Xmachine WM-100 on Kickstarter: Desktop 5-Axis CNC with True Simultaneous Control
Updated: Sep 14
Latest update: September 2026. Updated after the Xmachine WM-100 launched on Kickstarter, following Xhorse3D's original pre-launch listing. This page will be updated as the campaign progresses.
Most Kickstarter campaigns spend their first weeks chasing more backers. The Xmachine WM-100 on Kickstarter spent months confirming it could not keep the ones who wanted it most: individual makers who pledged $50 for early access to Xhorse3D's simultaneous 5-axis desktop CNC have just been told they cannot back the machine at all, after a government export review classified it as a controlled item under Nuclear Suppliers Group rules.
The Xhorse3D WM-100 has raised $2,718,088 from 385 backers against a $637,516 goal, with 41 days left to pledge, but only registered businesses, research institutes, universities and government agencies can now join. Xhorse3D's predecessor machine, the XM-100, has already shipped more than 1,000 units since 2025, which is the track record behind a campaign that no longer accepts individual deposits. It is one of the most unusual and significant maker tool campaigns in our best funded Kickstarter campaigns this season.
Quick Verdict
Our verdict: 8.8/10
Who Is It For?
The Xmachine WM-100 on Kickstarter is now built for manufacturing engineers, product designers and research labs that need genuine simultaneous 5-axis machining on a desktop footprint, backed as a registered company, university or institute. Prototyping teams working in titanium and hardened steel, and small production shops that outgrew 3+2 desktop mills, are the clearest fit. Individual makers and hobbyists, the audience this machine was originally pitched to, are no longer eligible.
Main Strengths
True simultaneous RTCP 5-axis control moves all five axes together, rather than the 3+2 lock-and-cut approach used by most desktop mills, letting the WM-100 cut impellers, undercuts and multi-face parts in a single setup.
A patented blue laser 3D scanning module auto-detects the workpiece's position and dimensions, while a built-in camera streams the cut live, removing manual alignment on both regular and irregular parts.
The self-designed 1,500W, 20,000 RPM spindle and dual air/mist cooling system are rated to cut titanium and hardened steel, materials very few desktop CNCs can handle at all.
XMaker AI CAM turns a text prompt or an image into a toolpath, and the software already carries roughly a year of use and thousands of registered users from the XM-100 launch.
Noise levels are now published at roughly 70dB for metal roughing, and Xhorse3D backs the WM-100 with a 1-year warranty and more than a dozen global service centers, replacing pre-launch unknowns with real numbers and support infrastructure.
Main Limitations
Individual backers can no longer pledge for the Xmachine WM-100 after Xhorse3D confirmed that individual export license applications were rejected under NSG rules, restricting the campaign to registered businesses, universities, research institutes and government agencies with an end-user certificate.
Export control compliance does not end at delivery, since Xhorse3D states that spare parts will require the same licensing process as the machine itself, which can affect long-term serviceability outside eligible business channels.
The core simultaneous RTCP 5-axis claim has not been independently verified on the WM-100 itself, and no CE or FCC certification has been referenced in any published Xhorse3D material for this machine.
Is the Xmachine WM-100 Worth Backing?
The Xmachine WM-100 is worth backing for engineering teams and institutions that need real simultaneous 5-axis capability without an industrial machining center, but individual makers and small home studios should pass entirely, since they are not currently eligible to back the campaign. For an eligible business or lab, a proven predecessor, published noise data and the laser positioning system are the concrete reasons to back it.
Xmachine WM-100 Price on Kickstarter
The Xhorse3D WM-100 price on Kickstarter starts with the tier to plan around for eligible business backers, the Super Early Bird at $5,899, a 30% discount against the $8,399 MSRP that includes the WM-100 and its Standard Kit. The Basic Bundle raises that to $6,409 and adds a self-pressurizing water tank, a second material pack and a hard metal tool set, and the All-in-One Bundle at $7,089 includes a dust collector, tool holders and a vise set alongside the same core kit.
At $5,899, the WM-100 sits well below industrial 5-axis machining centers that start in the tens of thousands of dollars, while adding a self-designed spindle, a 6-tool changer and AI-assisted CAM that most desktop rivals do not offer. The Xmachine WM-100 starts at $5,899 on Kickstarter for eligible business, research and institutional backers.
What Is the Xmachine WM-100 and What Problem Does It Solve?
Xmachine WM-100: True Simultaneous 5-Axis Control in a Desktop Footprint
The Xmachine WM-100 on Kickstarter is a desktop CNC milling machine built around genuine simultaneous 5-axis control, where all five axes move together rather than locking into position before each cut. Xhorse3D designed the spindle, the tool changer and the CAM software in-house, then wrapped them in a cast aluminum frame rigid enough to hold tolerance while cutting titanium and hardened steel. The machine weighs approximately 130kg and measures 797 x 614 x 580mm, large for a desktop tool but a fraction of the size of the industrial centers that have offered this kind of motion until now.
Positioning accuracy runs to ±0.01mm on the X, Y and Z axes, with the A-axis travelling -30° to 110° and the C-axis rotating a full 360°, the range that lets the tool approach a part from nearly any angle in one setup. Xhorse3D is incubated by Xhorse, a Hong Kong precision manufacturing group founded in 2010 with more than 500 engineers and 600 patents, and the WM-100 is not the company's first machine: its predecessor, the XM-100, has already shipped more than 1,000 units since 2025 to university labs, maker spaces and production floors.
The WM-100 is one of the most interesting 5-axis campaigns to come through Kickstarter in recent memory. See how it compares against other desktop CNC mills in our CNC machines guide.
Why Desktop 5-Axis Machining Stayed an Industrial-Only Capability
Simultaneous 5-axis machining has always meant a six-figure machine center bolted to a factory floor, because coordinating five moving axes without losing tool-tip accuracy takes a level of engineering that smaller manufacturers rarely build into affordable hardware. Most machines sold as "5-axis" at consumer scale actually use a 3+2 approach: two rotary axes lock into a fixed angle, the three linear axes cut, and the machine stops and repositions for every new face. Complex curved surfaces, undercuts and impeller blades become difficult or impossible to finish cleanly in a single setup.
The WM-100 answers by keeping all five axes moving continuously, with RTCP control compensating for the tool tip's position as the rotary axes rotate. Xhorse3D states this cuts setup time by 70% compared with repositioning a workpiece for every angle, closing a capability gap that has otherwise belonged almost exclusively to machines like the Pocket NC V2, a desktop 5-axis mill with a decade of delivery history but a work envelope of only about three inches cubed.
Xmachine WM-100 Key Features and Specs: 5-Axis Hardware, Automated Positioning, and AI-Assisted Workflow
6-Tool Automatic Tool Changer: One Setup, Five Operations
The WM-100 preloads up to six tools and switches between them automatically mid-cycle, moving through roughing, finishing, drilling, tapping and engraving without the operator stopping to swap and re-zero a tool by hand. On most desktop CNCs, that manual step is exactly where a job loses its rhythm.
Xhorse3D calls the changer a servo-driven ATC, and pairing it with automatic tool setting means the machine measures each tool's length itself before cutting, protecting cutters and keeping tolerances consistent across a run that touches all six tools.
Blue Laser 3D Scanning: Automatic Positioning With Live Monitoring
A built-in blue laser scanning module, which Xhorse3D says is patented and a first for a desktop 5-axis machine, detects a workpiece's position and dimensions automatically, on both regular and irregular shapes, in place of manual measuring and touch-off.
The same module streams live video of the cut to the WM-100's screen, so an operator can check progress without standing beside the machine for the full cycle. Xhorse3D lists six positioning modes, including optical, cylindrical and right-angle, covering most workholding situations without extra hardware.
XMaker AI CAM: Text-to-Toolpath for 5-Axis Programming
XMaker is Xhorse3D's own CAM software, and it can generate a 5-axis toolpath from a text prompt or convert a photo into a 3D model, alongside standard STL and STEP import for users who already work in CAD. Toolpath and machine simulation run before cutting to catch collisions early.
The software carries over from the XM-100 launch, where Xhorse3D reports nearly a year of use and thousands of registered users, and recent updates have added STEP programming and automatic recognition of leftover material for rest machining. A CAM tool with no user base behind it is a bigger risk than the hardware it drives, which is why XMaker's existing adoption from the XM-100 launch is worth weighing on its own.
1,500W Spindle and Dual Cooling: Built to Cut Titanium
The self-designed 1,500W spindle spins to 20,000 RPM and is built in-house rather than sourced from a third party, which Xhorse3D says gives it control over long-term serviceability. A dual cooling system switches between air, for wood and plastic, and coolant mist, for metal, extending tool life by up to 2.5 times according to the company.
The spindle and dual cooling working together are what let the WM-100 claim titanium and hardened steel among its supported materials, alongside aluminum, brass, copper and a long list of woods and plastics. Very few desktop CNCs can hold rigidity and torque through a titanium cut, and Xhorse3D's 130kg cast aluminum frame is built specifically to keep vibration down while the spindle is under load. Parts coming off the WM-100 still carry tool marks and burrs that need a finishing pass afterward; see our review of the GritPlex Sandblaster, a desktop pneumatic blaster built for exactly that step.
10.1-Inch Touchscreen and Published Noise Levels: What Daily Use Sounds Like
A 10.1-inch touchscreen runs the machine's controls and live feedback, backed by a physical panel with an emergency stop, handwheel and feed-rate override for anyone wearing gloves or working with dirty hands. Xhorse3D has now published noise figures, something the pre-launch page did not include.
Metal roughing runs at roughly 70dB inside the enclosure and 50dB from outside with the door closed, dropping to about 65dB for finishing passes, while plastic work runs 5dB quieter at each stage. That is loud enough to need consideration in a shared studio, but it is now a real number instead of an open question.
Plasma Anti-Static Module: No More Chip Cling
A built-in plasma system is designed to eliminate static buildup during cutting, which Xhorse3D says keeps chips from clinging to surfaces and machine walls. Static cling is a particular nuisance with plastics and fine metal chips, where debris that sticks around the workpiece slows down cleanup after every run.
Paired with the machine's enclosed dust and coolant management, which channels debris to a bottom collection area behind multi-layer seals, the plasma module is aimed at keeping a shared workshop or studio usable between jobs rather than adding a cutting capability of its own.
External IO Interface: Building the WM-100 Into a Larger Workflow
An external IO aviation connector supports four digital outputs and two digital inputs, letting the WM-100 synchronize with pneumatic fixtures, robotic arms or automatic feeding systems through G-code and M-code commands. Xhorse3D positions this specifically at DIY and automation projects rather than at typical hobby use.
The company says it plans to open additional machine API interfaces later, which would extend that integration further, though nothing beyond the current IO connector is confirmed yet. For a business or research lab building the WM-100 into a larger production cell, that connector is what makes the machine something more than a standalone mill.
Should You Back the Xmachine WM-100 on Kickstarter?
The Xhorse3D WM-100 on Kickstarter has become a business-to-business machine tool campaign wearing a consumer crowdfunding page, and that shift is the story now more than the hardware itself.
For a manufacturing engineer, a university lab or a research institute, nothing at desktop scale currently combines true simultaneous 5-axis control, a self-designed 1,500W motor rated for titanium, and AI-assisted CAM built specifically around it. Simultaneous 5-axis control at that level used to require an industrial machining center and the budget to match, and it now fits on a workbench for an organization that can provide an end-user certificate.
Xhorse3D delayed the launch from an original May 2026 target to September 10, 2026 specifically to confirm export compliance, and has now published that licensing process rather than leaving backers to find out after paying. At $5,899 against an $8,399 MSRP, the Xmachine WM-100 on Kickstarter is currently funding for eligible business, research and institutional backers, with 41 days left to pledge.
FAQ about the Xmachine WM-100 on Kickstarter
What is the Xmachine WM-100?
A desktop simultaneous 5-axis CNC machine developed by Xhorse3D, launching on Kickstarter. It runs true RTCP 5-axis control, carries a 6-tool automatic tool changer, a built-in smart camera, XMaker AI CAM software, and a 1,500W / 20,000 RPM spindle designed in-house. It machines titanium, steel, aluminum, and a wide range of other materials at +/-0.01mm precision.
What is the difference between 5-axis and 3-axis CNC?
A 3-axis CNC moves along X, Y, and Z. A 5-axis machine adds two rotary axes, A and C, allowing the tool to approach the workpiece from almost any angle. This opens up complex curved surfaces, undercuts, and geometries that cannot be machined in a single setup on a 3-axis machine.
What is the difference between the Xmachine XM-100 and WM-100?
The WM-100 is Xhorse3D's second-generation machine, built on feedback from the XM-100. Confirmed upgrades include a redesigned spindle and cooling system, the new blue laser scanning module, a plasma anti-static system, and updated XMaker AI CAM software with STEP programming.
What documentation do businesses need to back the Xmachine WM-100?
Xhorse3D asks eligible backers for a sales contract, a company profile and an end-use commitment letter, plus any further materials the licensing authorities request. Xhorse3D says it will guide approved backers through the process and refund payment in full if government approval does not go through.
When will the Xmachine WM-100 ship to backers?
Xhorse3D plans to ship the first 1,000 units in monthly batches starting January 2027, fulfilled in the order pledges were placed. Backers who choose Pledge Over Time must finish paying before entering that queue, and each unit still needs its own export license confirmed before it can leave the factory.
Does the Xmachine WM-100 have CE or FCC certification?
No CE, FCC or equivalent regional certification has been referenced in any published Xhorse3D material for the WM-100. Given that the machine is already classified as a controlled export item under NSG rules, regulatory documentation is likely to matter more to eligible business backers than it would for a typical desktop tool.
Does the WM-100 export restriction affect spare parts after delivery?
Yes. Xhorse3D states that because the WM-100 falls under export control as a complete machine, core spare parts are subject to the same compliance and licensing process even after the original delivery, which eligible business backers should plan for as an ongoing consideration rather than a one-time approval.
Who makes the Xmachine WM-100?
Xhorse3D, incubated by Xhorse, a Hong Kong-based precision manufacturing group founded in 2010 with 500 engineers, 600 patents, a 100,000 square metre factory, and over one million users in 170 countries. Xhorse built its track record in automotive key programming. Xhorse3D is their dedicated line for desktop CNC and 3D scanning tools.
Can individuals back the Xmachine WM-100 on Kickstarter?
No. Xhorse3D confirmed that export license applications for individual users were rejected under Nuclear Suppliers Group rules, so only registered businesses, universities, research institutes and government agencies with an end-user certificate can currently back this campaign. Backers who already paid the $50 deposit as individuals can request a full refund from Xhorse3D.
About the Author
Michael Green
Chief Editor at GizmoCrowd
Michael has been tracking tech and innovation campaigns on Kickstarter and Indiegogo for over 10 years, covering wearables, health tech, smart home devices, and audio-visual equipment.
Read more...
