You can print, cut and engrave with this desktop manufacturing machine

xTool announced New multi-purpose drafting machine This is probably one of the most affordable ways to start an Etsy shop. Its modular design facilitates a CMYK print head that works on multiple materials including paper, wood and felt. They can later be replaced by laser-based cutting and engraving tools. You can use the M2 to print and cut labels, for example, but it’s versatile enough to also be used to etch designs onto mineral water bottles. The device’s upgradable functionality justifies its size, which is much larger than a typical desktop printer.

The xTool M2 Color Craft Laser is priced at $599 Available starting todayhas been temporarily discounted to $549 for the first week. However, this base price only gets you a version of the machine with a 10-watt laser diode capable of cutting more than 300 thinner materials. If you want to print, too, you’ll need the more expensive $749 package that includes the CMYK inkjet printing unit, which can produce about 400 pages before needing a new ink cartridge. To print and cut thick materials, a $1,149 package with a 20-watt laser is needed, while for an additional $499 you can add an infrared laser unit that’s better at engraving metal.

What really sets the M2 apart? M1 Ultraan earlier entry-level version of this maker, is adding a 5-megapixel panoramic camera and a 2-megapixel telephoto camera inside the new model. These cameras photograph the materials you place inside the machine so you can precisely position designs and cutting patterns using xTool Studio desktop software. To make the process easier for beginners, the M2 leverages artificial intelligence to detect the type of input material and adjust only the cutting, engraving or scoring settings to make it easier to bend and fold thin materials.

More powerful laser cutters often need to be paired with external air pumps and filtration systems. While the M2 has its own built-in air pump, the exhaust is simply pumped into the chamber. If you do a lot of cutting regularly, xTool recommends pairing the M2 with an accessory like it Safety Pro AP2 Air Purifier, But at $999, it’s more expensive than the drafting machine itself.