Maker & DIY News Digest - May 17, 2026
Published
GSPF Day 3 Sunday FINAL: 9am–5pm, $20 day pass, tournament finals 10am, machine raffle 4:30pm; last Pokémon free play. xTool WonderPress Day 19: Kickstarter $1M+ active through June 24; $599 bundle; community posts emerging. eufyMake E1 Day 13: 14 days to May 31; ALL codes expire May 31 (post-perk $2,499). Maker Faire Brussels: 6 days (May 23–24).
GSPF Day 3: Sunday — THE FINAL DAY; 9am–5pm; Tournament Finals at 10am; Machine Raffle at 4:30pm; Last Day for Pokémon Free Play; $20 Day Pass
The Golden State Pinball Festival (GSPF) 2026 closes today — Day 3, Sunday May 17. Sunday hours: 9:00am to 5:00pm at 413 E. Lockeford Street, Lodi, CA 95240. Day pass: $20 ($10 under 13) — $10 less than Saturday's $30. For the maker community, GSPF Sunday offers: (1) Last day of Pokémon Pro free play — the final hands-on opportunity in the spring 2026 maker calendar to evaluate the Stern Pokémon machine ($6,999 Pro) in the no-cost free-play environment. (2) Tournament FINALS at 10am — watching competitive pinball at the highest festival level is available to all pass holders and provides maker-relevant insights into electromechanical system performance under competitive stress. (3) Machine raffle at 4:30pm — a second pinball machine raffle closes the festival. (4) Lighter Sunday attendance than Saturday — more per-machine access for the hands-on evaluation that defines GSPF's maker value. Pinball FX Super League Football (launched Saturday) is now in active Cabinet Mode testing by attendees who downloaded yesterday — GSPF attendees at home today are completing their first full Cabinet Mode session with a Day 2 table.
GSPF Sunday is the maker community's quiet close of the spring festival calendar. Saturday delivered the convergence event; Sunday is the completion event. For makers who attended Saturday: Sunday is optional but provides the lighter-attendance advantage and the raffle's second shot. For makers who couldn't attend Saturday: Sunday is the final window for the Pokémon free-play opportunity (the single most valuable hands-on access point in the spring calendar at a $6,999 machine). The $20 Sunday day pass at the door is the lowest-cost entry point of the three-day festival. GSPF closes at 5pm — makers within 90 minutes of Lodi have time to go today.
💡What this means for you
GSPF 2026 Day 3 Final (May 17, Sunday): Opens 9:00am – 5:00pm. Venue: 413 E. Lockeford St., Lodi CA 95240. Day pass: $20 ($10 under 13). Tournament FINALS: 10:00am (main + women's tournaments). Machine raffle: 4:30pm. Stern Pokémon Pro: $6,999, SPIKE 3 platform, in free-play lineup. Super League Football (launched yesterday): Cabinet Mode testing active for Saturday festival downloaders. Lighter attendance profile than Saturday — more per-machine access. Weekend passes: valid today.
Market Position: GSPF Day 3 closes the premier maker pinball event of spring 2026. The quiet Sunday close is the correct profile for a community gathering ending — competition finales, community close, and one last raffle.
- Does the Sunday tournament finals format feature any observable Pokémon-specific play that documents physics behavior under competitive expert execution?
- Do GSPF Sunday attendees who downloaded Super League Football at Saturday's festival post Cabinet Mode configuration results from home testing today?
- Does the GSPF official social media or Pinside thread post a 2026 recap — total attendance, raffle machines won, tournament winners — that serves as the community close?
⏸️ Wait if: You cannot attend GSPF today — festival closes at 5pm; Super League Football free on Steam (29 days remain); Pokémon ($6,999 Pro) available through distributors year-round; next major NorCal pinball event is California Extreme in July
✅ Buy if: You are within 90 minutes of Lodi CA and want the Pokémon free-play evaluation or tournament finals observation — GSPF opens 9am today (413 E. Lockeford St.); $20 at the door; closes 5pm; machine raffle at 4:30pm
xTool WonderPress Kickstarter Day 19: $1M+ Raised; Community Backer Milestone Posts Emerging; $599 All-in-One Bundle Active Through June 24
The xTool WonderPress Kickstarter campaign enters Day 19 (Sunday May 17). The campaign launched April 28, 2026, and raised over $1 million in approximately four hours — with the milestone confirmed by a PR Newswire press release dated May 4 noting $1M+ from 4,000+ backers at that point. The campaign runs through June 24, 2026 at 17:00 PDT. Community backer milestone posts are beginning to emerge: backers who pledged in the April 28 launch window are now 19 days into the campaign and beginning to post pledge confirmation experiences and campaign update responses in the Kickstarter comments. The WonderPress is a modular 3D Auto Heat Press with three hardware modules enabling five workflows: Auto Heat Press, 3D Sublimation (curved objects), Vacuum Forming (thermoplastics), Professional DTF Curing (hot-melt powder), and Versatile Craft Baking (resin, clay). Key specification: 2X Heat Density (double heating tubes, ultra-even distribution), True 100kg Pressure. Pricing: All-in-One Bundle (all three modules) at $599 Super Early Bird (MSRP $919, 35% off). Individual tiers: Auto Heat Press module standalone, 2-module combos. Campaign close: June 24, 2026. 38 days remaining.
Day 19 with 38 days remaining is the campaign's mid-watch point: early-adopter excitement is tapering, and the campaign's sustained momentum is now measured by whether the Kickstarter updates maintain backer engagement between now and June 24. The $1M+ in 4-hours milestone is a reference point for the product's market validation — it signals genuine demand, not manufactured scarcity. For makers evaluating the WonderPress today: the $599 All-in-One Bundle remains the most cost-effective entry into multi-workflow thermal applications (DTF curing + sublimation + heat press + vacuum forming + craft baking in one $599 unit). The comparison remains: dedicated DTF cure presses are typically $500+ for a single workflow; WonderPress consolidates five at $320 below MSRP. Sunday's methodical research profile is appropriate for a campaign with 38 days remaining — no urgency, but the Super Early Bird tier may have limited quantity.
💡What this means for you
xTool WonderPress Day 19 (May 17, Sunday): Kickstarter launched April 28; $1M+ raised in ~4 hours from 4,000+ backers. Campaign close: June 24, 2026 17:00 PDT (38 days remaining). Modules: Auto Heat Press, 3D Form, Craft Oven — tool-free swap. Workflows: Auto Heat Press, 3D Sublimation (mugs/bottles/curves), Vacuum Forming (thermoplastics), Professional DTF Curing (hot-melt powder), Versatile Craft Baking (resin/clay/thermal-set). Key specs: 2X Heat Density, True 100kg Pressure. Pricing: All-in-One Bundle $599 (MSRP $919, 35% off). Individual and 2-module tiers also available. Community: backer milestone posts emerging Day 19.
Market Position: Day 19 with 38 days remaining is the campaign's sustained-momentum phase. $1M+ in 4 hours establishes product-market fit; the June 24 close and Super Early Bird pricing maintain the campaign's decision urgency. The five-workflow consolidation at $599 remains unmatched by any single-workflow alternative in the same price range.
- Does xTool release a Day 19–21 Kickstarter campaign update with backer progress data — total backers, funded amount, and any stretch goal announcements?
- Does the community backer discussion reveal any questions about delivery timeline, warranty, or xTool Studio integration that xTool addresses in official campaign comments?
- Does xTool announce post-Kickstarter retail pricing (MSRP beyond $919) during the campaign — allowing buyers to evaluate the Kickstarter discount against expected post-campaign availability?
⏸️ Wait if: You already have dedicated DTF curing, sublimation, and heat press equipment in active use — WonderPress consolidation value is lower when dedicated tools are calibrated and operational; post-campaign retail pricing is unknown
✅ Buy if: You want to enter heat-transfer workflows (DTF, sublimation, 3D form pressing) or consolidate multiple thermal workflows — $599 All-in-One Bundle through June 24 (38 days) is $320 below MSRP $919; $1M+ in 4 hours validates demand; three modules address all five primary thermal maker workflows
eufyMake E1 UV Printer Day 13: 14 Days to May 31 $2,299 Perk — ALL Discount Codes Expire May 31; Post-Perk Standard $2,499; Sole Active Timed Maker UV Purchase
The eufyMake E1 UV Printer enters Day 13 (Sunday May 17) with 14 days remaining through May 31. New confirmation affecting all E1 buyers: ALL eufyMake E1 discount codes expire on May 31 — not just the $2,299 perk price. This includes promotional codes from any channel (email, influencer, retail partner). Post-May-31 standard price: $2,499 ($200 more). The Creality Filastudio M1+R1 Indiegogo remains closed (3 days ago, May 14, $5M+, June shipping) — E1 is the confirmed sole active timed maker purchase in the UV/maker category through May 31. xTool M2 CMYK absorbent-only pattern locked through Creator Calling Day 22 — E1 hard non-porous surface UV position uncontested through May 26. The 5-day comparison window (May 26–31) is the decision framework for mixed-category buyers. E1 specifications: CMYKW + Glossy + Texture channels, 1440 DPI, 300+ materials (hard non-porous), A4 bed, 60mm max object height, same-week shipping. 10-review editorial pool stable.
The 'ALL discount codes expire May 31' data point broadens the May 31 deadline to every E1 buyer holding any promotional code, not just those at the $2,299 standard perk price. The practical implication: makers who received promotional codes from email campaigns, influencer collaborations, or retail partners face the same $200 increase at $2,499 after May 31 as the standard perk buyer. Sunday is the right day to verify your specific code status at eufyMake directly. The WonderPress and E1 are additive capabilities — thermal workflows (WonderPress $599, June 24) vs. UV on hard surfaces (E1 $2,299, May 31). Makers building a comprehensive decoration capability are tracking both. The E1's material case (300+ hard non-porous surfaces) remains uncontested by the xTool M2's CMYK-on-absorbent mechanism through the May 26 reveal.
💡What this means for you
eufyMake E1 Day 13 (May 17, Sunday): 10-review pool stable. Filastudio closed May 14 (3 days ago). ALL discount codes expire May 31. Post-May-31 standard: $2,499. M2 CMYK absorbent-only through Day 22 — E1 hard-surface position uncontested. E1 specs: CMYKW + Glossy + Texture, 1440 DPI, 300+ non-porous materials, A4 bed, 60mm height, same-week shipping. Caveats: proprietary $299 ink sets, paid AI credits, ventilation required. WonderPress (Day 19, thermal workflows, $599, June 24): additive capability, different segment.
Market Position: Day 13 Sunday with the 'all codes expire May 31' clarification creates the clearest buyer deadline picture of the E1's perk window: any buyer with any discount code faces May 31. 14 days remain. The 5-day comparison window (May 26–31) is the decision framework; the E1's hard-surface UV position is uncontested through that window.
- Does eufyMake issue Sunday communications clarifying the specific scope of the May 31 code expiry — particularly for codes distributed through third-party channels?
- Does Day 13 produce any community E1 showcase posts on hard non-porous surfaces that strengthen social proof in the final 14 days?
- Does the WonderPress campaign (Day 19, different segment) drive any cross-pollination from makers building complete decoration suites who add the E1 UV capability alongside thermal workflows?
⏸️ Wait if: You primarily work on absorbent materials and want M2 pricing first — May 26 is 9 days away; E1 perk + ALL codes close May 31 (5-day comparison window); no commitment needed today
✅ Buy if: Your use case is hard non-porous surfaces (glass, ceramic, acrylic, metal, electronics, phone cases) AND you have any discount code for the E1 — verify your code expires May 31; $2,299 confirmed path for 14 days; post-May-31 standard is $2,499
Maker Faire Brussels 2026: 6 Days Away (May 23–24) — European Maker Circuit Second Stop; The Ant CNC 2.0 Distribution Watch Continues; Maker Faire Olbia Follows May 29–31
Maker Faire Brussels 2026 opens in 6 days — Saturday May 23, running through Sunday May 24 — organized by the City of Brussels, Belgium. Brussels is the second stop on the spring 2026 European maker circuit, following Maker Faire Trieste (May 11–13). The Ant CNC 2.0 — the compact precision CNC highlighted by Make: and Hackaday at Trieste — remains the active distribution watch product: two European events in 12 days without a US distribution announcement creates an opening that domestic distribution partners typically move to fill. Brussels is the next announcement opportunity. Maker Faire Olbia (Sardinia, Italy, May 29–31) follows Brussels in 12 days as the third European circuit event. English-language coverage (Make:, Hackaday, Adafruit) will begin approximately May 23–25 and continue through early June. For US makers: Brussels and Olbia coverage together will complete the spring European circuit picture — 6 days to the first English-language Brussels reports.
Six days to Brussels means the European maker circuit's second data point is imminent. The Ant CNC 2.0 has now been present at one European event (Trieste, May 11–13) without a US distribution announcement for 6 days. Two events without US distribution in 20 days would be unusual for a product with the media traction the Ant CNC 2.0 received at Trieste. Brussels (May 23) is the window: if US distribution is announced at or after Brussels, the English-language coverage window (approximately May 23–June 6) is when US makers will have actionable purchasing information. The Olbia follow-on (May 29–31) would provide the third European validation point. Sunday is 6 days from Brussels — the right time to set up Google Alerts for 'Ant CNC' and 'Brussels Maker Faire' to capture coverage within 24–48 hours of the event.
💡What this means for you
Maker Faire Brussels 2026: May 23–24. Organized by City of Brussels, Belgium. European circuit position: 2 of 3 (after Trieste May 11–13, before Olbia May 29–31). The Ant CNC 2.0: debuted Trieste (Make:/Hackaday coverage), no US distribution. Brussels–Trieste gap: 12 days. English-language coverage: Hackaday, Make:, Adafruit, approximately May 23–June 6. Brussels–Olbia gap: 6 days.
Market Position: Brussels in 6 days is the next European maker circuit milestone and the next window for the Ant CNC 2.0 distribution announcement. Six days from now will produce the first Brussels coverage. US makers watching the European circuit should monitor Hackaday and Make: from May 23.
- Does The Ant CNC 2.0 appear at Brussels with a US distribution or pricing announcement — the first commercial path for US buyers?
- Does any other Trieste-debut product appear at Brussels with expanded distribution terms, continuing the circuit momentum?
- Does Maker Faire Olbia (May 29–31, 12 days) serve as a third Ant CNC 2.0 data point or as a new-product announcement venue?
⏸️ Wait if: You are interested in The Ant CNC 2.0 — Brussels (6 days) and Olbia (12 days) are the next two announcement windows; English-language coverage will be available approximately May 23–June 6; US distribution announcement is the next actionable data point
✅ Buy if: You are a maker based in or near Brussels — Maker Faire Brussels May 23–24 is the only spring 2026 maker event in the region; exhibitor list and hands-on access available at the event; $0 admission typical for City of Brussels events
Frequently Asked Questions
GSPF closes today at 5pm — is it worth a Sunday visit for a maker who missed Saturday?▼
Yes, if you are within 90 minutes of Lodi CA and specifically want: (1) Pokémon free play — last hands-on opportunity in the spring calendar at a $6,999 machine; (2) Tournament finals observation at 10am — highest-level competitive play of the festival; (3) Machine raffle at 4:30pm. Sunday's $20 day pass is $10 less than Saturday, and lighter attendance means more per-machine access. Drive from Sacramento: approximately 45 minutes. Festival closes at 5pm — if you leave now, you have full access. Pinball University sessions may not repeat on Sunday, but the free-play floor, tournament, and raffle are the primary maker value.
The xTool WonderPress Kickstarter has 38 days left — is there urgency to pledge now?▼
The Super Early Bird All-in-One Bundle at $599 is 35% below the $919 MSRP. Kickstarter Super Early Bird tiers typically have limited quantity — once sold out, the next tier is priced higher. If the Super Early Bird tier sells out before June 24, the remaining campaign tiers cost more. Check the Kickstarter page for current Super Early Bird availability: if it shows remaining units, there is no immediate urgency; if approaching sold out, the urgency increases. The campaign close is June 24 — the Super Early Bird tier may close before that if quantity is exhausted. Verify tier availability at kickstarter.com/projects/makeblock/xtool-wonderpress-the-most-creative-3d-auto-heat-press-ever.
I have a discount code for the eufyMake E1 from an email campaign. Does it expire May 31 even if it says no expiry?▼
The new confirmation from eufyMake is that ALL discount codes expire May 31, which appears to apply to codes distributed through their promotional programs. If your code specifies a different expiry date, the code's stated terms should be authoritative — but given the May 31 confirmation is broad, verify directly with eufyMake customer support or at eufymake.com before May 31. Don't rely on a code's unstated expiry if the company has confirmed a universal May 31 close. The safest approach: apply your code before May 31 and verify at checkout that it is accepted and the discount is reflected.
What is Maker Faire Brussels and why should US makers care about it?▼
Maker Faire Brussels is the City of Brussels' annual maker event, typically attracting 50+ exhibitors and thousands of visitors. It is the second stop on the spring 2026 European maker circuit after Maker Faire Trieste. For US makers, the circuit functions as a discovery pipeline: products that debut or appear at European maker events get their first English-language documentation at these events, typically 1–3 weeks before any US distribution announcement. The Ant CNC 2.0 — a compact precision CNC from the Trieste debut — is the specific product to watch at Brussels. English-language coverage from Make:, Hackaday, and Adafruit typically follows within 1–2 weeks of Brussels, arriving approximately May 23–June 6 for US readers.