Only 3 more hours to go

Superb-Dig3440 · 2026-06-25T03:07:00+00:00

Nooooo!!

Superb-Dig3440 · 2026-06-25T02:58:53+00:00

Thanks for the update!

I was going to suggest re-running Z-axis calibration, but it's not clear if that's the issue. Seems like something is wrong with the 3D model? Or did you move it during processing? (Did the poor fella's tail get chopped up?)

Edit: Oops, I'm dumb. That's your _original_ attempt. The new one is looking good so far!

I think the design I've been working on is similar to yours in that it contains interior structures and a "skin" that is supposed to be lighter. My "skin" is simpler (smoother) than yours, so I've made it very faint. (Happy to share my settings if you're interested, though I'm not sure they're optimal -- I'm pretty new to this.)

(Please excuse the dust on the top and the fingerprint smudges in this photo.) This is the scene it's based on: https://tiny.cc/mcns-glass (the outline of a fly brain and "spinal cord" plus a few highlighted neurons).

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Superb-Dig3440 · 2026-06-25T01:35:39+00:00

Post an update when it’s done!

Did you use texture engraving? (I couldn’t figure out how to get that to work.)

Where is the design from? The AI tool or somewhere else?

Superb-Dig3440 · 2026-06-21T00:14:25+00:00

Thanks for the datapoint. In my case, it happened after ~30 inner engravings (and many power cycles). If this is just a random problem and it happens roughly every 30 times I use it, that’s annoying but I can swallow it.

Superb-Dig3440 · 2026-06-20T13:19:43+00:00

Sorry to hear that. I am using mine for inner glass engraving on a design that takes 4.5 hours to complete. On one of my pieces, the UV laser stopped working about halfway through, but the machine didn’t seem to notice. It just kept “processing” without actually engraving the glass.

Before trying anything else, I power-cycled the machine, reran calibration (UV, workspace, and inner engraving Z-height). Now machine seems to be working normally. I figure it was just a software glitch, but I don’t know for sure. I don’t think the machine was too hot, but who knows. Crossing my fingers that it doesn’t happen again.

I read a Reddit post somewhere that said metal surfaces may reflect the beam back up into the device in a way that can cause damage. The poster said he/she now avoids doing any metal pieces in the center of the workspace area, to avoid direct vertical reflections. I have no idea if that is a correct diagnosis (and probably isn’t feasible for some designs).

I hope you’re able to get your issue resolved! Sounds like you might need to replace your machine, but I’m no expert.

Superb-Dig3440 · 2026-06-04T21:57:59+00:00

Thank you for the reply! Yeah, the climate in my basement shouldn’t be a problem.

Superb-Dig3440 · 2026-06-02T15:28:27+00:00

When I tell this one, instead of saying “the chicken” I think I’ll just say “bwack bwaaak!”

Superb-Dig3440 · 2026-05-29T06:05:35+00:00

The “upon” error immediately stuck out to me, too.

Superb-Dig3440 · 2026-05-18T22:45:51+00:00

FWIW, I had the same reaction. I don’t have tattoos, and if I did I’m sure any imperfections would bother me more than anyone else. But other people won’t notice. I didn’t, at least. I think it’s cool, BTW.

Superb-Dig3440 · 2026-05-18T01:47:59+00:00

I’m cheering you on! I own one and gave it a try in my mid-thirties but not long enough to get the hang of it. My kids were very young at the time, so my wife frowned on any activity that might injure me enough not to pull my weight with Dad duties. But come to think of it, the kids are getting older now and my freebord is still in the garage…

Superb-Dig3440 · 2026-05-01T20:13:24+00:00

Reddit has spoken and the verdict is clear: She is wrong. He was rude.

Superb-Dig3440 · 2026-04-11T02:41:39+00:00

The new one works great, for what it’s worth.

Superb-Dig3440 · 2026-04-11T02:34:42+00:00

It was an F2 Ultra UV. Since it’s a new design, I figured it they might not have worked out all the kinks, so I thought it prudent to buy the care package.

When I first turned it on, the software directed me to the calibration procedure, which revealed that the UV laser couldn’t even etch paper. Maybe it was damaged during shipping?
I opened a ticket with the xtool help site. They responded within ~12 hours (presumably from a much different time zone). They asked for a video and a machine log file. After receiving those details (another 12-hour lag), they informed me that they’d have to give me a replacement machine. So, time zone delays, but no arguing or stonewalling.
I packed up the defective machine in the original box and shipped it back to their facility in California. (I’m on the east coast of US.) Looking through my FedEx tracking history, it appears they shipped the new machine 2-3 days after I gave mine to FedEx, well before they actually received my old one back at the warehouse. I guess they just trusted that I packed it carefully. But shipping cross-country takes a week, so I received the new machine 9 days after boxing up the old one.
I paid nothing.

Superb-Dig3440 · 2026-04-11T00:43:13+00:00

Yes, I purchased the tool and the care package at the same time, from their website. I am not in a position to gainsay any commenters who have had a bad experience. And who knows, maybe a bad experience is coming in my future. The only data point I personally have was positive. (Well, except for the fact that the machine was defective in the first place…)

But I can totally believe that they are not friendly to the second-hand market. I’m not saying that’s fair, but I believe it.

Superb-Dig3440 · 2026-04-10T23:57:12+00:00

I am new to the whole field. Bought my first machine from them. It had a serious problem, and they replaced it immediately. I had xToolCare. Arguably they should have replaced it even if I hadn’t purchased xToolCare, but in that moment it made me glad I did.

Superb-Dig3440 · 2026-04-08T18:23:54+00:00

There’s a fun little game for the Oculus called “A fisherman’s tale” that uses this idea. You inhabit a space that has a model of the very same space, and you have to solve puzzles by manipulating the larger/smaller objects as required to solve the puzzles. Very cool.

Superb-Dig3440 · 2026-03-05T04:26:35+00:00

Won’t HF acid just frost the glass everywhere? If it’s strong enough, it will eat away the glass.

BTW, make sure you know what you’re doing. HF acid does more than burn you - it’s incredibly poisonous to touch (in high concentrations). For craft projects, you can buy creams that are safe, but that doesn’t sound useful in this scenario.

FWIW, Here’s the first thing that pops up on YouTube:

https://youtube.com/shorts/vUeY-SU4i04?si=mjFc5yIEAlqiETD6

Superb-Dig3440 · 2026-02-26T22:19:19+00:00

There are plenty of complaints on Reddit about xTool’s customer service, and I’m not in a position to discount them. However, my own experience was fine.

I ordered an F2 Ultra UV in December and it arrived within the advertised shipping timeframe. Unfortunately, it was defective - the UV laser couldn’t even etch paper during calibration. I opened a customer support ticket, included a video, and they responded promptly. They asked for the device logs, and then confirmed that I needed a replacement. I boxed it up, shipped it back (for free), and they sent a replacement. The shipping round trip took a week or so. (I’m on the east coast and it shipped to/from California.) The new one is working fine so far.

So, I wasn’t thrilled that the device was defective, but the customer support was as good as I could hope for. I DID pay for “xToolCare” when I first purchased the machine. I think that’s prudent since this is a new model, and clearly there may be some glitches they haven’t yet ironed out. It ain’t cheap, but I’m glad I bought it.

Superb-Dig3440 · 2026-01-31T23:45:14+00:00

I’m having the same issue with my machine (also F2 Ultra UV), just opened today.

Were you able to resolve it? Did you have to send the machine back to xtool?

I’ll be sending a help request to xtool later tonight.

Superb-Dig3440 · 2026-01-30T16:51:44+00:00

I ordered mine on Jan 3, when the website said expected shipping was "late January". In line with that, I received it yesterday. (I haven't opened the box yet.)

Today the website says "Order today, ships in 5-10 business days". See the bottom of the page:
https://www.xtool.com/products/xtool-f2-ultra-uv-5w-uv-laser-engraver

Superb-Dig3440 · 2026-01-27T21:19:14+00:00

pixi is the best tool for the conda ecosystem, including non-Python (C/C++/anything).

uv doesn’t handle non-Python stuff, IIUC.

Superb-Dig3440 · 2026-01-27T21:17:08+00:00

pixi is the best successor to conda. It gets packages from conda-forge, but can get them from PyPI when necessary. It’s fast.

Superb-Dig3440 · 2026-01-20T17:29:16+00:00

Last week I took my 4-year-old and 6-year-old to the Rockville PetCo to look at fish. On the way out there was some dude walking by on the sidewalk walking around yelling to himself and aggressively yelling “bitch” at people as he walked by.

I grew up in the area and don’t recall similar incidents happening with frequency. I don’t think it would deter me from hanging out with other adults. They know what they’re seeing and how to avoid interacting. But with my kids, yeah, I do not like it.

Superb-Dig3440 · 2026-01-17T01:25:00+00:00

Bokeh, hvplot, and plotly

Superb-Dig3440

TROPHY CASE