That lessons from diode and fiber don’t exactly apply to CO2s when it comes to FDM plastics? I’d be shocked.
Real talk, engraving is often bundled up with color changed markings even at manufacturer level.
CO2 cannot produce color contrasted markings on PLA/PETGs.
CO2 can do some material removed depth engravings with 0 color changes on PLA/PETGs at low powers. The only cheat here is with stuff like wood PLAs where it’s the wood powder that gets burnt for some color changes but if it’s low wood % like Bambu’s it’ll be very faint.
CO2 cannot do ABS for obvious safety reasons and PC also reacts poorly.
Acrylic processing is an easy way to “transparent” plastics, a thing that current FDM does poorly. Seems useful for rounding out a bunch of “maker” capabilities.
If it’s a CO2 laser - which it looks to be - no but also yes. You CAN engrave some metals with proper prep with a CO2 laser. You really need a fiber or MOPA laser for true engraving/cutting of metal.
Well this is a disappointment. Was hoping for a Diode laser based on the H2 Modules and the ability to purchase the setup without the module for those of us who already have the 10 & 40 Watt modules. I already have a CO2 laser that Bambu can’t compare to.
In terms of attachable modules, Diode/5W Infrared are pretty much the only possibilities.
Proper (fiber) infrared and UV laser source both require dedicated cooling and is just not a thing as modules afaik.
But most of time CO2 lasers don’t offer Diode modules, only IR, as CO2 largely supersedes Diode’s capability and performance anyway.
Very interesting, tho the X1 page is still pretty sparse.
The biggest winner from such setup is Fiber/UV gaining access to a larger canvass, and reduced labor / streamlined workflow (unclear on exact job/software flows) from machine swaps.
The CO2 according to their rendering will not use the galvo at all. For CO2, which Bambu seems to imply the R1 is mainly about, a galvo head would offer little benefits.
This is a novel setup but kind of confirms my assessment that real fiber/UV cannot be modules, but externally mounted just like a CO2 tube.
Currently, Fiber/UVs can use conveyor belts to process large objects but this is obviously a more capable/elegant solution
With all this capabilities, past pricing, xTool is not going to cannibalize their existing business for lulz the X1 will probably costs on par or even more than the 80W CO2 P3 ($6300) when loaded with a 30W fiber. I doubt the R1 is aiming to be a similarly expensive but expandable all-in-one small business flagship but we’ll see.
Quoting reddit: “If you compare to the creality 5 in one, the machine alone is like 2500, each laser module separately goes from 1000 starting at 20 w diode to 3600 for the 60w Mopa. Since the X1 is considerably larger, and has more features than the P3 , I’d go with around 10k, unless it’s to replace the P3, so should be around the 8k mark base config”
True, but what else am I supposed to do with my time until September 22nd or the X-Tool launch in October? Speculating keeps me from buying a laser out of impatience!
If you need a new CO2 it’ll probably be worth the wait but h*** f*** teasing X1 for 2 months before giving out a price is dumb marketing from xTool.
Fortunately another 55w in the shop would be hard to justify for me even if “combined, jig-free engrave n cut on organics” is something I’d value a lot. Still gotta jig pre-cuts, metals, and non-sheets like 3D prints so the streamlining is not as groundbreaking for my work.
said …one just needs to open one’s 
properly… and read 
Bambu Lab R1
xTool X1
