xTool has announced the impending launch of a Kickstarter campaign for the MetalFab, a device the OEM touts as a beginner-friendly laser welder and CNC cutter.
The MetalFab is technically two separate machines: a welder and a cutter, with the welder also available as a standalone unit. Pull the trigger on the welder and, well, you’ll weld. Place that welder into the cutter unit, however, and it’s cutting time. In addition to cutting and continuous, spot, pulse, or underwater welding (yes, you read that last one correctly), the MetalFab can also remove rust.
It comes in 800W and 1200W versions. Unsurprisingly, the 1200W version can cut and weld slightly thicker materials, although both are compatible with quite a few metals such as stainless steel, carbon steel, and titanium. The cutting unit is the same for both versions, and boasts a 610 x 610 mm working area and a claimed top cutting speed of 400 mm/s.
The whole package will have to deliver, with xTool voicing some pretty lofty promises in its MetalFab marketing. No need for “years of learning and practice” or “lengthy certifications”, it says. Instead, there’s “0 experience needed” to achieve “pro-grade results”.
Big claims that will need backing up when push comes to shove. In any case, we’ll have to wait until the campaign goes live and orders are fulfilled to see.
xTool says the 800W welder will be available for an MSRP of ~$7,000 or ~$16,000 with the cutter, while the 1200W welder will be ~$9,000 or ~$18,000 with the cutter. All configurations will be available for heavily discounted early bird prices, though, according to xTool’s presale page, where you can also complete a survey for a chance to win a free MetalFab, or check out the deeper MetalFab specifications. Or, sign up to be notified with the xTool MetalFab Kickstarter campaign goes live.
Editor's Note – This article highlights a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign. Kickstarter is not a shop; campaigns are under no legal obligation to deliver on crowdfunding promises, nor offer refunds on unfulfilled campaign rewards. For more insight, read our article 8 Things to Watch for When Backing a 3D Printing Kickstarter.
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License: The text of "xTool Reveals MetalFab Laser Welder and CNC Cutter Combo" by All3DP is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.