xTool M2 Review: Laser, Color Printing, and Rotary in One Machine

The xTool M2 review features a closed-cabinet desktop laser that, in addition to cutting and engraving, is capable of CMYK printing and—with the RA3 Lite—processing round workpieces. For the hands-on test, we engraved and cut plywood, turned a color-printed sheet into a snap-together box, engraved a cork coaster, and applied our Basic Tutorials logo to a whiskey glass. This meant the M2 had to switch between traditional laser cutting, print-and-cut, and rotary engraving during the test. For us, therefore, the decisive factor was not only the result but also how much setup work was required between these applications.

Model	xTool M2
Configuration Tested	10W Deluxe Kit with CMYK inkjet module and RA3 Lite
Laser Type	Blue diode laser
Optical Output Power	10 W
Wavelength	445 nm ± 15 nm
Laser spot	0.06 x 0.04 mm
Laser working area	426 x 320 mm
Maximum XY speed	600 mm/s
Cutting capacity according to the manufacturer	up to 8 mm of basswood plywood in a single pass
Positioning	Dual-camera system
Air Assist	Built-in air pump
Color printing	CMYK inkjet module
Ink capacity	40 ml
Print resolution	up to 1,200 x 1,200 dpi
Rotary Module	xTool Rotary Attachment 3 Lite (RA3 Lite)
Connection	USB, Wi-Fi
Software	xTool Studio
Laser Class	Class 1
Dimensions	610 x 569 x 180 mm
Weight	12.3 kg
Price (MSRP)	649 euros (standalone), 799 euros (Basic Kit), 1,039 euros (tested 10W Deluxe Kit)

Package contents depend on the selected configuration

There is no single, fixed package for the M2. xTool sells the 10W and 20W versions in different bundles. If you only need the machine, you can purchase the M2 as a standalone version. There is also a Basic Kit and a Deluxe Kit. Our test unit corresponds to the 10W Deluxe Kit with a CMYK inkjet module and RA3 Lite. The machine and bundled accessories can be shipped separately. That’s why we received two boxes.

The standard contents of the base version of the xTool M2 include:

• xTool M2
• 10W diode laser module
• Module connection cable
• Power supply and power cord
• USB cable and adapter
• Exhaust hose
• Hose clamp
• Grease
• Material kit
• 4 magnetic clamps
• Allen wrench
• M3x6 screw
• Masking tape
• Safety Instructions
• Instruction card

  

The CMYK package includes the xTool M2 CMYK Inkjet Module, the ink cartridge, the bottom cap (protective cap), humidifying fluid, the retaining plate for the protective cap, a screw, an A5 calibration card, a ferrite core, and the user manual.

The RA3 Lite comes with a chuck, cylindrical clamping jaws, T-shaped jaws, extended jaws, a power module, a base plate, a support module, bolt components, laser protection, a horizontal laser holder, a positioning plate, a connection cable, and a measuring tape.

Setup is quick and easy

With a footprint of 610 x 569 mm, the M2 requires a dedicated workspace. At just 180 mm tall, the enclosed housing still appears quite flat. It weighs 12.3 kg. It’s still easy to move around, but I wouldn’t store it in a cabinet every night.

During setup, there was practically nothing that gave us any trouble. Remove the shipping locks, lubricate the designated guides, attach the exhaust hose, insert the required module, and connect the machine. That was done in no time.

The connection to the computer worked right away, too. Especially with devices that have cameras, interchangeable processing modules, and their own software, the first startup can often take a while. With the M2, however, we reached the point where the first material was in the workspace pretty quickly.

The enclosed housing is part of the Class 1 safety concept. Several safety devices monitor the lid, among other things. The M2 also comes equipped with an integrated air pump for Air Assist. Therefore, there’s no need to place an additional external Air Assist pump next to the machine.

The 10W Diode Module in Detail

Our M2 was equipped with the 10W diode module. If you regularly want to cut thicker wooden panels, you can also configure the device with 20 W. For our projects, however, we didn’t need the higher power.

The 10W laser operates at a wavelength of 445 nm ± 15 nm. According to xTool, the focal spot measures 0.06 x 0.04 mm. This is even smaller than that of the more powerful 20W module (0.08 x 0.06 mm) and is well-suited for fine engraving.

For cutting, xTool specifies that the 10W head can cut up to 8 mm of basswood plywood in a single pass. The usable laser area measures 426 x 320 mm. The mechanism can move at speeds of up to 600 mm/s.

However, the 600 mm/s should not be confused with the speed at which an entire project is completed. During engraving, the head must trace a large number of individual lines. How long a job takes is therefore primarily determined by the design, material, power, and selected speed.

xTool Studio was easy to learn

We also had very little time to get used to xTool Studio. The interface combines machine control, material settings, positioning, and project editing. Anyone who has already worked with graphics programs or other lasers will find their way around quite quickly. But even without much prior experience, you won’t be overwhelmed by settings.

An important part of this is the M2’s camera system. The loaded workpiece can be captured within the work area, and the design can then be placed directly on it. Instead of measuring distances by hand, you can see on the screen quite precisely where the engraving or cut should be placed.

For example, with our light-colored wooden board, the system recognized plywood and suggested a corresponding material profile. You can change these settings at any time, but they provide useful starting points for beginners.

Studio also integrates community projects. If you don’t want to design your own SVG right away, you can search for templates there. That’s exactly what we did for our later box. It works well, though the quality of these models isn’t always consistent.

The First Run: An Ornament Made of Plywood

We deliberately chose a predefined tutorial as our first project in the xTool M2 test. The goal was to create an ornamental coaster from a sheet of light-colored plywood. The design consisted of numerous curves, narrow bridges, and cutouts, making it a better first test than a simple rectangle.

xTool Studio calculated a processing time of 11 minutes and 43 seconds for this. The 10W laser cut along the contours; the cutouts could then be removed from the material, and even the narrower sections of the pattern remained intact.

For us, this primarily confirmed that the camera, positioning, focus, and selected material parameters were all working together properly. We were able to skip a series of additional test squares and move directly on to the more interesting part.

Our Jungle Box Combines Printing and Laser Cutting

The small wooden box turned out to be the most extensive project of the test. A thin, light-colored plywood sheet served as the base material. The plan was not simply to cut it out, but to apply a colorful jungle pattern to it first.

To do this, we first installed the CMYK inkjet module in the M2. Unlike the older M1 Ultra, this system doesn’t just use cyan, magenta, and yellow—it also has black ink. The entire cartridge holds 40 ml.

The jungle motif consisted of leaves and floral elements in various shades of green, pink, and beige. xTool Studio estimated 5 minutes and 39 seconds for this print.

Afterward, the plywood sheet remained in the same position. We switched to the diode laser and cut the individual components of the box directly from the printed workpiece. Studio estimated this step would take 26 minutes and 22 seconds.

This exact process is what I find most interesting about the M2 concept. The print design and cutting contours are positioned within the same workspace. This means the printed wood doesn’t have to be removed from the machine and then realigned as precisely as possible for the laser.

After cutting, we were able to remove the bottom, sides, and lid from the sheet. The parts are assembled using snap-fit connections. The jungle motif remains visible on the outer surfaces, while the lid also features its cut-out pattern.

There were only minimal burn marks on the visible sides. They were more clearly visible on the underside of the plywood sheet. However, they are hardly noticeable on the finished box.

Not every model works with community templates

The box didn’t come together on the first try. We looked at various designs from the xTool community and had to try a few before settling on a model whose snap-fit connections worked with our sheet.

With boxes, a lot depends on the exact material thickness. If the slot width and the board don’t match, the connections are either too loose or barely fit together. Community models don’t always specify these details in such detail.

That wasn’t a major obstacle for us, but it does show that just because a template is ready doesn’t mean you should start printing it without checking it first. Especially with designs that use snap-fit connections, I’d recommend checking the material thickness and intended dimensions beforehand.

Once we found the right file, the rest went smoothly without any further issues.

The CMYK module required manual intervention once

Our only technical hiccup occurred during color printing. The inkjet module has a magnetic protective cap on the bottom. It protects the print head and prevents the nozzles from drying out during prolonged periods of inactivity.

In the normal workflow, the M2 automatically removes this cap before printing and then puts it back on afterward. That’s exactly what didn’t work on the first try.

After some trial and error, we removed the cap by hand and reinserted it. After that, the automatic process worked as it should. The problem did not occur again during the rest of the tests.

xTool also describes this error in its own documentation. Among other things, automatic removal can fail if the protective cap or holder is not seated correctly. Our approach thus followed the manufacturer’s intended troubleshooting procedure quite closely.

The CMYK cartridge is a cost factor

Color printing within a laser project is convenient, but it comes with consumables. The CMYK cartridge contains 40 ml of water-based ink and is designed as a sealed consumable.

A replacement cartridge currently costs 99 euros. For smaller designs and individual projects, one cartridge should last a correspondingly long time. However, anyone who regularly prints on large, full-surface areas or wants to produce small batches with the M2 should still factor in the ink costs.

Since the ink is water-based, a printed piece of wood does not automatically become waterproof as a result of the printing process. If an object is expected to be regularly exposed to moisture later on, the surface requires a post-treatment suitable for the material.

Engraving on cork requires no additional modules

After the print-and-cut project, we went back to the standard diode laser. For this, we placed a round cork coaster in the work area. The design consisted of the saying “It’s never as hot when you eat it as when you cook it” and a small chili graphic.

xTool Studio estimated the engraving would take 29 minutes and 49 seconds. At first glance, this seemingly small project actually took longer than some cutting projects. The reason lies in the design: many letters and graphic lines require numerous movements of the laser head.

This creates a noticeably darker area on the cork, so neither paint nor any additional processing steps are needed. The text remained clearly legible, and even smaller elements within the design were distinguishable.

Projects like this are likely among the most common uses for a device like the M2. Coasters, name tags, pendants, or personalized wooden pieces can be prepared and engraved directly without changing modules.

RA3 Lite expands the M2’s capabilities to include round workpieces

In our latest major test, we moved away from the flat work surface. The xTool Rotary Attachment 3 Lite was developed specifically for the M2 and accommodates round or rotationally symmetric workpieces.

The system doesn’t just use two rollers. The package includes a chuck, various sets of jaws, a base plate, a support module, and other components. Depending on the workpiece, clamping can be done on the inside or the outside.

For the initial setup, we followed the instructions from xTool. There’s a QR code on the packaging that links to a video, among other things. The video demonstrates how to assemble the RA3 Lite and install it in the M2.

This saved us a lot of trial and error. After assembly, Rotary mode is activated in xTool Studio, and the clamping method appropriate for the workpiece is selected. The RA3 Lite is then calibrated, and the clamped workpiece is measured. We manually moved the probe to the measurement points for this. For cylindrical workpieces, xTool Studio also offers an automatic diameter measurement feature as an alternative, though we didn’t test it during our review.

Our whiskey glass first needed a coat of color

We used a whiskey glass as our test object and engraved the Basic Tutorials logo on it. However, transparent glass is a special case for the blue diode laser. Clear glass absorbs the wavelength of the 10W module poorly. Without preparation, a large portion of the laser light would pass right through the material.

That’s why we first applied a uniform coat of gouache to the area where the logo would go. The layer of paint absorbs the laser’s energy at the surface, thereby enabling the glass to be engraved. After it dried, the whiskey glass could be clamped into the RA3 Lite.

For our combination of transparent glass, gouache, and a 10W module, we couldn’t find a material profile that we could simply use as-is. For the initial settings, we therefore also relied on AI and adjusted the parameters to suit the experiment.

During engraving, the RA3 Lite rotates the whiskey glass in a controlled manner. This ensures that the laser doesn’t simply process a fixed section of the curved surface. The rotational movement and laser position are controlled together so that the design is created across the curve.

For our Basic Tutorials logo, the engraving process took 20 minutes and 29 seconds. Afterward, we were able to remove the gouache and evaluate the engraving on the glass.

Especially since this was my first time using the rotary tool, I had expected it to take significantly longer to set up. In fact, preparing the transparent glass was the more time-consuming part. Thanks to the instructions, the RA3 Lite itself was assembled and set up relatively quickly.

Three cameras handle positioning and monitoring

The fact that we were able to work with such a wide variety of workpieces is also due to the M2’s camera system. For the actual positioning, xTool uses two cameras: A distant-view camera captures the workspace, while the close-view camera, mounted directly on the moving module, allows for closer shots of the workpiece.

This combination is particularly helpful when a design isn’t supposed to be centered on a rectangular blank. For coasters, pre-printed surfaces, or scrap pieces, you can visually align the graphic over the workpiece and switch to the close-up view for smaller areas.

In addition, the M2 features a third, side-mounted camera. It is not used for standard positioning in xTool Studio but primarily serves to detect flames during processing.

The cameras do not replace every form of control. Perspective, workpiece height, and the specific process still play a role. In the normal workflow, however, we had to measure and manually align the workpiece much less frequently than we’re used to with simpler laser systems.

10 watts were sufficient for our projects

After testing a wooden box, cork, and a whiskey glass, I didn’t feel the need to constantly look toward the 20W version during the xTool M2 test. Our materials were relatively thin, and the focus was on engraving and color printing in addition to cutting.

Here, the small focal spot of the 10W module is well-suited to the intended use. If, on the other hand, the M2 is primarily intended to cut through thicker plywood sheets, I’d be more inclined to go with the 20W configuration. xTool specifies a higher cutting performance for the more powerful module, but this comes at the cost of a slightly larger laser spot.

For creative projects involving thin wood, cork, engraving, and occasional print-and-cut tasks, I consider the 10W version to be a solid choice based on our test. It also lowers the entry-level price of the M2.

The M2 and M1 Ultra Have Different Focuses

A comparison with the xTool M1 Ultra is obvious. We’ve already tested this device as well, and there, too, xTool combines laser processing with inkjet printing.

The M1 Ultra, however, is designed more as a craft machine. In addition to laser and inkjet, it can also use cutters and pens. For example, if you want to cut or draw on transparencies, it offers features that the M2 does not.

The M2 focuses more narrowly on laser processing, color printing, and related extensions. To that end, the laser working area measures 426 x 320 mm, compared to 300 x 300 mm on the M1 Ultra. The maximum movement speed is also higher, at up to 600 mm/s instead of 400 mm/s.

xTool has also made changes to the printing capabilities. Instead of CMY, the M2 uses CMYK, giving it its own black ink. The cartridge holds 40 ml, and the print resolution increases to up to 1,200 x 1,200 dpi.

For us, however, the practical difference was the most noticeable. During our previous M1 Ultra test, we had to spend significantly more time on connection and setup. With the M2, these tasks were completed quickly. It’s hard to say exactly how much of this is due to the new hardware and how much to the software, which has been further developed in the meantime. Ultimately, what matters for this test is that we were able to get started much faster this time.

What are the alternatives to the xTool M2?

In a direct market comparison, the selection quickly narrows as soon as color printing becomes part of the requirements. There are several enclosed diode lasers available with cameras and rotary accessories. The combination of color printing followed by laser cutting within the same device is much less common.

Model	xTool M2 10W	xTool M1 Ultra 10W	WeCreat Vision 20W
Laser	10W Diode	10W Diode	20W Diode
Color printing	CMYK (optional)	CMY (optional)	No
Laser working area	426 x 320 mm	300 x 300 mm	approx. 400 x 270 mm
Max. speed	600 mm/s	400 mm/s	600 mm/s
Camera positioning	Dual-camera system	Photo and Pin-Point Positioning	Integrated camera
Rotary available	Yes, RA3 Lite	Yes	Yes
Additional tools	3W IR module	Knives, pens, and other craft modules	Optional IR module
Good for	Laser, CMYK print and cut, engraving	Laser plus extensive craft projects	Laser and engraving without color printing
Price	Starting at 649 euros; tested Deluxe Kit: 1,039 euros	depending on the module and bundle	Approx. 1,299 euros for the 20W Rotary Package

Those who absolutely want to combine color printing directly with processing should primarily consider the M2 and M1 Ultra. The M1 Ultra supports additional crafting techniques with cutters and pens. The M2 focuses more heavily on laser cutting, CMYK printing, and engraving.

The WeCreat Vision takes a different approach. It is also a closed-enclosure desktop laser with a camera and an optional rotary system, but it does not offer integrated color printing. However, the current 20W model also operates at speeds of up to 600 mm/s and can be upgraded for rotary engraving with the appropriate accessories. The 20W rotary package currently costs around 1,300 euros.

For our “Jungle Box,” none of the dedicated laser machines would have been a viable alternative. This is precisely where the M2 shines, leveraging its combination of printing and subsequent laser processing.

Our Conclusion on the xTool M2 Review

With the xTool M2, we reached the point where the technology took a back seat unusually quickly. Setup and connection were a breeze, we quickly got the hang of xTool Studio, and even the first tutorial project worked without any major adjustments. After that, we were able to dive right into our own projects.

For me, the Jungle Box best illustrates this. First printing a piece of plywood in color on the M2, then cutting out the individual parts with the same device, and finally assembling them into a finished box really highlights the appeal of the system. The cork coaster then showcased the classic engraving side, while the whiskey glass made with the RA3 Lite required yet another completely different workflow.

The one technical hiccup came from the CMYK module. The magnetic protective cap didn’t release automatically on the first try. After removing it manually and reinserting it, the mechanism worked. For the community projects, it also took us a few tries to find a box template that worked with our material.

The 10W version was more than sufficient for our projects. If you mainly want to cut thicker sheets, you can opt for the 20W module instead. As for the print module and RA3 Lite, there’s no need to purchase them if you don’t require them. The M2 currently starts at 649 euros, while our 10W Deluxe configuration comes in at 1,039 euros. It’s precisely this tiered pricing that makes the system appealing, because you don’t necessarily have to pay for features that will later sit unused in a box.