How to make a 3D model in Cardboard | xTool S1 Laser Cutter

Cardboard Sculpture with laser-cutting. Converting an STL to SVG was easy, but 123D Make was discontinued and free software doesn't always cut it (pun intended). At least not on a single app.
▶︎ xTool S1 Laser Cutter:
geni.us/xToolS1
▶︎ xTool D1 Pro 20W
geni.us/Eqdbtf (on Amazon)
The D1 is an excellent Open Frame Laser-Machine for starters
- xTool sent me the S1 for reviewing, I didn't buy it myself. Thanks xTool!
- This content is 100% the way I envisioned it.
- I was not paid to produce this video.
- I earn commissions from affiliate links.
- As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
_______________________________________________
Kiri:Moto Definitive Tutorial:
• The Definitive Guide t...
Blender Tutorials from Jonathan "Maker Tales":
How to Blender To 3D Printer
• How to Blender To 3D P...
How To Setup Blender 3.0 In Millimetres (mm)
• How To Setup Blender 3...
How To Use Blender 3.0 For 3D Printing | .STL Mesh Editing
• How To Use Blender 3.0...
_______________________________________________
0:00 Can we make a Cardboard Benchy?
0:32 123D Make is gone...
1:16 The Plan
2:04 Slicing to SVG
3:01 Making Holes
4:30 Inkscape
4:56 Fire!
5:46 xTool S1
7:35 EPIC
8:18 Lasers are NOT toys
_______________________________________________
Written, Performed and Produced by Everson Siqueira
I use royalty-free music from Epidemic Sound:
👉 geni.us/IW1NyB
Sign up with my link to get 10% discount on your first 12 months
The first 30 days are free
The Cardboard 3D Benchy Challenge
How would you slice this 3D Benchy?
How to Slice a Cardboard 3D Benchy
Laser, sure. But HOW do you slice a Cardboard Benchy?
HOW do you slice a Cardboard 3D Benchy?
Slicing for Cardboard: STL to SVG and laser-cutting on the xTool S1
How to Slice for Cardboard: STL to SVG and laser-cutting on the xTool S1
STL to SVG: How to Slice for Cardboard and laser-cutting on the xTool S1
#xToolS1 #LaserCutting #3DPrinting

[@GeekDetour]

Hey you: thanks for watching! 😄 Do you have a Laser Machine? If so, which one? Thanks for telling me! ❤️👍

[@vallesan]

got two .. ortur 2 pro 5w and omtech CO2 80w .. thank you for the video .

[@abdeldjalilhouas2806]

thnx for the video ^^, i have a creality falcon 2 22w :p

[@jasmindrace]

Hi! Anyone know how to ignore specific layer during processing on Xtool creative space 2.0 beta - i am new to lasers (2 days) and all the tutorials show the old layout. I made a jig to engrave some usb pendrive and now I just want to engrave the pens and turn off (ignore) the cut layers. I would appreciate any help. Thanks!

[@ETOE]

Thanks for your effort. I searched for months to find a solution to slice 3D models for laser cutting.

[@GeekDetour]

Oh, thank you! I am so glad it helped you 😄❤️👍

[@GeekDetour]

Hi everybody! I wanted to do a laser-cut Cardboard Benchy for a loooong time. I finally did it - and, YES, it only happened because of the new 40W laser machine, which is WAY faster than the one I had before. I got carried away and the video became so full of information - I hope it didn't get overwhelming. You tell me :)

[@UncleJessy]

Oh man this was such a cool video. Love all of the editing as well! So good

[@GeekDetour]

Thanks man! Yeah, editing like this is a time-consuming massacre, but I got carried away…again 🥵 I always feel honored by your visits @UncleJessy

[@bwzimm4972]

Great video, thank you for referencing old and current software - it is educational and very helpful! I never knew I was interested in moving STLs into the laser cutter, but I am now!

[@GeekDetour]

Hey, I am so happy you enjoyed the video! 😃

[@J3D-BR]

Love these laser videos! More please!!!

[@DIYdoofus]

As a technology teacher, I have only just stumbled onto this type of project. A teaching resource from many years ago mentions 123D Make, and I was so disappointed that it no longer exists. It seems doing this now is convoluted, but I may still give it a go. I really enjoyed your video, which was exactly the info I needed. Subscribed.

[@GeekDetour]

Hey! Thank you! ❤️ Great respect for Technology Teachers! Look, you can still “find” 123D Make on the Web. But who knows for how long it will work on your computer… It is not something I would recommend to students since they cannot trust it in the long run. But you could give it a spin if you find it - just to try it out.

[@TheSliderW]

@@GeekDetour Software doesn't necessarily need regular updates to remain functional in the long run like Sketchup 2017 Make which is still fine for every day use with tones of plugins. The main issue here is that 123D Make relies on the cloud to get it to export your files which is a shame and makes this tool useless unless someone cracks it open. But that's a problem on it's own.

[@jessehavok4181]

I've been trying to figure out how to do this for so long! Thank you!

[@GeekDetour]

That makes me so happy! My pleasure 🤗❤️

[@elisonfss]

Maaan!!! What an incredible nice effort and such a fun video!!!! Thanks a lot for that!!!

[@GeekDetour]

Glad you liked it! Making this video was an amazing journey! ❤️🎁🎄

[@danmn2986]

I forgot to comment here, please make more laser videos pleaseeee!! I'm watting another laser video since you published this!

[@martinsrc1]

You are fantastic guy, thank you so much for your Channel and explanation.

[@GeekDetour]

Wow! Thanks!!!! ❤️

[@TonyGrant.]

I like your idea of combining 3D printing with laser cutting because that's exactly what I want to do for one of my projects. I'm building a series of Tesla style turbines with different configurations to find the design sweet spots. I'll be 3D printing the structural components but using very thin materials for the discs which I want to cut with the laser. Some of the materials will be - paper, aluminium foil, food wrap and possibly very thin latex. Right now I'm building them with some old floppy discs which I have been saving for this purpose. I'm thinking of doing it with one of those creality laser heads which attach to a 3D printer. I'd be very keen to see some one cut thin materials like that. It was very instructive to see you cutting cardboard!

[@russdixon614]

thanks for the STL - SVG software ideas, i'm always looking for easy ways to convert the 2

[@EduardoTorresDeMadera]

great video, indeed you know how to tell interesting stories to grab the attention. Keep up the good work. I was looking for a CNC slicer. Thanks.

[@GeekDetour]

Oh, wow, thanks! Your kind words made my day ❤️

[@germandelcorral7253]

I really loved the video. All the hard work was worthy and the laser looks amazing. The only thing I don't agree with is your opinion about inkscape. I love it! 😂 Congratulations again for the wonderful work!

[@GeekDetour]

Thanks German 🤗❤️ Oh, Inkscape is GREAT! I am discovering new tools every time I give it a go - but the interface is very odd to me. I used Macromedia’s Freehand, Adobe Illustrator, Fireworks, Photoshop, CorelDraw (my first illustration program) - and now Affinity Designer… and Inkscape has a completely different way to do things. I would go faster with it if I got a course, I guess 🤣

[@Zuurik_x]

One of the alternatives is to do the scaling and adding the holes with Windows 3D builder. Thanks for the great video. I still used slicer for Fusion360 recently, but its buggy as hell. Nice to see that there is some alternative to it :D

[@GeekDetour]

Hi there! Thanks for stepping by 🤗 Yeah, Autodesk seems to have a thing for creating nice things they will abandon later (or more accurately, small programs seem to be used as a laboratory to test ideas - the problem is: users are part of the experiment).

[@Zuurik_x]

@@GeekDetour At some point Autodesk promised to integrate 123D make it into Fusion360 like they did with eagle, but it did not really happen😔

[@BuckeyeStormsProductions]

Very good video. I have been wanting a way to do something like this to make large models. I'd like to go one step further and use some sort of filler to make a smooth(er) surface and then paint, etc. to make props.

[@evanystabenow267]

Son, great video, creativity and so many tools used to produce something special. I would love to be near and use some possibilities we see in this new laser cutting. We could cardboard assemble some models we see prepared for 3D printing. What about Star Wars ones? Great job, very creative! Loved it. ❤

[@GeekDetour]

Thanks mom! I will probably change the thumbnail… a few times 🤣 Need people to click 🤷‍♂️

[@TheBestUni]

thank you

[@GeekDetour]

My pleasure!!

[@ThKrY]

I can see the layer lines. To be honest really liked the video, needed to learn what you did here for my own cutter.

[@GeekDetour]

Ha ha ha, yeah, we can see the “layer lines” a mile away 🤣 It’s a cool type of project 🤗

[@AdeAmoenus]

thank you! I really enjoy your videos. The link to buy in amazon doesnt work anymore. Very interesting the idea to combine laser cuting and 3D printer. Waiting for it.

[@diesirae2000]

Hi Thanks for this interesting video. You are right, 123D make was great. And I still want to use it. Easy to download, to install and to use ... But non export possible. I finally find a PDF printer on which you Can easily manage printing formats because I am working on a 800x1200 mm sheet. And After days of searching this pdf printer was able to print a pdf file fully usable for cutting. In my case this is a cutter CNC table.

[@GeekDetour]

Oh, Inkscape can open the PDFs then you can re-export as SVG. Cheers!

[@TommyColeOnGoogle]

Luban software can do this. I haven’t used it in a couple of years, but they call it a “stack.” It does dowels and numbers the pieces and I think it even nests the drawings.

[@GeekDetour]

Looks like Luban is very cool! Thanks!

[@kristinedraws]

Oh I loved this and wish I’d seen this a week ago when I was using illustrator to create a 3D model and slices for laser cutting. I want to know more about why the pieces needed dowels? Couldn’t you just use a grid to line them up properly based on side and top views of the 3D sculpture?

[@GeekDetour]

I bet someone could carefully align and glue the pieces by eye… but that’s not reliable and takes time. I wanted to experiment with ways to make it easier - as 123D Make used to provide. I want to make cool cardboard sculptures and dowels help A Lot

[@DioramaNooks]

Fellow laser cutting enthusiast here. Great content! Aside from developing a stacked model, have you attempted to glue one together from planes of chipboard? I develop stands for displays and would be willing to share one if you’d be interested.

[@GeekDetour]

I appreciate the offer, but I use my laser mostly for functional parts

[@DioramaNooks]

@@GeekDetour Ah, ok. New to your content but definitely gonna check more out. Thanks for the follow-up!

[@jessehavok4181]

I just tried this out just to get a profile of a basic STL and it didn't turn out right. There are octogon patterns in the stl and they came out with them being half jagged circle, half octogon. Guess it has some bugs to get worked out

[@rbdobynes]

Old but good back scratchers and fly swatters. Dollar a piece

[@GeekDetour]

That’s a very puzzling comment 🤔🤷‍♂️

[@mahmoudbenmebarek433]

Software as artcam could perform automatic Nesting

[@GeekDetour]

Oh, ha ha, another Autodesk abandoned child… ArtCAM is no longer. It seems there is another company - CARVECO - who is developing on top of the ArtCAM code base. Their prices are not insane: 15 per month… but, yeah, subscription. That’s why I explored OpenSource as much as possible in this video. Thanks! I didn’t know about ArtCam.

[@tammylickelhoff4345]

Excellent video! I just got an Xtool S1, what settings are you using to cut cardboard?

[@GeekDetour]

Thanks! Oh… I don’t remember. I used the tool to generate a matrix of power vs speed for cutting.

[@saeidkaseatashin9114]

that great, but how you find number of layers ?

[@user-uj5ew2yw9c]

could I ask what settings you used to cut your cardboard? It looks like you have very little char and it appears you were able to do it in one pass. I have not been able to cut 3mm cardboard in one pass with my S1with out going so slow it catches fire. I have needed to do it in two passes every time.

[@GeekDetour]

Hi there! Are you using power at 100%? I do. Yeah, I cut the cardboard in 1 pass, I also cut MDF 4mm at one pass (a bit slower, I don’t remember the speed). I use the S1 Air Assist on “auto”.

[@Pompolompie]

Can you please indicate how you knew the slice order once the SVG was create by KiriMoto?

[@GeekDetour]

Hi there! The vectors for each layer are grouped together - and the groups are created in order. When you open the SVG, let’s say on Adobe Illustrator, they will be stacked in order. Check the list of layers.

[@coltcross1407]

I recently received my XTool S1 and I'm curious about the speed and power settings you utilized for cutting cardboard. I've encountered issues with mine catching fire during more intricate projects. Your video was fantastic, by the way. It was truly motivational and uplifting, reminiscent of watching a Bob Ross painting video. It's like picking up the brush and realizing it's more challenging than it appears, but I wouldn't have attempted it without watching the video.

[@GeekDetour]

Ha ha ha, thank you so much! Very kind words! Well... when we are starting with any machine, and learning, "we don't make mistakes, we have happy accidents" 🤣❤️ For cutting 6mm cardboard, I used 100% power and 35mm/s - for Cardboard 3mm thick, you could theoretically go 70mm/s. What were you using? I go as fast as possible that cuts all the way through, cleanly (that the cutout just falls on its own).

[@coltcross1407]

Thanks for the responding. I am using 3, 4, 5, and 6 mm cardboard.@@GeekDetour

[@GlennArango]

Brilliant video... thank you!!! Question though: I just searched for, found, and downloaded Slicer from Autodesk and it still works on my M1 Mac with macOS Sonoma on it. Is there a reason I can't use it to do the same? If it is still an option, I'd be REALLY interested in seeing a video of you showing you make Benchy with Slicer. (I have an old xTool D1 that I am just now learning to use.)

[@GlennArango]

... and now that I've played with it for a few seconds, it is both potentially powerful in what it appears to be able to do, yet even more painfully SLOW.

[@GeekDetour]

Thanks! So cool you liked the video 🤗 I don’t have an M1 - my iMac is Intel i7 from 2013 😬 (anyway, it’s where I make my videos, still). But you have a point: I used Slicer for Fusion 360 to make part of this video, so, why not sticking to it, right? The problem is making yet another tutorial promoting software that will not be updated or bug-fixed. Some people start depending on it to make their art and work… then they update the OS and suddenly the thing they depended on just doesn’t work anymore… it happened to me in the past and to finish some work I had to buy a second machine to keep old stuff running and that’s an uncomfortable feeling… So, more than anything, this was an exercise of looking for Open Source ways to do it - can be done, but it’s more work.

[@GlennArango]

@@GeekDetour agree!!! Thanks again... time for me to learn what you've taught 😀

[@cartermclaughlin2908]

I'm hoping to do a similar project but with layers of identical paper images to create a 3d effect. I assume I don't need a big laser for paper and only need a 3.5"x2.5" workspace BUT I do need to precisely orient the cutter so that intricate art can be cut accurately. Is this possible?

[@GeekDetour]

Oh, the devil is in the details: sure, for paper, even a 5W laser would cut them fine (slower, but surely). Now, how to align your paper sheets, that’s always the trick. It’s always doable - but each project has particularities.

[@cartermclaughlin2908]

@@GeekDetour I asked on reddit and it was suggested that I use a cutting machine (like Brother CM350) to avoid scorching. Is this better? If I use laser, does paper cut cleaner at low power, or is it like ripping off a bandaid - burn hot and fast to avoid transferring heat? I have seen a lot of cutting machine videos about using the on-board scanner and screen to automatically detect edges and plan cuts for things like a page of stickers, but nothing about using computer software to program a more nuanced project. are you aware of any software I can play with before investing in a machine? I generally want to cut worthless cards, but if successful, I could be asked to destroy collectable items of great value. I don't mind a learning curve, but I want to be able to insure accurate cuts. Do you have any hardware suggestions that are particularly effective at orienting the paper?

[@GeekDetour]

When you hold a normal sheet of paper in your hands, the scorch is very precise and really thin. You need to look with a lens or very very close to notice the brownish tone just at the very edge of the cuts. Most people won’t even realize it was burned instead of cut. BUT, that’s on a single paper. If you stack a bunch of them together, the scorch becomes a wall, and it will look brown / burned. I never used Cricut machines or the Brother one you mentioned. Sure it is just like using a surgical bisturi to cut the paper. If might be a better option for your application. But I don’t have anything but a blind guess about it.

[@ivann9126]

how do you number the pieces in the correct order ?

[@GeekDetour]

Kiri Moto generates an SVG that the elements for each layer is grouped in “layers” (as in “Photoshop/illustrator” layers), in the correct order. So I separated them manually.

[@djispro4272]

Good! But I want to see more 3D printing content! Maybe an update on your Neptune 3 after a year? I saw a comment from you on The Feral Engineer video about UART on the Neptune 3...

[@GeekDetour]

That’s fair! But actually the Neptune 3 PRO was the printer I used the most - by far - this last year.

[@djispro4272]

And the Neptune 3? is it collecting dust? are you running it with the Sonic Pad? something else perhaps?@@GeekDetour

[@GeekDetour]

Oh, no! I used it until a few months ago - when I had to print lots of part quickly, so I fed things on many printers. But of course, my “go to” machine is changing as I get better printers to review. And definitely the Neptune 3 Pro is better than the Neptune 3. Anyway, the Neptune 3 is now on another country, with my Brother for my nephew to use it.

[@evanystabenow267]

@@GeekDetour❤ than you a lot!!

[@Rockhopper1]

so angry with autodesk, as I make models for films, and they are low budget, I can pass the seat licence costs to my clients but they can not afford it, I need to make aircraft hulls, and ship hulls. Just a quick question can I live gaps between layers in the design, or do I just have to do the maths and every layer chuck out four or five layers on the SVG, as that might take time.

[@GeekDetour]

If you look for it, you can still find 123D Make for downloading at some websites… but there is no warranty it will work on your system. I could get it for my Mac, to make this video. But it is not a tool for relying on anymore. For your use, “interlocked slices” would be the best - as it has mostly “open” space inside. I have no idea of any other tool that would make the slots for interlocking parts… Kiri Moto just slices the models as stacked layers without any space between them.

[@Rockhopper1]

@@GeekDetour thank you, will have a look at is some more, great video as well.

[@eminkilinc7806]

unfortunately it doesn't work on current windows versions but it still works fine on macOs operating system

[@GeekDetour]

Hum… what exactly are you talking about? Which software?

[@alexcavalcanticosta1585]

Good afternoon! Here's a friend offering some important advice: use caution when dealing with MDF. Furthermore, it is worth extending this precaution to other materials, especially because regarding MDF, which is not widely discussed in Brazil, I had to seek information abroad. Although it is little talked about, what I discovered is worrying - there is evidence that MDF may be linked to cancer (due to the gases it produces when the cut is burned). But I couldn't find anything about the gases emitted when burning cardboard, could you say anything about that? Boa Tarde! Aqui está um amigo oferecendo um conselho importante: tenha cautela ao lidar com o MDF. Além disso, é válido estender essa precaução a outros materiais, especialmente porque sobre o MDF, que não é amplamente discutido no Brasil, precisei buscar informações no exterior. Embora seja pouco comentado, o que descobri é preocupante - há indícios de que o MDF pode estar relacionado ao câncer ( devido aos gases que ele produz durante a queima do corte). mais não consegui achar nada sobre os gases emitidos na queima do papelão saberia dizer alguma coisa sobre isso?

[@innocentrabbit-dl7ji]

I see your point with laser cutters but i don t think that is the reason you can have a decent 3d-printer for 200€ but this laser cutter is 2500€ and i know it is not the cheapest but the price doesn t go mych lower than tis whilst not sacrefiecing safety al to say my point is ther just to expensive

[@GeekDetour]

I guess it is viable to have cheaper laser cutters - it only needs more demand. Most people that have 3D Printers don’t have any laser machine (even the super cheap ones), so it is a market yet to grow a lot. The fully enclosed machines will ALWAYS be quite more costly than open frame ones because the material, fabrication and transportation costs get much higher (this closed S1 is 5 times heavier than the open D1… and it’s boxes were insanely big). Anyway, competition is growing. Looking at another angle: 2.5k is not expensive for a reliable and safe machine you actually use on a workshop (not as a hobby). xTool is clearly targeting its machines to the pro-summer market. I feel the obligation to show something more serious done in this machine - but cutting a cardboard benchy was irresistible 🤣

[@DavZell]

Right now you can get the S1 with 10W laser for $899.

[@turcockgames9031]

There's really good laser cutters for 500$

[@JoeGator23]

Poor greedy AutoDesk... hopefully AI eats their lunch soon. Chances are they will be obsolete even within a few years. Maybe sooner.

[@GeekDetour]

I just wish they launch a Fusion 360 price tier that I could pay, as a hobbyist that doesn’t want to feel limited and yet cannot afford the full license price.