xtool F1 Laser Engraver – Hands-on experience

We made a several trial operation with the xTool F1, a dual laser engraver with a diode land infrared laser mainly suitable for cutting wood, acrylic, and engraving metal. We treat this as a portable fiber laser alternative with a metal marking feature.

xTool F1 is a handheld laser engraver of 2023 that directly competes with LaserPecker 4.

When it comes to laser engraving, we worry about size and portability, along with material compatibility. The xTool F1 solves everything with a single solution.

It features two separate laser heads for greater material compatibility and among them, one laser head generates a laser beam of 1064 nm wavelength that ultimately helps the user to engrave softer material & put laser marks on stainless steel, gold, bronze, platinum, etc.

This write-up intends to review the xTool F1 and finds the necessary comparison with the LaserPecker 4.

Why should you trust us?

You can trust us because we did hands-on tests with the F1 and we compared the machine with other laser machines physically. It means, that whatever have we a say in this article, we mean it.

We maintain strong ethical practices to ensure our integrity. Most importantly, we are not sponsored by the manufacturer.

xTool F1 Review

xTool F1 is the best among the top handheld laser engravers of 2023. It features 4000 mm/second engraving speed which is delivered by its two in-built laser heads, one is being a 10W diode laser and the other being a 2W infrared laser. The 2W infrared laser can make laser power at a wavelength of 1064 nm which is essential for engraving metal, metal alloy, stainless steel, and other sensitive materials such as gold, platinum, aluminum, and plastics.

It performs metal annealing that marks metal without cutting or melting.

The only disadvantage you will experience is the large workspace and lack of ability to cut thick material.

The F1 is the first hand-held laser engraver that can cut, engrave, and perform metal annealing.

The rotary attachment works flawlessly, contributing to engraving round objects such as Tumblers & Yeti cups.

The smoke purifier is undoubtedly a necessary add-on that helps in reducing the smoke and toxic fumes though it requires some extra bit of money.

The engraving speed is insanely good, beating other similar laser engravers at this similar price range.

Overall, we experienced the xTool F1 is a top-notch handheld laser engraver with having accuracy of as low as 0.002 precision which offers the greatest details of the engraved items compared to LaserPecker. However, xTool F1’s 2W IR laser module may not deliver industrial-grade metal marking. Furthermore, The F1 can immediately switch the laser powers between two lasers depending on the necessity.

For example, if you are engraving a leather key ring, the F1 will engrave the leather with its 10W diode laser head and immediately switch the laser power to its 2W IR laser for engraving the stainless steel portion. This is a great feature compared to the LaserPekcer LP4 and LX1 which does not allow you to automatically switch the laser power from one to another.

From the portability aspect, the xTool F1 is the most lucrative handheld laser engraver as of today that easily beats the other similar portable laser engravers such as LaserPecker LP4, LX1, and Atomstack M4. You may order a separate hard case to carry the laser anywhere without any risk of damage (the hard case costs around $249).

Notably, the xTool F1 is the first laser engraver that allows you to perform batch processing with its slide extension gear having its intelligent multi-tasking-sync feature which automatically switches laser power from one to another within a second.

Update: in March 2024, xTool released its F1 Ultra which is bigger and more powerful than the F1. In short, the F1 Ultra features 10,000 mm/s engraving speed, 20W fiber laser, and curved-engraving facility.

The SKU of xTool F1 offers you the choice so what to buy and what’s not so that the user can go for the right thing considering his budget. The price starts from somewhere between $1500 to $2500, depending on the add-ons which include the following:

Ad ons	Approximate price	How does that help you?
Slide extension	$220	Helps in batch processing by expanding the work bed
Air Purifier	$400	Extracts smoke and purifies air
RA2 Pro rotary	$270	Helps in engraving cylindrical materials
Rolling hard case	$250	Helps in carrying the F1 trouble free
Power station	$500	Offers up to 9 hours of portable operation

The best thing we liked about the F1 is that the manufacturer offers a lot of upgrades compared to other laser brands. However, the upgrades sometimes cost high. For instance, buying a hard case for $250 is not worth it to me as the F1 itself is a sturdy laser and I can carry it with something else. However, investing in a power station would be a great idea if you intend to bring it to the trade show.

The speed of 4000 mm/s blew our minds because this can be considerably treated as eight times higher than the average today. Using its 100% power at even 2000 mm/s speed, you can engrave base wood in 20 seconds, which typically requires more than 1.2 minutes in other Chinese engravers. This insane amount of speed became possible because the F1’s internal mechanism switches the laser beam automatically from the X-axis to the Y-axis through its intelligent galvanometer at no additional time.

So, the laser power itself does not make the difference, but also its intelligence does.

Here’s a resin engraving done by the xTool F1:\

Engraving resin with F1 was fun for us. However, resin engraving involves intense heat generated by the laser, which can result in burn marks, discoloration, or distortion on the engraved surface. Achieving a delicate balance between the engraving depth and the heat applied becomes crucial to prevent aesthetic flaws, especially when working on transparent or light-colored resins.

Also, engraving resin requires precise depth control to achieve detailed designs without compromising the structural integrity of the material. Striking the right balance between engraving depth and precision demands skillful calibration, as incorrect settings can lead to fragile or brittle engravings.

xTool F1 – Key Takeaways

Overall, the xTool F1 is an excellent deal for the laser enthusiast who tries experimenting with engravings each day. It will surely help the crafters who want to bring faster delivery advantage for the customers. If you narrow down the laser engraver market into a hand-held category, the xTool F1 would surely be under the top three.

Here are the key takeaways of the xTool F1. We are just gathering all the positive sides of the laser engraver as well as the drawbacks (if any).

Highlights of the xTool F1

These are the key takeaways of xTool F1 handheld laser engraver:

• It’s a portable laser machine with a fully protective shield
• Two laser modules are attached that offer laser engraving for sensitive materials such as Gold, Silver & Titanium
• Engraving Speed is very high, 4000 mm/s (100% higher than the Laserpecker)
• It offers a Precision of 0.002 mm, which is 100% higher than the Atomstack M4
• Upgradable with bed extension, rotary, and smoke purifier, which are not available with Enjoywood 2 in 1.
• It comes under a $2000 budget, which is very competitive.

Positive sides

• Faster engraving speed (4000 mm/s) that offers efficiency and business opportunity through less delivery time
• Finer precision (0.002 mm) that helps to visualize more details
• Auto height and focus adjustment ensure better resolution
• Comes with rotary & smoke purifier (charges extra)
• Engraves at 1000 DPI helps in creating more lively image engravings
• Cuts up to 8mm which is okay since it is a portable laser and is not intended to cut professionally
• Can do laser marking with its 2W additional diode laser through metal annealing
• Available under $2000 (it may vary depending on the upgrades)
• Offers 9 hours of portable operation (subject to availability of the power stations which costs around $250.
• Adjust the Z-offset height automatically depending on the material and design
• Supports AI-based image with XCS and this is a plus point for the xTool users

Drawbacks

• This laser engraver is not fully canopied
• diode lasers are not as powerful as the CO2 lasers
• Not suitable for heavier laser works such as balsa wood cutting.

Our Opinion

In our opinion, F1’s benefits outweigh its drawbacks for sure. If a customer gets everything in a portable machine under $2000, he will not bother thinking about cutting 16mm of wood in a single pass.

Isn’t that?

Laser Quality

The xTool F1 comes with a 10W diode laser which fires at 455 nm wavelength, and another laser head of 2W that is capable of generating laser beam at 1064 nm wavelength which is essential for laser marking stainless steel, Platinum, Gold, and other sensitive material such as iphone’s back part & laptop lid.

455 nm wavelength falls within the blue region of the visible spectrum. It is often used for laser engraving because it can provide a high level of precision and control, making it useful for various applications.

455 nm laser engraving can be used on various plastics such as acrylic, ABS, and polycarbonate. This can be useful for creating signs, labels, or other decorative items. Laser engraving can etch designs or text onto glass, such as wine glasses, trophies, or other glass items. At 455 nm, the laser can create precise and detailed engravings on glass surfaces. Similarly, it can create precise patterns on semiconductor materials such as silicon. This can be useful in fabricating electronic devices, such as microprocessors or solar cells.

Besides, 1064 nm is a commonly used wavelength for laser engraving, particularly for industrial applications. A near-infrared wavelength can be focused to a very small point, allowing for high precision and control during engraving. For instance, Laser engraving with a 1064 nm wavelength can be used to etch designs or text onto various metals such as stainless steel, titanium, and aluminum. This can be useful for creating permanent markings such as serial numbers, part numbers, and other identifying information on metal components. Similarly, Laser engraving with a 1064 nm wavelength can create precise patterns or text on ceramics such as tiles or decorative objects.

Here’s a table that demonstrates the material compatibility difference between a 10W diode laser and 2W IR laser (both are available in xTool F1.

10W diode laser	2W IR laser
Wood	Stainless steel
Acrylic	Rock
Leather	Titanium
Fabric	Gold
Glass	Aluminium
Paper	Plastic
Rock	Silver

Below is an example watch laser engraving done by the xTool F1 which shows its high level of accuracy in stainless steel watch which was done by its 2W IR laser head that delivers laser at 1064 nm wavelength.

Engraving Quality

From the speed point, the xTool F1 is a beast that can engrave at 4000 mm/s. You can engrave a family picture at 1000 DPI within 5 seconds. While testing the machine, we noticed that the xTool f1 can engrave at 0.002 mm accuracy which is so far the most precise and cleaner engraving performance as of today.

For a better understanding, here’s a list of engraving time taken from different materials:

• Engraving a picture on glass: 5 seconds
• Engraving a wooden coffee cup coaster: 8 Seconds
• Engraving a paper envelope: less than 1 second
• Marking a leather tag: 6 seconds
• Etching on the Apple Air Pod kit: 3 seconds

Let’s begin by discussing the preview speed of the F1 handheld laser engraver. With a one-click preview feature, the F1 boasts a rapid preview speed of 12,000 mm/s for scanning and 8,000 mm/s for outlining. This elevated preview speed plays a crucial role in enhancing positioning accuracy and engraving precision. In simpler terms, the F1 generates a real-time preview on its upper screen, providing users with a clear understanding of the ongoing engraving process. Notably, the F1’s preview speed surpasses that of LaserPecker’s previous versions, which offered a mere 8,858 inches per minute.

Furthermore, the F1 introduces an impressive feature: focusing flexibility. This innovation enables users to choose between auto and manual focus settings for their engraving tasks. In the past, laser engravers struggled with focus adjustments, especially when dealing with materials of varying depths. This challenge not only hampered engraving efficiency but also compromised precision and accuracy, resulting in unfavorable user experiences. With the F1, the thickness of the material being engraved is inconsequential – whether it’s a quarter-inch thick wood or a hefty 5-inch block. The machine intelligently detects the distance of the laser head and automatically configures the focus with an exceptional accuracy level of 0.002 mm.

Look at the Apple earbuds engraving done by the xTool F1 below:

As previously mentioned, the F1 presents an array of remarkable features, despite being a handheld laser engraver. Notably, it includes a protective shield that ensures the laser machine is completely leakproof. This portable version maintains a laser-safe environment while safeguarding the surroundings from potentially harmful laser emissions. Furthermore, users have the option to set a personalized password, effectively preventing unauthorized access to the laser machine. This security feature significantly contributes to the safety of other individuals in the household.

The F1 also boasts an intelligent smoke and overheat detection mechanism, addressing additional health and safety concerns. It’s worth noting, however, that the smoke purifier, while offering enhanced safety, comes at an additional cost due to its higher price point.

Laser Cutting Ability

The xTool F1 is targeted at the laser engraving enthusiast, so this machine is not recognized as a professional laser cutter. However, with a 10W diode laser, you can still cut up to 8mm of wood and 5 mm of acrylic.

This means with an 8mm cutting ability, you can cut paper, fabric, wood, plastic, acrylic, leather, and other materials. It can also be used to create intricate designs, engravings, and markings on these materials. 

Here’s an example acrylic laser cut done by the xTool F1 to generate hotel table numbers:

Having the xTool F1 will open the option to try some crafting since the machine does the rest if you make the designs available. One thing we found incredible is that the cutting bed seems like a mini honeycomb which ensures better airflow among the bed that directly affects the smoother and finer cut.

You can also cut 3 mm basswood with this F1’s 10W diode laser, which might be essential in crafting experiments. However, if cutting is your bigger concentration, then the Xtool D1 pro might suit you. But, The xTool F1 is the top gun if you look at the engraving performance.

Here’s a laser cutting experiment that we did with the xTool F1 at its 100% power.

Laser Marking Quality

As said earlier that xTool F1 can do laser marking using its 2W diode laser with a laser beam of 1064 nm along with a controlled pulse rate. This means that you can mark stainless steel spoons, etch logos, and do a lot of things.

In easy words, the F1 performs laser annealing that heavily heats the upper layer of the metal and changes its color through an alternation of the metal atoms and other properties.

Industrial-grade fiber lasers have been the specialized machine till 2021 for laser marking, which is significantly costly (around $5000 or more) and more significant in size. The F1 just made the job easy, which means that you may not generate industrial-grade performance, but you are still open for laser markings at a smaller scale.

It helps in satisfying your clients or making any personalized gifts that require laser marking on sensitive materials.

Here’s the stainless steel laser marking experiment using an xTool F1 laser engraver:

However, the F1 does not allow color engraving mainly to fit the solution under a budget of $1800. Otherwise, their earlier laser engravers such as the D1 pro could successfully color engrave in color.

Laser Marking Bed

If you look at the work area, the xTool F1 offers a bed of 100 * 100 mm. However, with their bed enlargement extension, you can enable batch processing as well as larger engraving. It indirectly acts as the pass-through facility that other laser engravers offered earlier. For example,  the OMTech Polar is a suitable one with a pass which is mainly suitable for heavier laser works.

Similarly, such engraving bed extension allows the F1 to actively compete with the LaserPecker 2 and 3 users who have been struggling with limited bed size.

Rotary and Other Features

The exciting part is that you can either order the F1 alone or combine rotary attachments and a smoke purifier. The xTool seems to be flexible to the customers since the needs of everyone are not always the same.

The sample F1 which we received, was accompanied by both the RA2 pro rotary extension and the smoke purifier as well.

The rotary attachment is super easy to install and works smoothly. We did not find anything wrong with setting up of RA2 Pro and operating it. One thing we would highly suggest is that you should not place a stainless steel tumbler or a mug directly on the rotary. Stainless steel returns the laser beam for its reflective nature, and it may bring some harm. instead, use a temporary paint before engraving and remove that using isopropyl alcohol after the engraving is done.

Here is a tumbler engraving experiment that we did using the xTool F1:

Additionally, the engraving preview will help you to determine if everything is going great beneath the laser head. The laser beam automatically gets adjusted as per the material height, and the artificial intelligence calibrates the focus automatically to work at a precision of 0.003 mm.

Overall, we had a great experience with this laser engraving machine mainly due to additional features besides the faster & accurate laser engraving.

The machine is password protected, which means that only the authorized person will be able to run the engraver. It helps ensure the safety of kids and other family members always.

The artificial intelligence of F1 detects the overheating conditions and shuts the engraver if needed. However, within the trial run of 5.6 hours, we did not experience overheating issues at all. Though it’s a handheld laser engraver, it will offer a layer of protection so that the laser does not harm anything nearby.

Noise Generation

Almost all of the laser engravers generate a lot of noise, especially the CO2 lasers create. We have surveyed to oversee the noise of F1 and here’s the result that we have got.

Laser Cutter	Noise in Decibel
xTool F1	40 to 45 DB
OMTech Polar	60 to 75 DB
Gweike Cloud Pro	60 to 75 DB
Glowforge Pro	80 to 95 DB
Older OMTech Lasers	65 to 80 DB
Ten High	75 to 85 DB

The xTool F1 is not noisy at all. It creates roughly 40-45 DB noise which is again suppressed by its small shutter. it surely is a friendly laser engraver with endless possibilities.

Difference with other xTool laser engravers

xTool is currently in the dominating position of the laser engravers market. They seem to bring a lot of customers’ need-driven solutions each year. Let’s see how xTool F1 differs from other laser engravers from the same company:

Firstly, the F1 is their first handheld laser with two different laser heads. Earlier, xTool brought a lot of diode lasers and many of them have been very popular among the customer segment. Notably, the F1 is the only laser engraver from xTool that features a laser having a beam capacity of 1064 nm, which differentiates the machine heavily.

Furthermore, the F1 is the fastest engraving speed holder of the xTool lineup. So, the company heavily focused on engraving speed and accuracy in its F1 model, whereas they seem to be focusing on DIY and extension ability in earlier versions such as D1 & D1 pro.

Another big difference is that the xTool F1 holds the ability to engrave anything regardless of the position of the material. It happens only because the user does not need to place material rather they can bring the engraver and place it above the material for engraving. This both-way flexibility allows the xTool F1 to be the primary differentiating diode laser module of xTool.

Overall, xTool noticed that they were losing plenty of customers to the LaserPecker and tried to bring something that is a tough competitor to LaserPecker which was again a Kickstarter module a few years back.

The company seems to organize the portfolio in such as way that the engravers can both compete with Glwoforge’s fully canopied lasers and the other handheld lasers.

Can you start a business with xTool F1?

Surely you can start a laser engraving business only with this F1 as a side hustle or a mainstream operation.

Let me illustrate, what percentage of profit can the F1 make for you.

Let’s imagine you will engrave a Stanley tumbler for a customer. You will buy a Stanley Tubler for $50 and the customized Stanley cup, you would charge around $100 to $150 (depending on the customization. The price will still be similar to Etsy or other platforms.

Similarly, to engrave a customer’s jewelry, you may charge around $30 which will cost you a max of $3 per ring.

The laser business is not about the cost per engraving. You need to understand how would you offer something different and how would you promote the values you are offering.

If you can effectively communicate with your customers about the value you are proposing at the right platform, you can earn a lot of money using such laser engravers.

But, make sure to brand your service properly.

One best thing XCS have is artificial intelligence (AI) which Lightburn doesn’t have. For example, you can convert text into images, remove image backgrounds, and find similar images through XCS AI. This is a great value addition for the F1 users.

Should you use XCS or Lightburn?

Since the F1 supports both XCS and Lightburn that’s totally up to you to choose any of them.

If you are new to laser engraving, we recommend using Xtool Creative Space (XCS) as there would be a lot more user guides available at their forums.

However, if you are experienced with Lightburn, you may start operating with the same laser software.

In our opinion, XCS is a minimalistic platform with a focus on ease of operation for new users. Comparably, Lightburn is a more professional platform where you can customize and experiment with different laser settings.

xTool F1 Vs LaserPecker 4

As said earlier the xTool F1 is a direct competitor of LaserPecker 4 so, let’s reveal the difference between both.

	xTool F1	LaserPecker 4
Laser	2W IR Laser + 10W Blue Laser	2W IR Laser + 10W Blue Laser
Engraving size	100*100mm with side extension	100*100mm with side extension
Engraving Speed	4000 mm/s	2000 mm/s
Rotary	Available (does not support 360 degree rotation)	Available (360 degree Rotating)
Precision	0.002 mm	0.003 mm
Resolution	HD 4K	HD 4K

Comparison summary

As per the laser type, both the xTool F1 and LaserPecker 4 offer the exactly same combination of lasers which are a 10W diode laser and an additional 2 W diode laser with the ability to generate laser at a wavelength of 1064 nm. So, both the xtool F1 and the LaserPecker 4 would support the same range of materials.

If both the F1 and LaserPecker 4 are kept side by side, the major differences would be –

• Higher Engraving speed in F1
• Better Precision in F1
• LaserPecker LP 4 rotates 360 degrees, but the F1 cannot
• LaserPecker has more portable laser engraver experience than what xTool has
• xTool F1’s slide extension is 115 mm x 400 mm whereas the LP 4’s work area after installing the slide extension becomes 160 x 300 mm.

One significant difference is noticed in the engraving speed. The xTool F1 offers 200% higher engraving speed than the LaserPecker 4 which is amazing. As communicated, the xTool F1 engraves at 4000 mm/s, and the LaserPecker comes with an engraving speed of 2000 mm/s. So, if you need a faster engraving result, the F1 would surely be your choice.

Similarly, both the xTool & LaserPecker comes with rotary attachments at an additional cost. However, the rotary module of LaserPecker 4 can engrave in a 360-degree rotating manner and the xTool’s rotary cannot. It should not be a big issue if you are engraving mugs and cups but, the rotating feature would be important if you are engraving a fixed asset that cannot be detached and placed as per your choice.

The resolution and precision are the same for both laser engravers, and so does the engraving quality.

Considering all the factors and available information, it seems that the xTool F1 is a lucrative deal compared to the LaserPecker 4. Both the laser engravers are designed based on the customers’ needs from the overall assessment, the comparison conclusion can be marked as a win-win situation. Besides the engraving speed, the LaserPecker 4 is still a very good competitor in front of the xTool F1. (we have also collected users’ opinions from Reddit in this regard)

xTool Company Background

XTool Laser is a leading provider of advanced laser cutting and engraving solutions for industrial and commercial applications. Founded in 2014, the company is committed to providing the highest quality products and services to its customers.

XTool Laser combines cutting–edge technology with experienced and knowledgeable staff to provide customers with the best possible laser cutting and engraving solutions. The company has a wide range of products and services, including laser cutting, laser engraving, laser marking, and fiber laser cutting. XTool Laser also offers customized solutions to meet the needs of its customers.

With more than 10 years of experience in the industry, XTool Laser has a proven track record of providing customers with excellent products and services. The company has worked with many customers, including large and small industrial companies, universities, and research institutions. XTool Laser is committed to providing its customers with the highest quality laser cutting and engraving solutions.

LaserPecker Company Background

LaserPecker is a Hong Kong–based technology company that manufactures and sells laser engraving machines. Founded in 2015, LaserPecker was created to provide a new and more affordable way for people to do their own laser engraving and etching. The company has since expanded to include a full line of laser engraving and cutting machines, as well as accessories and software.

LaserPecker‘s team is composed of experienced professionals who have been in the laser engraving industry for over 10 years. The team is dedicated to creating the best laser engraving machines on the market and providing exceptional customer service. LaserPecker has earned numerous awards and recognition, such as the Hong Kong Design Award and the CES Innovation Award, for its innovative designs and quality products.

Frequently asked questions

These are the frequently asked questions related to the F1.

Is xTool F1 worth it?

xTool F1 is surely worth the money that you spend. Let’s say at a budget of below USD 2000, you will have all amazing features like metal engraving, metal alloy engraving, portability, and a finer precision of close to 0.003 mm. It means, the f1 deliveres a lot more features compared to similar budget CO2 laser engravers. Moreover, xTool has been ensuring better customer service compared to Gweike and Atomstack.

What is the lifespan of xTool F1?

Most of the diode laser engravers from xTool appear with a lifespan of around 8000 hours. However, The F1 is believed to have a lifespan of more than 10000 hours of active operating hours. In our recent study, it appeared that the xTool D1 pro and M1 lasers easily last around 8000 effective hours. So, the F1 will considerably last even more than that due to its build quality.

Is xTool F1 a fiber laser?

No, the xTool F1 is not a fiber laser. However, it became a substitute for the fiber laser for small laser marking works. A fiber laser is an industrial-grade laser that marks, cuts and welds heavy metal and metal alloy items. Even though the f1 creates laser power at 1064 nm wavelength through its 2W IR laser, which is similar to the fiber laser’s wavelength. However, the F1’s capacity is only limited to laser marking. It cannot laser cut metal as well as perform thicker metal engravings like the professional fiber lasers.

How fast is xTool F1?

The xTool F1 can engrave at 4000 mm/s which is its maximum engraving speed. However, 100% of power is not always used for laser engravings because it directly affects the engraving accuracy. Still, the xTool F1 is as fast as to engrave pictures on the glass within 5 seconds and a paper envelope at a time duration of less than 1 second. Notably, it took only 3 seconds to engrave the Apple AirPods which is truly amazing.

Can xTool laser cut metal?

Metal laser cutting would require an industrial-grade fiber laser which is severely powerful than the xTool F1. With the xTool lasers, you can engrave metal items but cannot perform metal cuts.

Conclusion

Undoubtedly the xTool F1 is a market concentration of 2023 only because of its insanely high engraving speed. Overall, the f1 offers great laser engraving experience and fights well with strong competitors like LaserPecker.