I was shopping at a craft store when I spotted a Halloween themed gumball machine. I loved the idea and wanted to make my own out of wood. I like to search for images online to help find more inspiration and ideas, and found a gumball machine with a witch hat too. With my mind full of ideas now, it was time to start designing.

My favorite designing software is Inkscape (free!). I found a basic gumball machine clipart and started to use that as my guide to draw my own gumball machine. As I draw, I think about all the different layers and separate them on my canvas to help visualize everything.

Since I planned to make this using the inkjet module on the M1 Ultra, I also made bitmap images to print the color on the wood for me. After my design is done, I upload it into XCS to get ready to process it.

Note: If you opened the XCS file that comes with this tutorial, all settings are already set-up for use with the M1 Ultra 10W. 

1. Open the file in xTool Creative Space. 
2. Load the inkjet module in your machine.
3. Place the wood on top of the triangular prisms. Secure with tape or limit blocks, so that nothing moves.
4. Change the Mode to Inkjet printing on the right side in XCS.
5. Print the file at 60% intensity.

This project is a little big. You will need to print and then laser cut one section first, and come back and print and laser cut again. Repeat as needed.

If your machine has been calibrated correctly, you should be able to laser cut the designs out without the need to manually frame.

1. Switch the inkjet module to the laser module.
2. Change the Mode to Lasering on flat surface on the right side in XCS.
3. Turn the output to the bitmap images/designs to OFF.
4. Set the black cut lines to 100 Power and 4 Speed for Cut. I only need 1 Pass at this setting.
5. Set the red score lines to 65 Power and 50 Speed for Score.
6. Measure the distance. I got 14mm as my distance for 3mm plywood sheet on top of the triangular prisms.
7. Click the green Process button on the top right of the screen.
8. A preview will be shown. Click the green Start button (top right) to send it to the machine.
9. Press the button on the M1 Ultra machine to start.

I used a sheet of clear acetate. You can also use clear shrink plastic or other clear thin plastics.

1. Load the fine tip blade cutter/knife into the machine module holder.
2. Place a sticky mat down onto the base plate. Peel off both sides of the protective sheets.
3. Place the clear plastic/acetate sheet on the sticky mat.
4. Change the Mode to Blade Cut on the right side in XCS.
5. Cut only the design labeled Acetate Sheet in the file.
6. For my acetate sheet, I used 350 Power, 50 Speed, and 2 Passes as my setting.
7. Process and cut the sheet.

1. Gather the bottom and middle layer pieces. (Picture 1)
2. Glue the middle layer on top of the bottom layer. (Picture 2)
3. Place the gumballs inside the middle layer opening. (Picture 3)
4. Put glue around the witch hat area and bowl edge. (Picture 4)
5. Stick the clear acetate sheet on top of this area to keep the balls inside. (Picture 5) The picture doesn't capture the clear acetate sheet well, but you can see the glue dots are smashed flat now.

1. Glue the black witch hat piece on top now. (Picture 1)
2. Gather the witch hat detail pieces and glue them in the scored line placement area. (Picture 1 and 2)
3. Gather the rest of the gumball machine detail pieces and glue them on. (Pictures 3 and 4)
4. Flip over the project and glue the extra base piece on the back on the bottom. This will help make the project thicker so the gumball machine can stand on it's own. You can add more pieces if necessary. (Picture 5)
5. You are now done! I hope you enjoyed making this project with me!