The workshop news desk
News & Digests
Curated roundups of industry news, product launches, and insights tailored for makers. Each story includes analysis on what it means for your workshop.
Current workshop reporting
17 storiesBaller Installer 2026 (July) Released July 16 With VPX 10.8.0 Final and PinUP Popper 2.0
Baller Installer 2026 (July) was released July 16. The free ~1.6 GB installer bundles VPX 10.8.0 Final (Build 2058, x64 GL/DX + x86), PinUP Player and Popper v2.0, VPinMAME 3.6.0-sc, B2S v2.1.3, FlexDMD v1.9.1, and DMD-Ext v2.3.1. All components install automatically with no user options. Download via VPForums or VPUniverse.
HeyGears G1 Series Kickstarter Opens at $1,999 Super Early Bird With G1X Starter at $3,299
HeyGears G1 Kickstarter launched July 23 at $1,999 Super Early Bird. The G1X Starter runs $3,299 (MSRP $4,999) and ships December 2026; the G1 ships March 2027. The G1X lists an Epson i3200 printhead, 8-channel UV ink, and 10M+ color combinations with 5mm texture height. This site has not tested either model.
xTool O1 Omni Final Payment Closes August 15 as Deposit Backers Begin Shipping
xTool's O1 Omni final payment window closes August 15. Deposit backers are stated to ship in August; new direct orders target early-to-mid September for Single UV and Dual UV and mid-September for DT+UV. These are manufacturer-stated shipping targets, not guaranteed delivery dates.
xTool States M2 Color Craft Laser Now Stocked in 30 Micro Center Locations Across the US
xTool's official account states the M2 Color Craft Laser is now available in 30 Micro Center stores across the US following the July 25 demo day. Micro Center item 711379 (visible SKU 041210) continues to list the 10W standalone as in-store only. Local stock varies; call ahead before traveling.
ELEGOO H1 HT Filament Dryer Launches at $70 With 85°C Max and 11 Presets
ELEGOO launched the H1 HT Filament Dryer on July 24 at $70 USD. Max drying temperature is 85°C with 11 preset modes — PLA, PETG, TPU, ABS, ASA, PET, PP, PC, PA, PAHT-CF, PVA — plus Custom. A 3.5-inch color touchscreen displays live temperature and relative humidity. The spool platform auto-rotates during drying. Dual active dehumidification vents release humid air and seal on completion. A dedicated TPU bypass outlet supports flexible and fiber-reinforced filaments. Shell is listed as flame-resistant with overheat protection.
Milwaukee’s M18 Jobsite Lunch Warmer Is $199, but Full Reheat Takes Two Hours
Milwaukee Tool lists its M18 Jobsite Lunch Warmer (0811-20) at $199. Preset timing and three settings cover 165–205°F, but Milwaukee says every setting needs two hours for a full reheat. Two 4.75-cup stainless containers are included; the box list omits a battery and charger, and retail availability is unstated.
First Independent Makera Z1 Reviews Confirm Cast Frame and Integrated Camera
Independent reviews from Hackster.io and OC3D confirm the Makera Z1's integrated job camera—absent on the Carvera Air—and its one-piece cast aluminum frame. OC3D confirmed the manufacturer's 0.02mm accuracy spec. Makera Studio 2026 includes a guided CAM wizard and simulation. Batch-1 fulfillment timing was not confirmed in either review.
Milwaukee M18 FUEL 2835-20 Circular Saw With ONE-KEY Listed at $349 Bare on Official Site
Milwaukee's official site lists the M18 FUEL 7-1/4 in. Circular Saw w/ ONE-KEY (2835-20) at $349 bare and the 2835-21HD kit at $549 with an HD12.0 battery. The POWERSTATE brushless motor reaches 6,000 RPM. VacLink wireless dust control and ONE-KEY Bluetooth are included. Milwaukee states 750 cuts per charge with the HD12.0 pack.
Stern's SDCC Pop-Up Arcade Ran July 23–25 as Announced; Transformers Also at House of Blues
Stern's SDCC pop-up arcade ran July 23–25 at the Marriott Marquis Marina as announced, no badge required, with Pokémon and Transformers pinball on free play. Stern held booth #4039 on the convention floor. Hasbro's Celebration of Life Concert at House of Blues featured Transformers pinball. No new machine announcements were made at SDCC.
Bambu Studio 2.8.1 Beta Adds Supported Color Mixing and Model-Specific E3D Profiles
Bambu Studio 2.8.1 Public Beta decomposes target colors into supported Bambu PLA Basic CMYW/RYBW combinations and adds E3D High Flow profiles for H2D, H2S, H2C left head, X2D, and P2S at 0.4/0.6 mm. MakerWorld temporarily rejects beta-saved 3MF uploads.
Gweike MCore Lists $6,999 and October Shipping While Older Official Terms Remain Online
Gweike's current MCore page lists $6,999 and “Shipping By Oct.” An older official article still says $4,999 and July shipping, while BackerKit records the ended campaign at $4,693,444 from 634 backers. These dated snapshots should not be blended into one current offer.
Micro Center Schedules xTool Demos Around Its In-Store-Only M2 10W Listing
Micro Center item 711379 renders visible SKU 041210 for the in-store-only xTool M2 10W standalone. Nine stores scheduled July 25 demos from 1–5 p.m., subject to change. CMYK, infrared, and 20W hardware belong to other optional M2 configurations, not the verified retail unit.
E1 Ink Drops to $29.99 With June 1 Price Match; O1 Omni Timing Stays Estimated
eufyMake cut single 100 ml E1 cartridges to $29.99 and its 980 ml kit to $209.99; June 1+ purchases qualify for its stated price match. Bidirectional printing remains planned for Q3 and CISS for later in 2026. xTool's feed lists O1 prices and September estimates, not delivery commitments.
Milwaukee M12 Extended-Reach Ratchets Split Speed and Torque Across Three Drives
Milwaukee's 3058 1/4-inch ratchet runs 550 RPM at 45 ft-lbs; the 3059 3/8-inch runs 400 RPM at 70 ft-lbs; and the 3055 1/2-inch runs 300 RPM at 80 ft-lbs. All three list at $279 bare. Home Depot pages were confirmed for the 3058 and 3059, not the 3055.
Stern Releases Seven Transformers Pinball Accessories From $99.99 to $1,499.99
Stern lists seven Transformers accessories for Pro, Premium, and LE machines, with US MSRPs from $99.99 for Art Blades to $1,499.99 for the Optimus Prime Topper. The topper reacts to gameplay; its exclusive challenge mode is upcoming. Accessories are available through Stern and authorized dealers.
Bambu MQTT Incident Recurred July 20; Service Recovered by 18:30 UTC
Bambu's MQTT print-start incident began July 20, was marked resolved, then recurred. Bambu reported a configuration rollback, replacement of a server with network-connectivity problems, and recovery by 18:30 UTC. All systems were operational at this check; a detailed post-mortem remained pending.
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