You can print, slice, and engrave using this desktop crafting machine

xTool has announced a new multi-purpose crafting machine that could potentially be one of the most affordable ways to start an Etsy shop. Its modular design facilitates a CMYK print head that works on multiple materials including paper, wood, and felt. It can later be swapped with laser-based cutting and engraving tools. You can use the M2 to both print and cut stickers, for example, but it’s versatile enough to also be used to etch designs onto metal water bottles. The machine’s upgradeable functionality justifies its footprint, which is much larger than your typical desktop printer. The xTool M2 Color Craft Laser, which will be priced at $599, is available starting today , temporarily discounted to $549 for the first week. However, that base price only gets you a version of the machine with a 10W laser diode capable of cutting over 300 thinner materials. If you also want to print, you’ll need the more expensive $749 bundle that includes the CMYK Inkjet Printing Module, which can churn out about 400 pages before a new ink cartridge is needed. For printing and cutting thicker materials an $1,149 bundle with a 20W laser is needed, while for an extra $499 you can add an infrared laser module that’s even better at engraving metals. What really sets the M2 apart from the M1 Ultra , an earlier entry-level version of this crafting machine, is the addition of a 5-megapixel panoramic camera and a 2-megapixel close-up inside the new model. …