Small things made of titanium or stainless steel just look cool. I want to make the shapes I want myself, so I placed a VIP reservation for the ToolDance X1. If it can cut fine details, I’d like to try making a watch someday!
The X1 is a desktop CNC mill: it moves a cutting tool exactly as a computer tells it to and cuts material away. Cutting metal puts a lot of force on the machine, so what I care about most is whether it flexes under that force. That resistance to flexing is called rigidity.
Compared with the C500, which I’d been eyeing before (Japanese), the X1 differs in three big ways: the spindle and coolant for cutting metal, the option to expand to 5 axes so the material can be tilted, and features that help you prepare before cutting. Which of these matters depends on what you want to make.
On the other hand, the C500 also has automatic tool changing and automatic CAM. If those are all you want, they’re no reason to pick the X1.
I don’t own or use the machine, and this article is pre-purchase research. The figures come from the maker’s published values and posts checked on September 20, 2026, and from email replies to me. I have not tested them myself. There are no results comparing the two machines under the same conditions, so I can’t say which is faster or which is more rigid.
ToolDance X1 official product page / NestWorks C500 official product page
Equipment for cutting metal: spindle and coolant
For making small metal parts, besides the spindle and coolant, a useful clue is what conditions the material you want to use was actually cut under. The X1’s tests list Grade 5, a titanium alloy, and 304, a stainless steel. Even “titanium” cuts differently depending on the grade, so I match the material names exactly. X1 official spec sheet
1,500 W vs 800 W: the power gap isn’t the same as a cutting-speed gap
The spindle that spins the tool is 800 W and up to 18,000 rpm on the C500, and 1,500 W and up to 24,000 rpm on the X1 (rpm is revolutions per minute). ToolDance describes the X1’s spindle as keeping its turning force even at lower speeds. C500 spindle specs / X1 spindle specs
To remove a lot of material, the tool needs the force to keep turning, which is torque. With nearly twice the power, the X1 is naturally interesting as a metal-cutting machine. But torque and power both change with speed, so the ratio 1,500 W ÷ 800 W doesn’t translate directly into how much faster it cuts. Machine tool makers also show torque and power as curves across the speed range. Haas spindle torque charts
And the rigidity I care about is a separate matter from spindle power. Even with power to spare, if the machine, tool or workholding flexes, the shape goes off. The X1 describes a reinforced cast aluminum frame, and the C500 an aluminum alloy frame with a steel table, but neither tells you how many millimeters it deflects under the same force. X1 structure / C500 structure
Coolant: blow it or flood it
Cutting heats up the tool and the material and produces chips. Coolant carries that away. The C500 offers MQL, which sprays a small amount of lubricating oil as a mist, plus air cooling. The X1 comes with an air blast as standard, and flood coolant, which keeps liquid flowing, can be added. From here on I’ll call them air and flood. C500 MQL / X1 cooling
What’s distinctive about the X1 is the option to cut while flooding the work with liquid. That said, flood isn’t always better; how well it works depends on flow, how the liquid reaches the cut, and the tool and cutting method.
Using liquid adds refilling and cleaning out chips, and with water-mixed coolant, managing concentration too. These are standard maintenance items on ordinary machine tools, but how often and how much they’d cost on the X1 is still unknown. Haas coolant and tank maintenance
Published conditions for cutting titanium and stainless for over 60 minutes
For the X1, the maker has published test information on cutting Grade 5 titanium and 304 stainless continuously for over 60 minutes each. It lists the tool diameter, spindle speed and cutting width, which makes it easy to compare with the kind of cutting you want to do. Test conditions and footnotes
The tool was 6 mm in diameter, cutting with only part of it engaged on the side of the material, a little at a time. For example, for titanium with liquid coolant, it cuts a 5.2 mm tall band, 0.3 mm sideways at a time.
This is different from cutting a 5.2 mm deep slot with the full width of the tool, so it’s worth reading carefully.
See the detailed test conditions: spindle speed, feed and depth of cut
“Depth of cut” is how wide or tall the tool engages at once, and “feed rate” is how fast the tool and material move relative to each other. “rpm” is revolutions per minute. In every row the tool diameter is 6 mm and the axial depth of cut is 5.2 mm.
| Material / coolant | Radial depth of cut | Spindle speed | Feed rate | Calculated removal rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 titanium / air | 0.2 mm | 4,000 rpm | 1,200 mm/min | 1.248 cm³/min |
| Grade 5 titanium / liquid | 0.3 mm | 8,000 rpm | 1,600 mm/min | 2.496 cm³/min |
| 304 stainless / air | 0.2 mm | 8,000 rpm | 1,600 mm/min | 1.664 cm³/min |
| 304 stainless / liquid | 0.3 mm | 10,000 rpm | 2,000 mm/min | 3.120 cm³/min |
Source: Materials section and footnotes of the official spec sheet. “Air” is Air Blast and “liquid” is Flood Coolant. The maker says each condition was verified for over 60 minutes of continuous cutting in Standard Mode, using standard tools from its own upcoming tool line. These are not maximum capabilities; the removal rates are nominal values calculated from depth of cut and feed.
Flood helps when you remove a lot of material
Air and flood use different cutting conditions in the maker’s data, and remove different amounts per minute. Calculated from the published conditions, flood removes 2 times as much for titanium and about 1.88 times as much for 304 stainless. But spindle speed and feed also change, so this isn’t the effect of coolant alone.
In the chart below, cm³ is a unit of volume: 1 cm³ is a cube 1 cm on each side. The longer the bar, the more material that condition removes per minute.
This difference matters when you carve a lot out of a block. If your work is mostly fine finishing, it makes more sense to look first at how thin tools behave and the finished dimensions, rather than the removal rate.
One more thing: this compares conditions within the X1, so it doesn’t mean the X1 is faster than the C500 with MQL. Even if the rate per minute is twice as high, the time to a finished part won’t be halved, because of tool entry moves, travel, finishing and tool changes. Continuous cutting was also verified with air, so you can’t say “titanium needs flood” either. The extra cost of the equipment, tool life and coolant upkeep are still unknown, so it’s also impossible to calculate whether the added cost pays off.
If you want to carve a lot out of blocks, the X1’s spindle and flood combination is worth comparing against the C500. That’s because it offers equipment options and concrete cutting conditions.
From the measured test part: could it make watch parts?
For small parts, it’s not enough to keep cutting; they also need to come out at the intended size. Here I looked at the measurement results the maker has published for a finished part.
How far off was the 160 mm test part?
The maker has published the results of measuring a 160 mm test part with a coordinate measuring machine (CMM). It’s a device that measures many points on a part to check how far its size and shape are off.
The two dimensions in the post were 160.0176 mm and 160.0193 mm against a target of 160.0000 mm. That means they came out 0.0176 mm and 0.0193 mm larger than the target. The maker says every inspected item was within tolerance. 160 mm test part measurement results
However, I couldn’t confirm the test part’s material or the full inspection report. How much deviation is acceptable (the tolerance) depends on the part, so whether it works for my parts can’t be known without seeing results for similar materials and shapes. Surface finish can’t be read from these numbers either, so I’d also like to see photos of the finish.
See the CMM measurement items and values
A µm (micrometer) is one-thousandth of a millimeter. For example, 20 µm is 0.020 mm. Each value below evaluates a different shape or position; they are not added together to give the error of the whole part.
| Measurement item | Result posted by the maker | What it shows |
|---|---|---|
| Nominal 160.0000 mm dimension | 160.0176 / 160.0193 mm | +17.6 / +19.3 µm from nominal |
| Straightness | 0.0022–0.0137 mm | How straight the measured line is |
| Perpendicularity | 0.0022–0.0197 mm | Deviation from square to the reference |
| Coaxiality | 0.0038–0.0064 mm | How well the axes line up |
| Roundness | 0.0104 mm | How round the measured circle is |
| Position (max) | 0.0109 mm | Positional deviation from the reference |
Source: ToolDance’s CMM measurement of a 160 mm test part (September 3, 2026). Values are from the post’s text; the maker says all items were within tolerance. The full inspection report, measurement uncertainty and the test part’s material are unconfirmed.
For titanium, there’s also a post saying Grade 5 was cooled with air, taken from roughing through finishing, and passed CMM inspection. However, it gives no individual measurements. Grade 5 titanium machining and inspection
For threads, there’s a post showing M6 threaded holes cut in TA2, a different grade of titanium. That’s a completely different size from the tiny screws used in watches. M6 threads in TA2 titanium
For fine watch parts, the next question is cutting with thin tools
Since I’d like to try making a watch, what I want to know is how far it can go with thin tools. Tests with a 6 mm tool and M6 threaded holes aren’t evidence that it can make the small parts inside a watch. The finer the shape, the thinner the tool needed to get into it.
The deeper a thin tool reaches, the more easily the tool itself bends. Beyond a sturdy frame, I want to see whether it can cut the intended shape with a tool as thin and as deep as needed. Design guide on tool shapes and reach
The X1’s specs list “positioning repeatability ±0.01 mm.” That’s about returning to the same position again and again; it doesn’t mean every cut part will be within ±0.01 mm. In real cutting, tool deflection, runout while spinning and workholding all play a part.
Spindle runout is published as “≤10 µm @ 45 mm.” 10 µm is 0.01 mm. But this is a value measured on the spindle side under specific conditions, so I’d want to check how much a thin tool’s tip actually wobbles, including the tool and toolholder. Official specs for repeatability and spindle runout
What the current sources show is the test part’s dimensions, plus reports of a titanium part passing inspection and M6 threads. Whether it can make fine watch parts is still unknown. I’d like to wait for examples that show fine features and dimensions under conditions close to the parts I want to make.
How much less preparation than the C500?
As much as accuracy, I care about the preparation before cutting starts: which way to hold the material, which direction to bring the tool in from, and how to make the toolpaths. The C500 and X1 differ here too.
4-axis vs 5-axis: how you can turn the material
Basic 3-axis machining moves the tool and material left-right, front-back and up-down. If the tool can reach the shape from above, that’s enough to start with.
To cut the back or the sides, you change the material’s orientation. Re-clamping by hand means redoing the fixturing and alignment. Additional rotary axes let the machine do that reorientation for you.
The C500 offers a simultaneous 4-axis module, and the X1 a module that expands it to simultaneous 5-axis. With 4 axes, the material can rotate around one axis. With 5 axes, there’s one more rotation, so it can rotate and also tilt. C500 4th axis / X1 5-axis / Explanation of 4-axis and 5-axis motion
A rule of thumb for choosing is what motion it takes to point the tool at the face you want to cut. If turning step by step reaches it, 4 axes; if it has to rotate and then tilt, 5 axes. Whether a real part can be reached also depends on the machine’s angle limits and whether anything hits the fixture.
5-axis machines can do “3+2 machining,” where the part is reoriented and locked before cutting, and “simultaneous 5-axis machining,” where it changes orientation while cutting. For drilling a straight hole into an angled face, the former; for shapes where the tool angle must change while cutting, the latter. Either way, more axes don’t by themselves make a part more accurate.
Also, going 5-axis changes how big a part you can load. The X1’s 3-axis travel is 400 × 265 × 180 mm. The maximum workpiece size with 5 axes is 80 × 114 × 92 mm for 3+2 and 80 × 80 × 80 mm for simultaneous 5-axis (specs in development). Official working range specs
The left is how far the machine moves and the right is the largest part you can load, so they aren’t the same thing. With 5 axes you also need room to tilt the part and space for the fixture, so even if a part fits the published size, you may not be able to cut it at any angle you like.
If you want to tilt small parts in many directions while cutting, the 5-axis option is a reason to choose the X1. If one rotation is enough, the C500’s 4th axis is a strong option, and if you only cut from above, there’s no need to spend on 5 axes.
One caution is how far automatic toolpaths go. The specs say automatic programming for parts is 3-axis (parts made in one to three setups), while relief and sculpted carving can be programmed for 3-axis, 4-axis and simultaneous 5-axis. On-screen simulation is listed for 3-axis. For 5-axis toolpaths on parts, ToolDance also describes sending programs straight to the machine from other CAM software such as Fusion 360 and Mastercam. If 5 axes is the deciding factor, decide after checking the production version’s range of motion and price, plus compatible CAM, how programs get to the machine, and software costs. X1 software and 5-axis specs
Check the 5-axis accuracy spec too
When the material changes orientation, RTCP is the function that coordinates several axes to move the tool tip to the intended point. The X1’s RTCP positioning accuracy is ±0.04 mm, a value still in development.
It measures something different from the ±0.01 mm repeatability of the linear axes mentioned earlier. You can’t rank them by the numbers alone, or assume that adding 5 axes makes finished parts more accurate. Detailed 5-axis module specs
How much help with preparation before cutting?
Even once the material’s orientation is set, a CNC needs to be told “which tool, in what order, and where to move.” The software that creates these instructions from 3D design data is called CAM.
Both the NestWorks C500 I compared in an earlier article (Japanese) and the X1 advertise automating these instructions, and an ATC (automatic tool changer) that swaps tools for you.
The difference comes before that: “Can the tool reach deep into this shape?” “Can I hold the material without getting in the way of the cut?” The X1 also offers DFM analysis that looks for hard-to-machine shapes, plus fixturing suggestions and step-by-step guidance.
Here’s a table of what each maker advertises.
| Task you want help with | C500 | X1 |
|---|---|---|
| Changing tools and handling tool data | Automatic tool changer, automatic calibration and measurement, tool data via tags | Automatic tool changer for 9 tools, a probe that measures by touching the material, tool identification via tags |
| Creating cutting instructions from design data | Smart CAM generates paths and conditions automatically | Generates toolpaths from 3D data in STEP/STL formats: 3-axis for parts, up to simultaneous 5-axis for carving. Editable after generation |
| Finding hard-to-machine shapes | Not itemized on the product page I checked | DFM analysis for thin walls, inside corners, areas the tool can't reach, and more |
| Deciding how to hold the material | Advertises an electric vise that clamps the material. Automatic fixturing suggestions unconfirmed | Suggests fixturing options and shows 3D steps |
| Finding problems before cutting | No details on the product page I checked | Replays 3-axis machining on screen to check for overcutting, leftover material, and collisions between tool or holder and the material or fixture |
Sources: C500 official / X1 official / X1 software, measurement and tool identification specs. As advertised on September 20, 2026. The tag-reading system is called RFID. “Not itemized” or “unconfirmed” for the C500 does not mean the feature is missing.
ToolDance has also posted an example of taking 3D data for a motorcycle mount, checking hard-to-machine areas, and planning steps from roughing to finishing. Motorcycle mount machining example
What I’m hoping for from the X1
As I wrote in my C500 article (Japanese), honestly, I don’t love doing all the setup before and after cutting by hand every time. So I’m drawn to how the X1 tries to help with decisions before cutting even starts.
Specifically, these three:
- Can it be cut as designed? If DFM points out inside areas the tool can’t reach or thin walls, you can rethink the design or cutting direction before cutting. Whether to change the design is still up to me.
- Where do I hold it? If it shows fixturing for each step, it’s easier to plan clamping that stays clear of the cut and the order for re-clamping. It doesn’t mean the machine does the re-clamping for you.
- Will the moves cause problems? 3-axis simulation lets you check for leftover material and collisions between tool or holder before cutting. It won’t tell you if the clamping loosens or the tool wears.
If you think through design, fixturing and toolpaths every time you make a different small part, these look like they’d get a lot of use. If you only make the same part with fixed steps, I don’t think they matter as much. All of this is my read of the published features; I haven’t measured how much effort they save.
There’s one concern too. The specs say the X1 can recognize ToolDance’s own materials and fixtures with a camera and so on (fixtures here are tools that hold the material in a set position and direction). Whether you can prepare the same way with your own titanium stock or a third-party vise is still unknown. Recognition targets and fixturing support specs
The C500 also advertises recognizing materials and tools and setting cutting conditions automatically, so I’d like to compare in a demo how far each goes beyond that. X1 preparation support / C500 Smart CAM and material/tool recognition
What I want to see is the operations and fixes needed to get from the data for a part I want to make to being ready to cut. Seeing what has to be redone after a design change would make the difference from the C500 clear. For now, there are no figures for how many minutes it saves or how many fewer mistakes there are.
Buying from Japan: total cost and warranty are not settled yet
Once you know which features you want, next comes money. That means more than the machine: software, equipment, and shipping and delivery to Japan.
Put the equipment you need into the quote
The machine’s price alone doesn’t settle what it costs to get started. You also need tools, something to hold the material, and something to measure dimensions. Separating the basics from equipment you add for your use makes quotes easier to compare.
| What you need | What it’s for | When to consider adding it |
|---|---|---|
| Tools, fixtures, measuring tools | Cutting, holding and checking the dimensions of your material | Budget for them along with the base machine |
| Flood coolant system | Making flood conditions an option for heavy cutting | Compare for deep pockets or making many parts |
| Software that helps with preparation | Using help with shape checks, fixturing and toolpaths | Evaluate if you make things while changing designs |
| 5-axis module to reorient the material | Reaching angled faces and reducing re-clamping to set angles | Consider once more faces can’t be reached from above |
Get separate quotes for flood and 5-axis, and check which price includes the software features you need. If most of your shapes won’t use 5 axes, you can put that money toward tools and measuring equipment instead.
The VIP perk and paying for the machine are separate
The X1 is planned to be sold on Kickstarter. Kickstarter is a service for raising backing to bring products to market, and a VIP reservation alone doesn’t back the machine itself.
The official reservation page lists early-bird pricing from USD 2,999 and VIP from USD 2,799. VIP makes every X1 set eligible for a cashback of USD 200 or more, but USD 2,799 is not a total that includes flood coolant and so on. VIP reservation page and FAQ
The payment flow is described like this:
- Pay a USD 30 deposit for the VIP reservation. It doesn’t go toward the machine; it’s refunded later.
- If you want the machine, back your chosen early-bird set separately on Kickstarter.
- After the campaign ends, the cashback is processed within 14 days.
- Deposit refunds start after those 14 days. The deposit is refunded even if you don’t back the machine.
This describes when each process starts; it doesn’t mean everything arrives on the same day. Payment and refund terms
It ships to Japan, with taxes included in delivery
When I asked the maker by email, the reply was that it ships to Japan and delivery is DDP. DDP means the seller handles import clearance and pays duties and taxes, and delivers to an agreed place. The shipping cost and whether it’s carried inside the home aren’t settled. Explanation of DDP delivery and costs
The X1 is listed at 100 kg and 750 W × 625 D × 772 H mm. Its power input is 100–240 V AC, so Japan’s 100 V is in range, but the required circuit capacity and plug type need checking separately. I’d also budget for how to get a 100 kg machine to where it’ll sit. Official specs for size, weight and power
The official price, warranty and 5-axis details were said to be announced later. An evaluation unit isn’t available now because the early production run has already been allocated. I checked the email on September 20, 2026.
The campaign start was given as Q4 (October–December) in the email and October 2026 in the public announcement. That’s when the campaign opens, not the shipping date. Maker’s public announcement
When I checked, the C500 shop showed a password page and the X1 VIP page showed “Out of stock.” I haven’t been able to compare the total cost for Japan with the same equipment. C500 shop / X1 VIP page
Reasons to choose the X1, and when the C500 stays in the running
I got answers on shipping and DDP, but the total including the equipment, software and shipping I want, and the warranty, aren’t out yet. There’s no equivalent quote for the C500 either, so I can’t say which is the better deal right now. The VIP starting price alone isn’t enough to compare.
What I want to make is small parts that make the most of titanium and stainless steel. For that, I’m looking at whether the cutting (coolant included), the direction the tool comes in from, and the preparation before cutting fit my work.
| Work you care about | How to choose | What to check before buying |
|---|---|---|
| Carving a lot out of metal blocks | Compare the X1 first, weighing its spindle and flood setup and its per-material test conditions | Results for your material and cutting method, and the total including coolant. Whether it's faster than the C500 needs a separate comparison |
| Tilting small parts, not just rotating them | Choose the X1 for its 5-axis option. If one rotation is enough, keep the C500's 4th axis in mind | That the part and fixture fit the range of motion, and the production module's CAM support and cost |
| Prototyping while changing shapes | If you'll use shape checks and fixturing guidance repeatedly, compare the X1 first | Support for your own material and fixtures, the price of the software features you need, and a demo of the workflow |
| Using 3-axis machining with automatic tool changing and CAM | Both machines are options. If you won't use the features above, they're no reason to narrow down to the X1 | Quotes with the same equipment, results at the dimensions you need, lead time and warranty |
If you want to carve parts from blocks, tilt small parts while cutting and try things while changing designs, the X1’s equipment and preparation help are really appealing. On the other hand, if you won’t use those and the C500 can do the cutting you need, there’s no reason to switch to the X1.
I’ve placed a VIP reservation, but I still don’t know the difference in rigidity, whether it can make fine watch parts, or the total for the setup I want. I plan to decide whether to back the machine once I have cutting results for the parts I want to make and a quote.
Official product pages
- See the ToolDance X1 product introduction and specs
- See the ToolDance X1 VIP reservation page and refund terms
- See the NestWorks C500 product introduction and specs
The X1 VIP reservation page is for the reservation perk. It’s a separate step from buying or backing the machine, so check the campaign status and eligible sets on the official page.