GoKawiilis a senior reporter who’s been covering and reviewing the latest gadgets and tech since 2006, but has loved all things electronic since he was a kid.
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xTool, a company best known amongst makers for its laser-based cutting and engraving tools, has announced a new multi-function crafting machine called the WonderPress. It’s not an all-in-one device that can help you get an Etsy store off the ground, but the WonderPress can help turn designs from other machines, like Cricuts or sublimation printers, into finished products that are ready to sell.
The WonderPress is available for preorder now with a $10 deposit and an early bird discount that brings its price down from $399 to $279. Out of the box it’s a replacement for machines like the Cricut EasyPress that use heat and manual pressure to transfer iron-on or sublimation prints onto shirts, pillow covers, or cloth bags. The WonderPress’ default heat press module applies up to 220 pounds of pressure onto its flat surface with the ability to automate its temperature and timing through presets for various materials.
The 3D form module uses heat and a vacuum to transfer printed designs to objects like keyboard caps or create molds from them. Image: xTool
xTool will offer two additional swap-in modules for the WonderPress, but hasn’t announced pricing for them yet. The most interesting is the 3D Form Module that uses a vacuum and heat to wrap 2D printed designs around 3D objects. You can use it to customize smartphone cases and keycaps, for example, but the module doubles as a vacuum forming machine. Insert an object, such as an item created by a 3D printer, and the WonderPress can make molds or a plastic duplicate.
The oven module can be used to transfer printed designs to irregular-shaped objects like mugs. Image: xTool
The Craft Oven Module could be a safer, if smaller, alternative to using your kitchen oven as a crafting tool. It can be used to shrink plastic, bend and mould acrylic, harden clay, or prepare direct-to-film (DTF) prints where an adhesive powder needs to be cured before it can be applied to fabrics. The WonderPress’ oven module provides finer control over the heat applied and also includes xTool’s three-layer composite H13 HEPA filter to trap particles and odors.