OneLaser Is Heading to the Next-Level Maker Conference 2026

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OneLaser is officially exhibiting at the Next-Level Maker Conference, running August 27–29, 2026, at the Gaylord Texan Resort in Grapevine, Texas. Find us at Booth 105, where we're unveiling two new machines, giving away a full galvo laser system, and making free engraved keepsakes for every maker who stops by.

If you've never made it to a next-level maker conference before, this year is a genuinely good one to start with—and if you already have tickets, keep reading for exactly what to expect from our booth.

1. What Is the Next-Level Maker Conference?

The Next-Level Maker Conference is a three-day event built specifically for makers who work with lasers, UV printers, 3D printers, and sandblasting equipment—part education, part community, and part vendor showcase. This year's event includes six general sessions, eighteen breakout classes, a full vendor room, and the kind of hands-on instruction that's hard to get from a YouTube tutorial alone.

Past attendees consistently mention the same thing: the community is the real draw. One returning attendee put it simply—every year gets better, and the friendships made at the conference outlast the weekend itself. Pin trading has become such a tradition at this event that regulars now show up with custom pins made specifically to swap with other makers, and we're joining in on that tradition ourselves this year.

The event also partners with Wipe Out Kids' Cancer, supporting families in North Texas through its Buddy Bag and Warrior Parent programs—a cause worth knowing about if you're attending.

2. OneLaser at Booth 105: What We're Unveiling

This next-level laser conference is where we're taking the wraps off two machines for the first time in front of a live maker audience.

XRF Gen 2—the next version of our flagship desktop laser with RF technology—will be running live print-and-cut demos at the booth. Using onboard camera recognition, the machine aligns cuts precisely to pre-printed designs, a genuinely useful workflow for anyone producing labeled or pre-decorated pieces at volume. If you've read our breakdown of laser dot size and beam resolution, you already know why the XRF line's fine RF beam is relevant for exactly this kind of precision work.

Hydra Gen 2 with Q-Switch will also be on the floor, running its fiber upgrade path live so attendees can see true bare-metal marking—stainless steel, titanium, and brass—in person rather than just reading a spec sheet.

Both machines will be running throughout all three days of the conference, so there's no need to catch a specific demo time—just stop by Booth 105 whenever the vendor room is open.

3. Free Giveaways and Hands-On Extras

We're not just showing machines—we're putting them to work for the people who stop by.

• A full galvo laser system giveaway. One lucky attendee at the Next-Level Maker Conference will walk away with a galvo laser system, no purchase necessary.
• Free engraved keepsakes for everyone. Stop by the booth and we'll engrave a challenger coin, coaster, or keychain for you on the spot—genuinely free, no strings attached.
• Custom pin trading. In the spirit of the conference's pin-trading tradition, we've made our own OneLaser pins specifically to trade with other makers at the event.

If you're building out your maker business and want a souvenir that's actually useful rather than another tote bag, this is the booth to visit first.

4. Why an Industrial Laser Conference Matters for Small Makers

It's easy to assume an industrial laser conference is only relevant to big production shops, but that's not really how this community works. The same fine-beam RF technology and dual-laser architecture that make sense for a growing shop are precisely what a solo maker needs when they're ready to move past their first machine. Seeing a Hydra Gen 2 mark bare metal in person, or watching an XRF Gen 2 handle a print-and-cut job start to finish, tends to answer questions that a spec sheet alone never quite settles.

That's really the point of showing up to an event like this rather than just posting a product page: makers get to ask questions, run their own test pieces, and talk to the people who actually build the machines.

5. Behind the Scenes: Setting Up for the Next-Level Maker Conference

Setup for a next-level maker conference booth like ours takes real time—here's a look at Booth 105 coming together before the doors opened.

The XRF's signature red beam alignment, mid-setup, the night before the vendor room opened.

A Hydra 9 getting leveled and powered up ahead of the crowds.

The full booth layout came together, including sample engravings, just hours before the first attendees walked the floor.

6. What to Expect If You Stop By

Booth 105 will have both new machines running live all three days, team members on hand to answer real questions (not just recite spec sheets), and a steady stream of free engraved keepsakes going out the whole time. Bring a design idea if you have one—coins, coasters, and keychains all take custom text or logos, not just our default designs.

FAQ

Where is the OneLaser booth at the Next-Level Maker Conference 2026?

OneLaser is at Booth 105 in the vendor room for the full three days of the conference, August 27–29, 2026.

What new machines is OneLaser showing at the conference?

The XRF Gen 2, demonstrating live print-and-cut alignment, and the Hydra Gen 2 with Q-Switch, demonstrating bare-metal fiber marking.

Is the OneLaser giveaway free to enter?

Yes—the galvo laser giveaway requires no purchase, and the free engraved coins, coasters, and keychains are available to anyone who visits the booth.

Do I need a conference ticket to visit the vendor room and the OneLaser booth?

Yes, a vendor room ticket is required, though the Next-Level Maker Conference offers a free vendor room ticket option for anyone who only wants to shop and visit vendors without attending the full conference.

Is the Next-Level Maker Conference only for laser owners?

No—the event covers lasers, UV printers, 3D printing, and sandblasting, so it's relevant to makers across several tool categories, not laser owners exclusively.

If you're headed to the Next-Level Maker Conference this year, Booth 105 is where you'll find us—new machines running live, free keepsakes going out all three days, and a galvo laser waiting for one lucky attendee. Come say hello, bring a pin to trade, and let us know what you're making.