Thanks to the folks over at HOZO Design for sending over their newest product for me to review, the NeoBlade Wireless Ultrasonic Cutter. Previously they had sent me their NeoRuler and their M-Cube Laser Level which are two really great products.
Product Features
The NeoBlade is packed with features focused on precision, portability, and user experience. Something I was quite surprised to see in what is a relatively small product. However, the NeoBlade seems to do a little bit of everything when it comes to cutting.
Ultrasonic Cutting Technology: The core feature is its 40 kHz (40,000 vibrations per second) ultrasonic vibration, which reduces friction and allows the blade to slice cleanly through materials.
True Wireless Design: It operates completely cordless with a replaceable, hot-swappable battery system.
Adaptive Power: The tool features a smart system that automatically adjusts its power output from 9W up to 40W, adapting to the density of the material being cut.
Dual Cutting Modes:
Precision Mode (Pulse Cut): Ideal for delicate work, intricate details, and short, controlled cuts.
Continuous Mode (Steady Cut): Best for longer, uninterrupted cuts on thicker materials.
Integrated Cooling System: It includes an industry-first built-in micro-turbine fan (13,000 RPM) to actively cool the transducer and blade, preventing overheating and potential material melting/scorching.
Versatile Blade System: It comes with six different high-carbon steel blades (Standard, Long, Chisel, Mini Chisel, Curved, Double Edge) designed for various tasks and is compatible with standard 9mm snap-off blades. Blade changes are easy and safe with a magnetic design and a safety cap/screwdriver tool.
TurboDock (Optional/Combo): A dual-bay charging station that can fast-charge the tool and a spare battery simultaneously in about 30 minutes, minimizing downtime.
Built-in Lighting: Dual LED lights flank the blade to illuminate the cutting path, a thoughtful feature for intricate work.
Safety Features: Includes an instant-off trigger, a child-lock switch (90-degree battery twist), and an automatic power-down.
Build Quality
The NeoBlade boasts a premium and ergonomic design. The body is constructed from Aluminum Alloy, NyLon+Fiber Glass, and ABS, giving it a solid yet lightweight feel. It is compact and pen-like, fitting comfortably in the hand for prolonged use, with a total weight of approximately 6.4 oz (183g) with the battery. This reduces hand strain compared to traditional craft knives.
The twist-and-lock battery mechanism is robust and allows for quick, seamless swapping of the battery. This makes it super simple to change out the battery when needed. The design of the blade holder, which uses a Torx screw and a secure clamping mechanism, is engineered to maximize the transfer of ultrasonic energy for optimal cutting performance.
Performance
The ultrasonic vibration allows the tool to slice through materials like acrylic, SLA/PLA resin, foam, cardboard, leather, and thin plywood with minimal pressure. This results in incredibly clean, smooth, and precise cuts that significantly reduce the need for post-processing like sanding. It performs well on a wide range of materials, including common 3D printing materials (resin and plastic filaments), and soft to moderately hard craft materials. However, it is not effective on soft, vibration-absorbing materials and is not intended for cutting thick, dense wood.
The Adaptive Power system ensures that the tool delivers consistent performance regardless of the material. The Precision Mode is highly praised for detail work, allowing the user to “nibble” away material, while the Continuous Mode is efficient for long, straight cuts. The active cooling fan is a crucial differentiator from other ultrasonic cutters, which can overheat and melt materials like plastic or cause auto-shutdowns. The NeoBlade’s system keeps the blade and handgrip cool during extended use.
While the 30-minute run-time per battery pack may seem short, the hot-swap system (especially when paired with the 30-minute fast-charging TurboDock) effectively provides non-stop operation for long projects. This is one thing I’d personally like to see improved on as far as how long battery life is. I feel 30-minutes is a bit low for battery life. However, as stated, the hot-swapping capability for the battery does help with this a bit.
Final Thoughts
The HOZO Design NeoBlade is a neat little tool and does exactly what it sets out to do, much like the previous HOZO Design products that I reviewed that I mentioned in the beginning of this article. I’m very impressed with their attention to detail and their quality of their products.
The NeoBlade might seem a bit expensive to some folks at the current price of $149.00, but considering what this product does, how well it does it and everything else, I personally feel it’s a great deal. There are also other packages of the NeoBlade you can get for a bit more, such as the Creator Combo for $218.00 and the Premium Combo for $338.00 but those are for the more serious cutters who do this day in and day out.
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