Easy Tumbler Engraving with the xTool RA2 Pro and the M1 Ultra Laser

[@fiercekittenz]

I'm working my way through a backlog of video ideas (while also juggling kids, work, violin lessons)! I have a LOT of video ideas from y'all for the M1 Ultra, which I plan to release in the coming weeks. I may address some of the quick questions with shorts in a more personal, less scripted/tutorial manner though. If there's something I didn't clearly cover, don't hesitate to leave a comment with your questions! It's hard to balance covering things fully and keeping the rambling to a minimum.

[@fiercekittenz]

Full Height, Full Wrap Discovery: I had a couple of issues with focusing correctly for designs that wrapped around the entire tumbler, not just the top half. I had an epiphany this morning when I found another creator's short video for doing full wrap tumblers on the S1. The S1's auto measure tool is on the right hand side of the module. On the M1 Ultra, it's on the LEFT. Whenever I focused to the center of the dip between the top and bottom halves the laser head would crash into the top half of the tumbler. That explains a bit! To work around this, I may follow up with a video of me flipping the rotary tool around so the chuck is on the left, not the right. I think the bottom of the blade unit may still crash into the tumbler though.

[@cyndijohns6736]

Hi, great video QUESTION I have an M1Ultra and have bent my tabs down but the aperture hits them during engraving. Are you starting and stopping before and after them?

[@fiercekittenz]

I start just after them. My designs don't wrap around the handle area. I actually had one major fail because the head smacked one of the tabs and dragged the tumbler AND rotary out of place. So basically I set the starting point to roughly 2mm away from the tab. The head should be closer to you.

[@meganmaestas1186]

Ahhhh man, I went to enter the giveaway but the link says it has closed. Super bummed, I’m in MST amd thought I had time. Anyhow, thank you for posting this tutorial, very informative and helpful. I have the D1Pro that I’m still trying to learn the ends and outs on.

[@fiercekittenz]

Sorry you missed out! I did post this last week to give people time.

[@lindareyes5015]

i have been struggling how to get started using the ra2 pro with xtool m1 ultra. I am thankful I stumbled here and your video is super helpful. I hope you won't mind if i reach out to you should i have any questions! newbie newbie here! Thank you!!!

[@fiercekittenz]

@@lindareyes5015 totally! My email should be on my profile. If not, pop by the contact form of my website (fiercekitten.com).

[@AprilMayShine]

I absolutely love this style of tumbler (color reveal) but haven't used one for engraving, but are there any considerations for using one with my Thunder Nova? ❤

[@fiercekittenz]

I have both the RotoBoss and the Talon Chuck. For either you'd need to remove the handle if you're going to go all the way around. Even if you weren't going all the way around, the handle removal is required on the RotoBoss as it'll weigh down the one side and slip on the wheels. I haven't yet used the Talon Chuck. I just got it before heading out for DragonCon, but that one should be strong enough to keep the handle on if you're just doing one spot and not a full wrap. I just wrote a giant paragraph LOL. Lemme know if all that's clear?

[@AprilMayShine]

@@fiercekittenzAll clear 👍Thanks! I haven't used my chuck rotary either. I bought it specifically for engraving powder coated pet bowls LOL.🤷‍♀️

[@evelynpineda3336]

Awesome video… ❤️ Thanks for sharing! 🙏 Could you please show us how to do a full wrap on the 40 ounce Tumbler like the black one shown in the beginning of the video? Thank you so much.

[@fiercekittenz]

@@evelynpineda3336 yeah! So the reason I didn't show that is because it worked fine for the tumbler in black (the one in the thumbnail and short), but the one I had filmed originally in white didn't engrave all the way through on the bottom. I know how to do it, but it's harder on the M1 and S1 unless you want to blast the laser at 100% power. You basically have to tilt the whole thing up from the bottom so that the bottom is level with the rim of the top. This means when you focus, you have to focus to the highest section otherwise you'll drag right across the tumbler and scratch everything. With larger machines that have 2"-4" focusing options this isn't a problem.

[@fiercekittenz]

@@AprilMayShine SAME ROFL!!!

[@nowayout417]

Thank you very much for the nice win! E-mail sent.

[@thewalkinga_]

I am not understanding how your laser is going right to left? I am trying to only engrave the top section of my tumbler but it keeps starting at the bottom of the cup.

[@thewalkinga_]

I am wokring with the M1 Ultra, RA2 and Macbook with updated software might I add.

[@fiercekittenz]

The laser head will only travel along the x-axis when using the rotary attachment. If you have it starting at the bottom, move your design to the right. I have the chuck part of the rotary on the right hand side, so the right would be the top, left the bottom. My design is turned 90 degrees clockwise.

[@cameronbailey9156]

Im so confused. Mine has a laser line guide, and i cant find a single video that shows how to use it.

[@fiercekittenz]

Oh! You have the accessories kit for the RA2 Pro then? You snap it on top of the chuck. The button will be facing the back. Then you can turn it on and it will project a red line down the center of the tumbler. Move the laser head over so it's on top of the line and adjust the position of either the tumbler or the rotary unit until the horizontal lines are overlapping. Make sure to remove the laser tool before you start engraving!

[@cameronbailey9156]

@@fiercekittenz figured it out right after I sent that lol but thanks for the quick response!