I unboxed the xTool M2 this weekend, and about six minutes after starting my first project, I had a finished wooden coaster in my hand. Considering I had never used a laser cutter before, the first run went surprisingly smoothly.
Setup was not hard, but it did take some time to get set up and organized. xTool’s video instructions do a good job of walking you through the process, including greasing the rails, installing xTool Studio on a Mac, connecting the M2 over USB-C and updating the firmware. The software then runs through a series of setup and calibration steps before you can start cutting.
There is also a mandatory safety video covering basic laser operation and fire precautions. After that, the M2 runs a vibration calibration and a five-step camera positioning process, along with a Z-axis calibration with the lid closed.
Unboxing the M2 and you get all the parts safely packed inside the unit with styrofoam. It’s all very straightforward.
For my first cut, I picked one of the coaster designs included in xTool’s tutorials and loaded a piece of included 3 mm basswood plywood.
xTool Studio placed the design over a live camera view of the work area, which makes positioning it on the material easy. The preset called for the full 20W of laser power at 100%, running at 8 mm/s in a single pass.
The job finished in 6 minutes and 2 seconds, cutting out the coaster and its floral pattern without any adjustments along the way. When it was done, xTool Studio suggested a few other projects to try, including print then cut, paper cutting, engraving and assembly projects.
Here’s a picture of the laser at work cutting through the thing plywood:
I did make one beginner mistake, like a total newb. I left one of the configuration sheets inside the machine during the cut, and part of it started to burn. So yes, clear the entire bed before starting a job. A shop vac cleaned up the remaining debris afterward and I’m glad I didn’t burn the machine down on the first go.
Since the weather was good, I set the M2 up outside on a folding table and didn’t use the optional air filter units. The smoke dispersed in the open air. If you’re running the machine indoors, proper ventilation is obviously going to matter much more.
Specs and features
The M2 is available with 10W or 20W blue diode lasers. I’m testing the 20W model, which has a 426 x 320 mm work area and a maximum movement speed of 600 mm/s. xTool says the 20W laser can cut through up to 10 mm basswood in a single pass.
The machine uses two cameras for positioning, including a 5MP panoramic camera and a 2MP close-range camera, along with autofocus and LiDAR ranging. The laser is fully enclosed with a Class 1 safety rating, while a built-in air pump helps keep the cutting area clear.
There are also several optional accessories. A 3W infrared module can mark metals and plastics, while the CMYK inkjet module adds full-colour printing before cutting. The RA3 Lite rotary attachment is designed for objects such as tumblers and bottles.
The inkjet module is probably the most interesting add-on if you’re making stickers, signs or other projects where you want the M2 to print a full-colour design and then cut around it in the same workflow.
Pricing
Canadian pricing is listed on xTool’s Canadian store. The 10W standalone M2 is $719 CAD, down from $849 CAD, while the 20W version is $1,269 CAD, down from $1,399 CAD.
The 10W Color Print and Cut bundle is $899 CAD, down from $1,079 CAD, while the 20W bundle is $1,449 CAD, down from $1,629 CAD. Both standalone models are currently listed as pre-order.
My first impression is that the M2 is very approachable for someone who has never used a laser cutter. The software walks you through nearly everything, positioning projects with the built-in cameras is simple, and I was able to go from opening the box to cutting a finished project without much trouble.
There’s still plenty left to test, particularly engraving, print then cut and some more complicated projects. xTool has also been expanding beyond laser cutters, recently unveiling its O1 Omni Printer with 3D embroidery. We’ll be putting the M2 through a lot more before deciding whether it deserves a permanent spot in the workshop.
Here’s the final coaster and the laser cuts were incredibly clean and accurate. If one was to start selling at a craft fair, the M2 will definitely be your workhouse for custom cuts on the spot.
Click here to check out the xTool M2 on the company’s website and Amazon.ca.
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