There is a new arrival in the Môn Sublime Ink studio: an xTool X1 with a 60W MOPA galvo attachment. It joins my two existing laser machines, expanding what is possible here on Ynys Môn — and opening another chapter for the business.
This is a large investment in the future of Môn Sublime Ink. The plan is to develop the range beyond what I can currently make, giving the mythical creatures, Celtic patterns and folklore-inspired artwork new materials to inhabit.
What does the MOPA attachment make possible?
MOPA is a type of fibre laser with adjustable pulse duration. In everyday terms, that gives more control over how the laser interacts with metal, rather than treating every surface in the same way.
According to xTool's specifications, the X1's 60W MOPA source can produce colour engraving on stainless steel, mark black anodised aluminium, and create deep, detailed metal engraving and relief effects. The colours on stainless steel come from controlled changes to the surface, rather than printed ink. The results depend on the material and settings, so there will be plenty of testing before I offer anything for sale.
That is an exciting prospect for artwork with fine lines, intricate Celtic detail and creatures with plenty of character. I want to explore how those designs translate into metal — not simply put the same picture on another object, but find finishes and textures that suit the artwork.
Three laser machines, more room to explore
The X1 joins two other laser machines already in the studio. Different machines and laser sources have different strengths, so this addition broadens the tools available rather than replacing everything that came before it.
The X1 platform also includes a 55W CO₂ laser, which xTool lists for cutting materials such as wood and acrylic and surface marking on stone, glass and ceramic. Those capabilities are separate from the MOPA attachment's metal work. I have not bought every optional laser source, and I do not want to promise processes that need equipment I do not have.
Learning first, new products when they are ready
For now, the next step is getting to know the machine properly: testing materials, learning the settings and working out which ideas deserve to become finished products. There is a difference between an exciting first experiment and something I am happy to send to a customer.
A first look at the ideas
These concept mock-ups show the kinds of things I would like to explore: a luminous unicorn display, a framed wolf head, and individual stands for all five Mythôn beasts. They are visual ideas, not photographs of products I have made. Materials, construction, lighting and finishes still need to be worked out and tested; the pictures do not establish what the MOPA attachment alone can produce.
The five-beast stand concept at the top of this story brings the whole Mythôn family together. These pictures are a look at the possibilities, not a promise that every experiment will become part of the range. There is no launch date to announce yet.
An investment in what comes next
Môn Sublime Ink has always grown from the artwork and the stories behind it. This investment is about giving those ideas more room — more materials, more detail and more ways to turn a design imagined on Anglesey into something you can hold.
I am excited to see where it leads, and grateful to everyone who has supported the business so far. I look forward to sharing the first experiments with you.
Until then, you can explore the current Môn Sublime Ink shop or meet the five beasts in the Mythôn collection.
Machine specifications
The capability descriptions above are based on xTool's guide to the X1 laser sources. They describe what the equipment supports, not products already available from Môn Sublime Ink.