xTool P2 CO2 Laser - One Year Follow-up Review

[@BoldReflections]

How Well Does This Machine Handle Engraving 3D Image Layer Effects In Wood And Acrylics .... Or Would A Fiber Laser Be A Better Fit For Such Projects? I Thank You For A FACTUAL Video Review About The Long Term Ownership Of This Product. Maintenance Of CO2 Glass And Inner Tubing ... Please Advise.

[@Zentient1]

Note that the XCS 2.0 software now has time estimate and remaining time display on the processing screen.

[@RobertCowanDIY]

OH NICE! I'll have to check that out, thanks for letting me know.

[@derekfield4164]

Great review. I too have had it for a year now. Its an awesome machine. You're spot on about the clunkiness of doing projects bigger than the bed area. My only gripe is no Lightburn support. Like you, i do all designing elsewhere. But man, the xtool software slows my laptop down so much, where as lightburn runs like a charm and has more features.

[@alejandropalacios92]

Hello. Quick question. Does this machine use air assist? what about the compressor, can you regulate that, also is there any way to control the exhaust of fumes? Because I have heard that modifying these variables you can get better cutting quality and leaving out that brown edges or burns?

[@RobertCowanDIY]

Yeah, I noticed that too! I think it's always checking back with the machine or something, the software is something you DON'T want to just leave open.

[@7alfatech860]

Robert, I really appreciate your reviews, especially for their real world relevance. I remember watching the one on the Harbor Freight band saw many moons ago, bought one and have been nicely impressed by its value and quality. Thanks💯

[@RobertCowanDIY]

Nice! All these comments are making me consider a secondary channel JUST for reviews. The product review videos tend to get much lower views and I think hurt my channel. But YT needs more decent reviews for stuff like this.

[@Jake-2011-]

This is a real review, thanks.

[@RobertCowanDIY]

Glad it was helpful!

[@georgekabacinski]

Good video, thanks for your input on the P2. Could you tell us more about the stand you have it on, please?

[@winifredfleming8693]

Young Robert Garcia Shirley Walker Jennifer

[@alejandropalacios92]

Amazing Video, really cool, new sub here. Just a question, does this machine use air assist? what about the compressor, can you regulate that, also is there any way to control the exhaust of fumes? Because I have heard that modifying these variables you can get better cutting quality and leaving out that brown edges or burns?

[@RobertCowanDIY]

It does have air assist, but you can't easily regulate it. You can adjust it in software, but it's not as granular as a 'traditional' CO2 laser. I did forget to mention that. However, their material library takes this into consideration and I've not had any issues. The whole laser is more of 'set and forget' rather than allowing you to tweak and tune. So it depends on what you're after. Usually I want something I can tweak, but I really only use my laser for quick jobs, not for final projects.

[@kenledbetter4979]

My P2, less than one year old, has had the motherboard replaced, that lasted a few hours of use before the next "communication error". I love the features and SCX software but I'll never buy another xTool.

[@RobertCowanDIY]

Oh bummer. That sucks. Mine's been really great, but I'm sure there's bound to be a few duds out there. Did xTool at least treat you well and handle the situation?

[@KimberlyTran-u9d]

Wilson Eric Brown Edward Jones Elizabeth

[@HilariousFlush-b2r]

Garcia Christopher Allen Eric Wilson Ronald

[@01f4irider]

How thick is the thickest material it can accommodate without the riser installed?

[@johnanthony9923]

Thanks for this! No one...and I literally do mean NO ONE...does actual "reviews" on KZbin anymore. Every single one is paid in some way. Granted this is after having it a year, but it's still appreciated. The guy at Laser Everything even said in the comment section that he wouldn't even bother "reviewing" a Thunder Laser product because they won't pay him enough and even the free laser isn't enough for him. KZbin has become the absolute *WORST* place to get product "reviews" because EVERY single one is positive. KZbinrs want free products, affiliate money, etc. and will never...EVER....jeopardize that by giving something a negative....or even slightly less than GLOWING....review. It seems like KZbinrs won't do ANYTHING just for the benefit of their subscribers anymore. Which is just to say, I appreciate this video. lol

[@NickCollura]

Agree on the quality content, clear communication, thorough and thoughtful. The channel deserves a few more zeros in the subscribers column.

[@RobertCowanDIY]

SO true. I'm in a few KZbinr discord groups and it's the same thing, they just want money for the reviews and the product is pretty irrelevant. If the company has a great affiliate program *coughBambu* people will push the products pretty hard. When the product is actually good, it's not a big deal, but it's always interesting to see KZbin flooded with reviews for a specific product out of nowhere. Like, who even is Sovol?!

[@RobertCowanDIY]

Awww, thanks. And yeah, I wouldn't mind another zero in the subscriber column, hopefully at the end ;-)

[@garrydye2394]

I agree...I simply stopped watching 99% of the content I use to watch related to woodworking, 3D printing, and Lasering simply because they are nothing more than info-commercials and what bothers me the most they think we are really that dumb to not know. Its hard not to go to the dark side but I've been in business for 25 years this May and building a reputation is way more lucrative than not. You don't want to melt into the see of sales men. Keep doing what you are doing Robert. Having someone tell you that they appreciate your honesty is one of the highest compliments and we appreciate yours.

[@Jake-2011-]

None negative for thunder or aeon on KZbin 😅

[@Barbasnoo]

You know when you’re visiting somewhere unfamiliar, and you spot a familiar face that puts you at ease? Well that’s you. I’ve followed your videos all over 3D printing for a while. You guided me well on my Prusa XL Purchasing decision. I was searching around aimlessly for laser cutter videos, and I spot your face on a thumbnail. RELIEF!

[@AR-rp4dg]

Hi Robert, thank you for this review. It's exactly my point: the experience with a Chinese laser and the problems that you automatically have at some point. I also use the P2 mainly for prototyping. A really realistic report that is helpful for many users. Thank you!

[@mp6814]

The biggest question is this: does it work with Lightburn? (a deal-breaker for me)

[@RobertCowanDIY]

Here'e an article about it: support.xtool.com/article/287 I worry that a lot of the more interesting features won't work the way you want. That was the case with the gweike cloud. You COULD use the camera, but the experience wasn't the same. The autofocus might not work the same either. Just curious, why is lightburn a deal breaker? It was for me too, but I never ended up using it and found the included software just fine.

[@mp6814]

Well, this is a personal choice (as is for everyone else). I called it a deal breaker because of two reasons: I know and use Lightburn and find it an awesome, powerful and easy to use tool with great control of the process, and (2) there are other machines that are close in performance that do use it. Again, it's the (perceived) superiority of Lightburn that matters to me.

[@RobertCowanDIY]

@@mp6814 Gotcha. It was a deal breaker for me, but I haven't opened up lightburn in ~6 months now? Just a data point, that's all. However, I'm not aware of any lasers that work natively with lightburn that offer wireless connectivity, integrated camera support and autofocus. I could be wrong though. I think lighburn is falling a bit behind with these new fancy features.

[@mp6814]

Thanks@@RobertCowanDIY, good point, I will keep this in mind. I am yet to choose a machine, this is an open topic for me. Lightburn allows the use of cameras, I have successfully done that with a smaller laser, it worked amazingly well. Wireless connectivity is much further down on the importance ladder for me. For a hobbyist the array of features that Lightburn offers seems to be hard to beat. But then, I am biased for sure. EDIT: I got a hint that OMTech Polar 350 and Flux Beamo have built-in cameras and work with Lightburn (to be verified). Considering how quickly Lightburn improves, I am sure they will catch up quickly.

[@RobertCowanDIY]

@@mp6814 I believe the OMTech Polar is the exact same as the gweike. My camera experience through lightburn was 'OK'. It wasn't as seamless as the P2. Be sure to watch some videos. You are right about lightburn improving, they're highly motivated to make these features work!

[@Creeds-Creations]

I have had mine since launch very great machine overall. Did have a couple of issues that X-tool resolved by sending replacement parts. Good thing I was still under the 1 year Warranty or it would have been out of pocket cost. I did end up getting a Monport 80w which I love and is faster.

[@coffeebreakcustoms4021]

Hello Robert, how would you rate the ease of cleaning the P2? I am looking for a replacement for my very tired Glowforge Basic.

[@justiciaparaespana7236]

I would like to buy it but the bank rejected my loan to buy it. So I had to buy a cheap chinese CO2 laser that I had to create it own table to keep all the accesories in one place when I had space in my office. I still not using it so... Maybe is time to sell it and save money to buy the Xtool P2.

[@RobertCowanDIY]

Not sure if you were aware, but xTool does offer financing directly: www.xtool.com/pages/payment-methods#:~:text=You%20can%20also%20finance%20your,xTool%20to%20pay%20for%20itself!

[@PrincezzBandicaaa]

So does swing design and makers crafts

[@PabloTRUE-v8d]

Moore Eric Lee Sandra Johnson Sharon

[@kimmiesrhythms]

Great review! Was wondering if you have a link to the stand you’re using for it?

[@zjdoliver]

Hello Robert, just found you during my search for XTool P2 projects. I'm considering purchasing 1/2 inch cast acrylic sheets for a project in which I will be cutting and engraving. I'm curious, if you have experience with 1/2 inch and what settings you use for both cutting/engraving? Thank you so much for putting this out!

[@RobertCowanDIY]

Eh, 1/2" is doable but I would only do that for a very small project. 1/2" is probably better cut with something else. For engraving it would be fine, but cutting will be VERY slow and won't be the cleanest edge. Everyone will tell you it CAN do it, but I wouldn't WANT to do it for a big project. The settings will be in the xtool software, you just might have to experiment a bit to get the right results.

[@ChrissyKeto2020]

Hi Robert, I have a question. Can I use this machine for laser engraving and cutting different types of laser safe plastic. For example, I need to be able to make hundreds of custom 2”X 4” signs with a QR code and several lines of text. Would this machine work well for this type of application? Thank you! I appreciate your content!

[@RobertCowanDIY]

I'm not sure what 'laser safe plastic' is, but you'd most likely be doing acrylic, right? And yes, it would easily do this, that's what it's made for.

[@mikedowney2407]

Awesome video! Do you happen to have a link to the stand that you put it on?

[@ThomasEngelder]

At the beginning of your video the machine is shown on a stand. Is this a custom stand or a stock model? If stock, what brand and size?

[@RobertCowanDIY]

It's a rockler stand. It's bit spendy, but very sturdy!

[@jenryall5642]

Love the table you have for your P2! Can you please share details about it? Does it have wheels? Thanks!

[@RobertCowanDIY]

It's from rockler, they're modular stands. They're not cheap, but they're VERY strong and configurable.

[@StefanoLBP]

Grazie from Italy… your video was very helpful for me

[@markblankenship8289]

Does it have to be connected to the internet?

[@designsbytaty]

Hi, I would like to buy it, but the honeycomb is not included, I wonder if it is necessary or I can work without the honeycomb?

[@ncgrave4586]

the default work space bed are slats and the riser is a flat sheet bed. if you are directly cutting material when using the flat sheet bed then you are not going to cut the material. the supposed max cut is less than 3/4", material dependent. honeycomb isnt required for laser cutters, but it is nice to not let the smaller cut off fall below which makes cleaning the bed easier. however, sometimes when you cut acrylic the laser with ghost engrave the honeycomb onto the material which can ruin the project. with the slats, you can adjust the supported space so the ghost engraving doesnt happen while the laser is work. also, a reason for slats than honeycomb, air flow. honeycomb has more material blocking air flow than the slats which means the exhaust system would have to work harder.

[@designsbytaty]

@@ncgrave4586 thanks

[@marcgriffis5619]

Thanks for a great review! The P2 is on my future purchase list but I have concerns about setting it up in my garage. It’s the only place I have space for it. I live in S Cali where it’s not uncommon for the temp to reach 100+ in the summer. Can this cause damage to my laser (any laser)? Or impede on performance? Thanks. New to lasers here 🤦🏽‍♀️

[@RobertCowanDIY]

Nah, that should be fine. It has its own watercooling setup and even after really long jobs, mine only goes up a couple degrees in temperature. As long as you watch the temp and not run it for too long on the hottest days, it's fine.

[@DaveKerk]

My 20+ y/o Epilog just died and trying to repair it has cost me several days of trying and could cost over $1,000. I've been looking at this to replace it and bring me into the modern age. The conveyor for long projects is extremely tempting as making signs for a business would be a breeze. Thanks for the great overview!

[@RobertCowanDIY]

Sure thing! I'm not at all sure what Epilog is up to now, but they were great 10-15 years ago when I last used them. BUT, tech has come a long way. The P2 feels like it cuts the same as the old 60W Epilog, but has all the fancy bells and whistles. I'd be curious what you end up with! If you find something more compelling than the P2, let me know!

[@DaveKerk]

@@RobertCowanDIY My old Epilog is a 30W (who knows what the actual wattage is now with it's age). So hearing it cuts like the 60W for the price is very good to hear! Epilog support has been great but the 5 figure price tag is a bit hard to swallow for a small business. I'll be doing more research!

[@RobertCowanDIY]

@@DaveKerk xTool support will most likely not be as good, but I rarely need to call someone. With something like the Epilog, you might not find many KZbin channels or forums discussing it, so you might HAVE to call support. But for these consumer-grade tools, you can usually find someone to help you out or figure out how to do it on your own. That's the trade off for moving the decimal over one place ;-)

[@DaveKerk]

@@RobertCowanDIY Haha trying to find reddit posts or forums on my Epilog is like looking through old textbooks for a super archaic solution (that usually works). But having something more mainstream is definitely appealing. My other main concern is that to get a 60w (or close to) from any of the larger manufacturers, it's this huge machine that you would need a team of people and a truck to move. The nearly desktop size of this is one of my main considerations. My Epilog Legend 24TT fits on a table made from extruded aluminum (that you actually sold me!!) and I think the P2 would as well.

[@RobertCowanDIY]

@@DaveKerk Ha! I remember you, nice.

[@pascal789456123]

Hi Robert, we’re looking for a laser machine for engraving lamacoids ( acrylic labels) I know co2 laser is a must over diode since they often are white. This P2 seems like a very good machine but a bit too much for our needs. Would you recommend a gweike cloud for our needs since it’s cheaper or the P2 would actually make the price difference worth it.

[@RobertCowanDIY]

If you're just doing something simple like that, the gweike would be a good option I think. The P2 is more versatile, but the gweike will perform basically the same.

[@SebastienBarrau]

Thanks for this review! Most of the others on KZbin for the P2 are first impressions. Have you had to replace any parts in that first year?

[@RobertCowanDIY]

Nope, I haven't had to replace anything or do any maintenance, which is nice. I don't have a ton of hours on it, but I can just turn it on and go, which I like. My old chiller needed to be flushed periodically and there was always a new leak somewhere (the connections weren't the best and were old).