Big news from the workshop: Rising Sun FPV has been accepted into the xTool Squad.
If you've been eyeing an xTool laser but didn't want to spend thousands on a machine you've only seen in videos, this one's for you. You can now come into our Kirwan workshop, see an xTool laser running in person, test it on your own materials, and get help from people who use one every day.
What Is the xTool Squad?
xTool makes desktop laser engravers, cutters and fabrication machines, and the xTool Squad is their network of local hosts around the world. The idea is simple: bring xTool machines closer to the people who use them, so you can try a machine in person, get expert guidance, and have local support before and after you buy.
For North Queensland, that local host is now us.
Our xTool Setup
The heart of it is the xTool F2 Ultra with UV. It combines a 60W MOPA fibre laser, a 40W diode laser and a 5W UV laser, so one bench can mark metal, engrave wood, leather and acrylic, and mark glass. Alongside it we run xTool's rotary attachment for tumblers, glasses and anything round, the Auto Streamline Conveyor for running batches, and a SafetyPro AP2 air purifier to deal with the fumes.
Here's the gear arriving at the workshop:
What We've Been Making
We've been putting the machine through its paces on real jobs. A few favourites so far:
Personalised drinkware
Powder-coated tumblers are one of the most popular laser jobs there is. The laser burns through the coating to reveal the steel underneath, giving a crisp, permanent design that won't peel or wash off.
The rotary attachment grips the cup and turns it under the laser, so the design wraps around the curve instead of distorting.
Designs are lined up on screen using the machine's camera preview, so what you see is where it lands.
Glass
Glass is where the UV laser shines. It marks with very little heat, so it gives a clean frosted finish without cracking.
Small metal pieces
The MOPA laser marks metal directly: tags, keepsakes, tools and small parts.
What We Can Help With
Live demos
Come and see the F2 Ultra running in the workshop. Watching a machine work is the fastest way to see whether it suits what you want to make.
Test your own materials
Bring along the things you actually want to engrave or mark: tumblers, tools, knives, timber, leather, signage blanks, glass. We'll run tests so you can see the result, and work out good settings, before you spend a cent on a machine.
Help choosing the right machine
xTool makes a lot of different lasers, and the right one depends on what you're making, the materials, how big the pieces are and how much you'll use it. Tell us what you've got planned and we'll help you work out which machine fits, and talk you through getting one.
Setup and training
Once you've got your machine, we can help you get it set up and running properly, and show you how to use it well, from first test runs to the settings that get the best results on different materials.
Local support
Having someone nearby who knows the machines makes a big difference when something doesn't go to plan. Instead of waiting on emails, you've got a team in Townsville you can call or drop in on.
Who It's For
- Small businesses looking at personalised products, branding, signage or custom merch
- Trades and workshops wanting to mark tools, parts, tags and serial plates
- Makers and crafters working with wood, leather, acrylic and glass
- Schools and community groups setting up maker spaces
- Anyone who wants to see a laser in person before deciding
We're based in Townsville, but we're happy to help anyone across North Queensland, from Cairns and the Tablelands to Mackay, the Whitsundays and out west.
Why Us?
We don't just talk about lasers, we run them. Our workshop already has three lasers, around 50 3D printers, a vacuum former and a full casting setup, and we use them on real jobs every week. Have a look at what's in our workshop to see how the laser fits alongside everything else.
That means the advice you get comes from people who've made the same mistakes you're trying to avoid, not from a spec sheet.
Get in Touch
If you're thinking about an xTool laser anywhere in North Queensland, reach out and we'll set up a time for you to come in:
- Call: 0440 130 405
- Message us: through our contact page
- Visit: 22 Castlemaine Street, Kirwan QLD 4817
Tell us what you want to make and what materials you're working with, and bring some samples if you can. We'll take it from there.
And if you'd rather we do the laser work for you, our workshop services include laser engraving and marking as well.