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Behind the Build

Stories, updates, and engineering logs from the MakerLab

Leveling Up: Welcoming the xTool M2 20W to the Fleet!
August 21st, 2026

Leveling Up: Welcoming the xTool M2 20W to the Fleet!

I'm thrilled to announce a massive upgrade to the workshop: the xTool M2 20W laser with a CMYK print module! This means faster order processing and a brand new product: vivid, full-colour printed wooden coasters.

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How to Beat the Festive Rush: Ordering Custom Christmas Baubles for 2026
July 31st, 2026

How to Beat the Festive Rush: Ordering Custom Christmas Baubles for 2026

Yes, it's summer. But in the MakerLab, Christmas production has already started. Here is exactly how our bespoke ordering process works and why getting in early matters.

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Carving Stone with Light: Don't Get Me Started On Slate Coasters
July 18th, 2026

Carving Stone with Light: Don't Get Me Started On Slate Coasters

Beware the work-coated creature, seen stood a couple of feet away from its object of focus, stroking a beard if present, a chin if not, deep in thought. Duck, if their next sentence is "I wonder."

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3D Printed Couples Statues: Making Plastic not look like Plastic
July 1st, 2026

3D Printed Couples Statues: Making Plastic not look like Plastic

3D printing is rarely as simple as "press print and walk away." Here is a look at the weight, tolerances, and secret slicer settings required to make plastic feel like stone.

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Engraving Cavasses.  Just like painting, but in reverse, and with fire.
June 4th, 2026

Engraving Cavasses. Just like painting, but in reverse, and with fire.

Laser engraving a photograph onto a canvas isn't just about burning away black paint. Here is a look at the hidden, triple-layered painting process that gives our easels their depth.

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Disco Inferno: I Learn Through Fire
May 10th, 2026

Disco Inferno: I Learn Through Fire

Every lab needs an origin story. Here is how an IT engineer's search for visual satisfaction turned a broken £100 3D printer into an obsession with bespoke gifting.

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