On 14 August 2026, Bambu Lab and xTool both announced new laser machines within a few hours of each other. xTool making a laser is expected; Bambu Lab making a dedicated one was not. Here’s what was revealed, what we’ve learned since, and why it matters.
The short version
- Bambu Lab R1: Bambu’s first dedicated laser machine, not a 3D printer add-on. It turned out to be a 55 W CO2 laser with a 600 x 300 mm work area.
- xTool X1: billed as a “next-gen laser machine”. Speculation at launch pointed to a gantry and galvo hybrid.
- The big picture: Bambu is moving into xTool’s home turf, backed by its own range of laser materials.
The Bambu Lab R1
The announcement was just a landing page, “a new ray of making”, and an engraved wooden Bambu logo. My guess at the time was a UV laser. It turned out to be more conventional and more practical:
- 55 W CO2 glass tube laser
- 600 x 300 mm work area, extending to long stock (up to 3000 mm) with the conveyor
- Bambu quotes cuts up to 18 mm plywood and 20 mm acrylic in a single pass
- Around US$2,499
The bigger story is the shift in strategy. Bambu’s laser module for the H2 series felt like a miss to me: smoke and soot inside a 3D printer means more maintenance, and I’ve never met anyone who owns one. A standalone machine makes far more sense, and Bambu’s growing range of laser materials (woods, acrylic, tumblers, coasters) shows they’re committed. I’ve since covered what the first R1 reviewers are saying.
The xTool X1
xTool’s teaser promised a machine “engineered to solve challenges that conventional laser systems weren’t built to overcome.” The popular theory was a hybrid: a gantry that moves the head around plus a galvo (mirror-steered beam) for speed. Galvos are very fast but cut at an angle towards the edges of their field; putting one on a gantry keeps it directly above the work.
The rumours turned out to be right. At its launch event xTool showed the X1 as a flying galvo system: a 55 W CO2 laser plus a 20 W diode as the base, with swappable modules on the back (5 W UV, 30 W fibre or 60 W MOPA). I break down each module in my xTool X1 video.
xTool is the established laser brand, with strong machines and software, so Bambu has a fight on its hands. If you’re shopping for an xTool now, you can browse the range through my xTool link.
Affiliate link: if you buy through it I may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you.
Where I’ve landed
I’m adding a Bambu Lab R1 to the DraftID workshop, with laser cutting and engraving available from December 2026.
Planning a laser job? Laser cutting and engraving joins the studio in December 2026. Get in touch now and I’ll quote it as soon as the R1 is on the bench.