xTool at FAB26 Boston: From Prototyping to Distributed Production

xTool joined FAB26 Boston as Diamond Partner, debuted the O1 Omni Printer, and co-launched the 1% Maker Challenge with MIT's Center for Bits and Atoms and the Fab Foundation.

From July 27 to 31, the global Fab Lab community gathered at MIT and Fab Hub Kendall in Boston for FAB26, the annual Fab Lab Global Conference. xTool attended as the event's Diamond Partner — and used the stage to make a case that local workshops, classrooms, and community makerspaces are ready to move beyond prototyping into real production.

That argument sits at the center of both organizations' work. The Fab Lab network, convened by the Fab Foundation and originating at MIT's Center for Bits and Atoms, has spent 25 years building distributed fabrication capacity in communities worldwide. xTool's presentation in the conference's Tools & Tech track, titled "From Prototyping to Distributed Production," explored what it takes for that capacity to deliver finished goods at scale.

What We Brought to FAB26

The xTool Truck rolled into Boston as part of the ongoing 2026 MakerFest Tour. But beyond the tour stop, this year's Diamond Partnership reflected a deeper commitment: xTool is not just a hardware company supporting the event — it is commited partner in pushing maker culture forward.

In his FAB26 keynote, Stein Shi, xTool U.S. General Manager, framed the company's approach:

"At xTool, our belief is simple: creation is a fundamental human instinct. Our job is to remove the friction between a spark in your mind and a finished object in your hands. We don't think of our tools as appliances. We think of them as instruments that put real production capability into more people's hands, in more places. And to do that well, the tools have to actually be good — not 'good enough for a hobbyist,' but good enough to run a business on."

— Stein Shi, xTool U.S. General Manager

We also introduced the xTool O1 Omni Printer to the FAB26 community. The O1 integrates UV, DTG, DTF, and UV DTF printing technologies into a single desktop platform, allowing makers to print on a wide range of materials without switching between machines. For small business owners and independent makers, that means fewer tools, less setup, and more flexibility to scale.

xTool Squad Meets the Fab Lab Network

xTool Squad — our community host program — now includes 1,327+ hosts across 106 cities, with local studios and garages serving as neighborhood demo hubs and over 13,000 creator interactions to date. At FAB26, we highlighted how this hyper-local network complements the Fab Foundation's 2,710+ Fab Labs in 160+ countries.

Where Fab Labs answer the question of how to make almost anything, xTool Squad addresses where — bringing making directly into neighborhoods as a stepping stone toward a full Fab Lab experience. The goal is the same: anyone, anywhere, can take a first step into digital fabrication minutes from home.

The 1% Maker Challenge

xTool, the Fab Foundation, and MIT's Center for Bits and Atoms co-launched the "1% Maker Challenge" at FAB26 — an extension of xTool's ongoing 1% for the Makers donation program, which has contributed over $860,000 in equipment to 100+ schools, makerspaces, and artist communities worldwide.

The challenge invited makers to use digital fabrication tools for projects with real-world impact. Three projects were recognized:

• MIT CBA Choice Award — A wildlife cloche set that promotes endangered species conservation through laser-cut artwork.
• Community Choice Award — An intricate woodworking piece designed for shared spaces, earning the most downloads from the community.
• Social Spotlight Award — DahoraKit, an open-source project demonstrating how xTool machines and open source designs can lower barriers to STEM and robotics education.

10 Hands-On Workshops with MIT

Over five days, xTool ran 10 hands-on workshops in collaboration with MIT, covering topics from materials science and precision optics to industrial calibration and custom streetwear design. Attendees worked directly with the F2 Ultra, P3 CO2 laser, Apparel Printer, MetalFab, WonderPress, and the newly introduced O1 Omni Printer.

What's Next

In early October, xTool leadership and technical experts will join the MIT Tech Talk. The 2026 MakerFest Tour continues through the year — follow us for upcoming stops and community events.