Crazy Stuff Is Happening In the Laser Lab thanks to Xtool and our members!
Hi there everybody! It’s your friendly neighborhood laser champion here to tell you about some amazing things that have happened in the laser lab in the last few months! We were so pleased with the Xtool F1 Ultra that we purchased back in 2024, that we decided last summer to try out their diode laser, the S1 40W diode and 2W Infrared combo. Boy, were we ever surprised! That little laser has been extremely popular for its ease of use and versatility. Our members, and especially our newer lay-zies, LOVED IT. But you know what a diode laser lacks? The ability to cut and engrave transparent materials! So, back in December, we asked you for donations for a group buy to purchased the brand new Xtool P2S 80w laser. And you did it! It only took 2 weeks for us to reach our goal! Since then, we have trained a whole bunch of people and it is being used. It is an incredible laser that can punch through so much. We are having a blast making projects, like Daniel Dyer’s “National Parks Map” Also in December, we found out about the Xtool “1% For The Makers” program, which uses 1% of their profits to put aside to give lasers to 501C3 makerspaces, schools, libraries, etc to spread the making. It’s an amazing program by an incredible company that just wants to see makers making. So, we signed up, and we were almost immediately contacted. This team has been incredibly kind and was willing to donate us a brand new P2S 55W CO2 laser PLUS AP2 max air filter. We received both a couple of weeks ago, and it has been so much fun to set it up and get people started on it! This laser has a built in water chiller and adjustable air assist, and we also elected to purchase a steel honeycomb and the riser base for it to make it even better. Thank you, so so so VERY much to Xtool for this amazing opportunity to host another one of their machines in our space for our ever growing membership. So, to celebrate this new addition, we decided to have a “Macaron Party” and engrave some macarons before the lasers get gross. Here are some pictures! Also, did I mention that we named the P2S “Black Widow” and the P3 “Killer Frost”? This is in theme with the Xtool lasers being “Super Heroes” Chef Mike has been doing some really cool stuff already on Black Widow. He’s been cutting and engraving the leather pieces of his armor for his LARPing events. Check it out! Anyways, if you are interested in getting trained on the new lasers, there are two ways. (MEMBERS ONLY) Both are open book quizzes that require you to read the wiki before using the machines. IF you have already been trained on laser safety through lasers 101, then you’ll want to go to the laser wiki and sign up for general Xtool training. This is here https://forms.gle/XUwiNXthnwxthVBj6. If you are new or have *never* been trained on our lasers before, then you must take lasers 101 and learn the rules and laser safety. You’ll go to this link https://forms.gle/us1xfjenQjBDSrjE7 Remember, this is for MEMBERS ONLY. Also, I will be switching “Corel, Cocktails, and Charcuterie” to be the third WEDNESDAY of the month starting this month. Thursdays are incredibly busy at lenox so this will clear up the parking and allow some stained glass people to come around. Happy Making, and I hope to see you around the laser lab! -Anna “The Kirch”