xTool Serves as Diamond Partner of FAB26 Boston, Advancing Distributed Production Across the Global Fab Lab Network

The company debuted the O1 Omni Printer, launched the 1% Maker Challenge with MIT's Center for Bits and Atoms and the Fab Foundation, and outlined how community-level fabrication can move from prototyping to real production.

BOSTON, Aug. 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- xTool, a global maker technology company, served as Diamond Partner of FAB26 Boston, the Fab Lab Global Conference, held July 27–31 across the MIT campus and Fab Hub Kendall. The company used the conference to make the case that digital fabrication has passed a threshold: local workshops, classrooms, and community spaces can now produce finished goods, not only prototypes.

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 program, titled "From Prototyping to Distributed Production," addressed what it takes for that capacity to support actual production.

Driving the Shift From Prototyping to Distributed Production

xTool brought its iconic xTool Truck to FAB26 Boston as part of the company's ongoing 2026 MakerFest Tour. Beyond the tour stop, xTool elevated its presence at this year's event as a FAB Diamond Partner, demonstrating that the company is far more than a hardware supplier or merely a sponsor of the event —it is a deeply committed partner in driving maker culture forward. Highlighting this mission in his FAB26 keynote, Stein Shi, U.S. General Manager at xTool, stated that xTool devices are built not only as everyday appliances, but as robust instruments that put real manufacturing power in makers' hands.

"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

Bringing this belief to life, xTool introduced the groundbreaking xTool O1 Omni Printer to the FAB26 community. As the world's first all-in-one desktop printer capable of working on virtually any material, the O1 integrates UV, DTG, DTF, and UV DTF printing technologies into a single platform. By uniting multi-ink technology with robust mechanical innovation, the xTool O1 breaks past traditional single-material limits—empowering everyone from hobbyist creators to small business owners to scale their operations and unlock massive business potential from a single setup.

Empowering the Fab Lab System with xTool Squad

xTool is extending its mission beyond personal productivity tools for individual creators to embrace the broader community. This aligns directly with the Fab Foundation's conviction that technology achieves its true purpose when it serves communities.

By pairing Fab Lab's global infrastructure with xTool Squad's hyper-local network, xTool is helping turn "making almost anything" into "making almost anywhere." Where the Fab Foundation's 2,710+ Fab Labs across 160 countries answer how to make almost anything, xTool Squad bridges the final mile by bringing making directly into every neighborhood. A growing network of 1,327+ hosts across 106 cities has transformed local studios and garages into neighborhood demo hubs, hosting more than 13,000 creator interactions so far. Serving as the accessible entry point—or the embryo—of a full Fab Lab, these xTool Squad spaces ensure that anyone, anywhere can take their first step into creation just minutes from their doorstep.

Sparking Tangible Impact through the 1% for the Makers Donation Program

Translating this community-first philosophy into action, xTool has joined forces with the Fab Foundation and MIT's Center for Bits and Atoms (CBA) to launch the "1% Maker Challenge."

The challenge expands upon xTool's "1% for the Makers" initiative, which has donated over $860,000 in equipment across 100+ global partners to empower schools, community makerspaces, and artists worldwide. Born alongside the Fab Foundation and MIT's CBA, the "1% Maker Challenge" inspires creators to harness technology for real-world impact. The initiative recognized three standout projects: the wildlife cloche set earned the MIT CBA Choice Award for inspiring wildlife conservation through endangered species artwork; the Community Choice Award celebrated the most-downloaded project, an intricate woodworking piece designed to warm shared spaces; and the Social Spotlight Award went to DahoraKit, demonstrating how xTool machinery and open-source designs break down technical barriers to make STEM and robotics truly universal.

Igniting the Future of Making through Immersive Workshops

Throughout the five-day conference, xTool engaged the FAB26 community with 10 immersive, hands-on workshops in partnership with MIT. The workshops spanned advanced fields like materials science, precision optics, industrial calibration, and project-based learning (PBL), while also focusing on practical creator applications such as custom streetwear design. Attendees got hands-on experience with the F2 Ultra, P3 CO2 laser, Apparel Printer, MetalFab, WonderPress and the newly introduced xTool O1 Omni Printer.  High levels of engagement underscored xTool's leadership within the maker ecosystem, leaving attendees inspired and equipped to make futures that matter.

The achievements at FAB26 mark another milestone in xTool's long-term mission to empower maker communities worldwide. Looking ahead, xTool leadership and technical experts will join the MIT Tech Talk in early October, while the 2026 MakerFest Tour continues rolling forward to connect with new communities and inspire the future of making.

About xTool

xTool is a global premium consumer-tech brand dedicated to empowering digital-to-physical creation. As the world's largest and fastest-growing laser engraver innovator, xTool provides a comprehensive ecosystem of laser-based personal creative tools, material printers, user-friendly software, accessories, and consumables. Through these innovations, xTool empowers creators to turn imagination into meaningful creations that deliver emotional fulfillment, commercial success, and personal achievement. Discover more at xtool.com.

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xTool Serves as Diamond Partner of FAB26 Boston, Advancing Distributed Production Across the Global Fab Lab Network

Brand connects with construction professionals, educators and apprentices at the U.K.'s largest bricklaying and construction skills event

ST. ALBANS, England, Aug. 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Huepar, a provider of laser levels and measuring tools, today shared highlights from its participation in Super Trowel 2026, held July 31 and Aug. 1 at Hertfordshire County Showground in Redbourn, Hertfordshire. Across the two-day event, the Huepar team welcomed construction professionals, training providers, apprentices and existing customers to explore its tools and discuss how laser technology supports accurate layout work.

Super Trowel brings together the bricklaying community through live competition, skills development and industry engagement. The 2026 event moved outdoors for the first time in the competition's history, creating more space for competitions, exhibitors and hands-on activities. For Huepar, it was a chance to meet the people who use measuring and layout tools every day and to hear firsthand about the demands of active jobsites and training environments.

At its booth, Huepar presented cross-line laser levels, laser receivers and remote-operated models for construction, renovation and surveying applications. Visitors handled the products, compared features and spoke directly with the Huepar team about setup, visibility, accuracy and practical use. A laser target challenge also gave attendees an approachable way to experience remote operation and receiver detection.

Attendees discussed how laser tools are being built into modern bricklaying and construction training as well. Demonstrating the same categories of equipment used in professional settings can help learners build familiarity with alignment workflows before they work on live projects. Those conversations underscored for Huepar the value of clear controls, readable feedback and durable design in supporting both effective learning and professional use.

"Super Trowel gave us the chance to move beyond the product page and have useful, face-to-face conversations with the people our tools are designed to support," said Zelda Edwards, Brand Marketing Manager at Huepar. "Professionals want dependable equipment that helps them work accurately and efficiently, while educators need tools that students can learn on with confidence. Hearing both perspectives in one place is valuable for our team and for the way we continue to develop the Huepar range."

Representatives from U.K. further education colleges, private training centers and assessment organizations were among those who visited the booth. Discussions focused on the role of laser levels in teaching accurate layout and measurement, as well as the importance of straightforward operation, consistent performance and support for equipment used by multiple learners. Huepar is continuing conversations with interested organizations to better understand their programs and product requirements.

The event also created an opportunity for online customers to meet the brand in person. Visitors who had previously encountered Huepar through search, e-commerce platforms or industry recommendations could examine the tools up close and ask questions directly. Existing Huepar users stopped by to share feedback based on their own experience in the field.

"Direct feedback helps us understand what matters after a tool leaves the box and goes to work," Edwards added. "Those conversations help us strengthen our products, our service and our relationships with the construction community."

Huepar's participation in Super Trowel 2026 reflects the company's commitment to making professional laser measurement technology practical and accessible for tradespeople, educators and learners. Following the event, Huepar will continue engaging with professional users and training organizations while using the feedback gathered in Hertfordshire to inform future product demonstrations, support and outreach.

About Huepar

Huepar designs and manufactures precision measuring tools — including laser levels, laser distance meters, rotary lasers, digital angle gauges and motorized bases — for contractors, builders and DIY professionals worldwide. The Huepar Tools ecosystem combines accessible hardware with the Huepar App to put professional-level jobsite capabilities within reach of every user. Learn more at https://huepar.com/.

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Huepar Brings Hands-On Laser Level Demonstrations to Super Trowel 2026