Laser welding & metal cutting · Kickstarter follow-up
xTool MetalFab
MetalFab pairs a CNC cutting bed with a detachable laser welding unit. The interesting question for a fabrication shop is how smoothly it moves from sheet parts to an assembled project. A Make demonstration and a longer owner account provide specific examples, with different levels of independence and duration.
- Research checked
- Documented stage
- Campaign ended · Demonstration and owner report
Original campaign funding period: April 24 to May 22, 2025. A publisher demonstration and a six-month owner report provide practical evidence after the campaign; fulfillment of every pledge is unverified.
What the follow-up reviews show
- Reported experience. During a visit to xTool’s headquarters, Make cut a stencil from 1.5 mm steel in a little over a minute and welded a small project box. This demonstrates those jobs in a supervised setting. Source 2
- Reported experience. A Reddit author reporting six months with the 1200 W version described cutting stainless signs and brackets, then switching to welding. The author praised thin-sheet work but found single-point engraving slow and cloud-storage prompts annoying. Source 3
- Reported experience. Make’s setup used an external air supply and described a heavy cutting bed with a 24-inch square work area. The owner likewise used a compressor and dryer, making shop support equipment part of the practical setup. Source 2 Source 3
- What it means. The available evidence suggests a workflow worth evaluating for small sheet parts and mixed fabrication jobs. Assess power, gas, extraction, material handling, and a real cut-and-weld sample before estimating its value to the shop. Source 2 Source 3
Research synthesis. Jerry has not supplied ownership or firsthand tests. Make tried it at the manufacturer’s headquarters. The owner report is anecdotal; identity, purchase, and commercial relationship are unverified. Its duplicate crosspost counts as one source.
Questions for your setup
- Can a representative shop part be cut and welded within the required finish and cycle time?
- What utilities and workspace does the exact 800 W or 1200 W configuration require?
Read the original sources
- Original xTool MetalFab campaign Kickstarter / xTool. Published 2025-04-24. Checked .
- Review: xTool MetalFab laser welder/CNC cutter Make: · Sam Freeman. Published 2026-01-28. Checked .
- Six-month MetalFab 1200 W owner account Reddit · r/metalworking contributor. Published 2026-05-20. Checked .
- MetalFab manufacturer information xTool. Checked .