(I was sent a complimentary M1 Machine by xTool to facilitate this review. However, the views and opinions expressed here are entirely my own. You can read my full disclosure here)
The xTool M1 is a hybrid 3-in-1 laser engraver, laser cutter & blade-cutting machine.
I heard it jokingly said once that the xTool M1 is what you would get if the Glowforge and a Cricut had a baby. This machine first debuted as a Kickstarter in October 2021 that totally funded in just 15 minutes! Combing a totally enclosed laser cutter & engraver with blade cutting capabilities completely opened up the potential of what you can make with this easy-to-use machine that is a lot more affordable at just $1299-$1499 than the Glowforge at $3995-$6995.
I have loved crafting with my Cricut machines for years (and still do) but I have been wanting to take my crafting to the next level by adding laser engraving and cutting. The Glowforge was just a little too pricy for me right now so I was looking for something more budget-friendly that would still do all the kinds of laser engraving/cutting projects I wanted. I found what I was looking for with The M1. Honestly, it has been the perfect addition to my craft room. While there are still projects I prefer to make with my Cricut, there are soo many I now prefer to use my M1 to make.
Watch my video review below or keep reading for my written review!
If you don’t already have a crafting machine like my Cricut, then the xTool M1 is a great choice as well because it combines the blade-cutting ability with the laser engraving/cutting so you can do soo many projects without having to buy more than this one unit.
Needless to say, I have been so excited to try out the xTool M1, and let me just say it totally lived up to my expectations! First of all the xTool M1 was ready to use practically right out of the box. It took me less than 20 minutes to fully set it up and that included hooking up the exhaust hose that comes with it as well as downloading the Xtool design software and connecting the M1 to my computer.
Within less than an hour I had my first test project completed. I just used an SVG cut file I already had on hand (can I say how much I love that the xTool M1 works with SVG cut files which I already created and use with my Cricut!) and set my M1 to engrave the design in the test sheet of 3 mm Basswood that came with the machine and then cut it out. I used the default settings in the xTool Creative Space software for 3mm basswood and it turned out amazing!
The xTool M1 comes with a package of sample materials and I had other materials on hand (since I do a lot of crafting with Cricut etc. So it was now time to put my new M1 machine through its paces to see what it could do.
I don’t have any acrylic so I haven’t tried cutting or engraving acrylics with my M1 yet but I understand that because the M1 uses a blue light Diode laser it cannot cut clear and blue acrylics. It cuts other colors like Black really well. You can engrave on all the colors but for blue and clear you will need to mask the area first (like with glass). You can use making paper but most recommend using either tempura paint or black chalkboard spray paint to coat the surface first then remove after (just make sure you get an even layer of paint for the best engraving results.
I decided to start with engraving food for I saw you could do so with the M1. Since there are no presets for food I have to experiment with power levels, speed, and passes for the best results but I did have fun engraving both Pop Tarts and Vanilla Wafer cookies (which both tasted like normal (no burnt taste) and looked awesome.
Next, I decided to try engraving on Stainless Seel since that is a metal that diode lasers do well with. I got a simple stainless steel spatula at my local store and engraved a fancy monogram of G on it. I used one of the default settings for engraving on stainless steel dog tags and I absolutely loved how it turned out. Next, my husband asked if we could try engraving his stainless steel flask. I had to guess what setting to use for the flask and while it turned out well I still want to play around to see if I can get a better engraving result. Next time we are going to try doing the same design on some black powder-coated flasks which I hear turn out even better.
I Love how the xTool M1 engraves and cuts wood and did several projects. I made a fun Valentine’s Gnome Banner as well as a fun witchy TicTacToe game.
My favorite wood project would have to be this triple-layered wood family tree. The base layer is 3mm Basswood. The Tree Layer is 3mm Walnut wood and the names are done in 1.5mm Basswood. I absolutely LOVE how it turned out. So do my inlaws who I made it for.
After having tried out the Laser engraving and cutting features on various materials (quite satisfactorily) I next tested the blade cutting feature.
First I decided to use the M1 Blade function to cut out some vinyl to make a label for my Vacation fund piggy bank. The mats that come with the M1 are sticky on both sides so you can stick the mat to the baseplate inside the M1 and then stick your material to the mat. The blade cut the vinyl well and it was easy to weed and then place on my acrylic piggy bank.
then I decided to try working with leather. I had some sheets of pebbled faux leather that I decided to make into bookmarks. (I will have the tutorial for these up soon) I decided I wanted to use the laser engraver to put the design on the bookmarks but then use the blade to cut the bookmarks out. The process took two steps but they turned out amazing.
Loving how the bookmarks turned out I decided to do one last leather project. I had a plain leather bound journal that I used the laser engraver to engrave my name on the front and my logo on the back.
All in all my opinion of the xTool M1 hybrid laser engraver, laser cutter, and blade cutting machine is that it is a perfect machine for laser beginners, hobbyists, and even small business crafters. It is budget friendly (especially when you can get it on sale) and easy to use. The machine is fully enclosed so you can use it in your home venting out your window.
Though more limited than CO2 lasers it is a lot more budget-friendly and can still work with over 300 materials. Just be aware that the M1 is slower than higher-wattage diode lasers and CO2 lasers. So plan accordingly. It is a solid machine that as long as you take care of it and clean it regularly will last you a long time and help you to make some incredible projects.
