Laser Cutting & Engraving

Every laser engraver or cutter uses one of a small number of laser technologies. The technology determines which materials the machine can process — not just which ones it does better. Understanding the physics of each laser type takes the guesswork out of machine selection and prevents costly mistakes when sourcing equipment for a specific application. How Lasers Interact with Materials — The Core Principle A laser is a focused beam of light at a specific wavelength. Whether a material is processed by that laser depends almost entirely on whether the material absorbs that wavelength. Glass is transparent to visible light but absorbs infrared. Aluminium reflects visible light but absorbs UV photons. Organic materials like wood and leather absorb broadly across wavelengths but particularly efficiently in the infrared range. This is why there is no single laser that processes every material equally well — the physics won't allow it. Diode Lasers (450–455nm) Modern desktop diode lasers use semiconductor lasers in the blue wavelength range. This wavelength is absorbed efficiently by most organic and dark-coloured materials and is the starting point for most xTool buyers. Processes well: Wood, bamboo, leather, cork, rubber, fabric, paper, dark and opaque acrylic, anodised aluminium, painted surfaces. At 40W, cuts basswood up to 25mm. Cannot process: Bare metal (reflected), clear acrylic (transmitted), glass (transmitted), white or very light acrylic (insufficient absorption). The galvo diode advantage: When a diode source is paired with galvanometer mirror steering rather than a moving gantry, engraving speed leaps from 400–600 mm/s to 4,000 mm/s. This is the architecture of the xTool F1 and F2 — the same diode wavelength at dramatically higher throughput. For high-volume engraving on organic materials, galvo diode is the most cost-effective production technology available. xTool diode machines: M1 Smart, M1 Ultra, S1 (enclosed, 20W/40W), F1 Portable (galvo), F2 (galvo). Infrared Laser (1064nm) At 1064nm, metal surfaces absorb the beam rather than reflecting it. This is the entry point to metal processing. IR modules at 2–5W (as found in the xTool F1 and F2) are specifically suited for marking bare metals — stainless steel, aluminium, brass, copper — and technical plastics and ceramics that diode lasers cannot mark cleanly. In practice, most IR module users are jewellers, metalworkers, market traders doing personalisation, and sign makers who need occasional metal marking alongside organic material work. The dual-source architecture (diode + IR in one machine) makes this accessible without purchasing separate machines. Fiber Laser (1064nm) Fiber lasers also operate at 1064nm but at significantly higher power than IR modules. Where a 2W IR module marks the surface, a 20W fiber laser engraves deeply, marks with high contrast and permanence, and cuts thin sheet metal. The xTool F1 Ultra cuts stainless steel up to 0.3mm and aluminium up to 0.2mm — capabilities impossible with diode or CO2 technology. Combined with galvo steering at 10,000 mm/s, the F1 Ultra processes metal jobs at speeds that make commercial production volumes viable from a desktop machine. Fifty engraved metal tags that would take hours on a gantry take minutes on the F1 Ultra. MOPA Fiber Laser MOPA (Master Oscillator Power Amplifier) fiber lasers provide independent control over pulse width and frequency — parameters that standard fiber lasers cannot separate. This unlocks three capabilities unavailable in standard fiber: Full colour spectrum on stainless steel: Different pulse widths produce different oxide thicknesses, producing different visible colours. Blue, gold, purple, red, and true black are all reproducible and permanent without pigments. True black on bare aluminium: Standard fiber produces grey marks on aluminium. MOPA's short pulses produce genuine black oxide — the industry standard for aluminium part marking. Coating-precise removal: MOPA removes coatings without thermal spread into the substrate — essential for electronics, precision instruments, and complex coated surfaces. The xTool F2 Ultra's 60W MOPA is competitive with industrial fiber systems at a fraction of the cost. For businesses where colour marking on metal is a core product offering, MOPA is the correct technology. CO2 Laser (10,600nm) CO2 lasers emit at 10,600nm — far infrared. Organic materials absorb this wavelength with extremely high efficiency. The result is decisive cutting power on wood, acrylic, leather, paper, and fabric that diode lasers cannot match at comparable wattage. A 55W CO2 cuts 18mm basswood in a single pass; a 40W diode requires multiple passes on the same thickness. CO2 also produces a flame-polished edge on cast acrylic — optically clear, smooth, requiring no post-processing. This is why CO2 is the standard technology for sign shops, furniture makers, and acrylic fabricators. Cannot process: Bare metal. The 10,600nm wavelength reflects off metal surfaces entirely. xTool CO2 machines: P2S (55W), P3 (80W with AI fire detection). UV Laser (355nm) UV lasers at 355nm operate through photochemical ablation — high-energy photons break molecular bonds directly, removing material without significant heat generation. This is categorically different from thermal laser processing and enables applications no other laser technology can achieve. 3D inner glass engraving: The UV beam focused inside transparent glass creates micro-fractures within the material volume — building 3D structures suspended inside glass or crystal objects. Crystal trophies, personalised glass blocks, and premium glassware decoration require this technology and nothing else. Heat-sensitive materials: Electronics, precision plastics, silicone, and coated surfaces that thermal lasers melt or discolour are marked cleanly by UV's cold processing mechanism. Ceramics and porcelain: Fired ceramic surfaces receive clean, burn-free marks without the thermal cracking risk of infrared lasers. xTool UV machine: F2 Ultra UV (5W, 15,000 mm/s via galvo, dual 48MP cameras). Technology Decision Matrix Application Correct technology xTool machine Cutting thick wood, acrylic, leather CO2 P2S or P3 Engraving and cutting organic materials Diode S1 40W or M1 Smart High-speed batch engraving on organics Galvo diode F2 (15W + 5W IR) Marking bare metal Fiber or IR F1 Portable or F1 Ultra Colour engraving on stainless steel Fiber (20W+) F1 Ultra Industrial colour + deep metal marking MOPA (60W) F2 Ultra MOPA 3D inner glass, ceramics, cold processing UV F2 Ultra UV Vinyl cutting + laser in one machine Diode + blade M1 Smart or M1 Ultra Print + cut (colour printing on hard surfaces) Diode + inkjet + blade M1 Ultra or M2 Color Craft Available from Eolas Prints Eolas Prints is an authorised xTool reseller based in Cantabria, Spain, offering the complete xTool range across all laser technologies. Contact us with your material and application requirements — we'll identify the correct technology and machine before you spend.

Choosing a laser engraver or cutter is not as simple as picking a wattage and clicking buy. The xTool range spans eleven machines across five fundamentally different laser technologies — each suited to a different set of materials, workflows, and business models. This guide cuts through the confusion with a practical framework: understand your materials first, then choose the technology, then choose the machine. The One Question That Decides Everything: What Do You Need to Process? Every laser technology has a wavelength, and every material absorbs certain wavelengths and reflects or transmits others. A laser that works beautifully on wood will do nothing to bare metal. A CO2 laser that cuts acrylic cleanly cannot mark stainless steel. Before comparing machines, answer this: what materials will you work with most? The Five xTool Laser Technologies at a Glance Technology Wavelength Best for Cannot process Diode laser 450–455nm Wood, leather, acrylic (opaque), fabric Bare metal, clear acrylic, glass Infrared (IR) 1064nm Metal marking, ceramics, technical plastics Thick cutting Fiber 1064nm Deep metal engraving, colour on steel, thin metal cutting Organic materials (use diode) MOPA fiber 1064nm Full colour metal engraving, black on aluminium Organic materials CO2 10,600nm Thick wood and acrylic cutting, production output Bare metal UV 355nm 3D inner glass engraving, cold processing, ceramics Thick material cutting The Complete xTool Range — Every Machine Mapped Machine Technology Price Primary use case M2 Color Craft Diode + UV + blade + pen €655 Colour printing on hard materials M1 Smart 10W Diode + blade €1,199 Laser engraving + vinyl cutting M1 Ultra 10W Diode + blade + inkjet + pen €1,849 Print-and-cut, 4-in-1 workflows S1 (20W/40W) Diode, Class 1 enclosed €1,410+ Safe enclosed high-power diode F1 Portable 10W Diode + 2W IR, galvo €1,549 Portable metal + organic, 4,000mm/s F2 (5W IR) 15W Diode + 5W IR, galvo €1,549 Dual-laser galvo, 400×400mm area F1 Ultra 20W Fiber + 20W Diode, galvo €3,899 Colour steel, deep metal, 10,000mm/s P2S 55W CO2 €4,199 Thick wood/acrylic cutting, sign making F2 Ultra UV 5W UV, galvo €4,649 3D inner glass, ceramics, cold processing P3 80W CO2 €7,049 Production CO2, AI fire safety F2 Ultra MOPA 60W MOPA + 40W Diode, galvo €7,299 Industrial MOPA colour, deep marking Choosing by Budget Under €1,000 — Creative Entry Point The M2 Color Craft at €655 combines UV laser, diode, blade cutter, and pen plotter for full-colour prints directly onto wood, acrylic, and hard surfaces. It's the most versatile machine at this price and the only desktop device that does full-colour printing without ink cartridges. €1,000–€2,000 — Serious Studio For pure diode power in a safe enclosed format, the S1 40W is the most capable enclosed diode laser available. For users who also need metal marking capability, the F1 Portable adds 2W IR and galvo speed at the same price point. The M1 Smart is the right choice if vinyl cutting is part of the workflow. €2,000–€5,000 — Small Business Production Two very different machines serve this tier. The P2S is for businesses whose primary material is thick wood, acrylic, or leather — sign shops, furniture makers, craft studios. The F1 Ultra is for personalisation businesses working with metals at volume — trophies, jewellery, branded merchandise. These two machines serve opposite ends of the material spectrum at the same price tier. €5,000+ — Professional and Industrial The P3 at €7,049 adds 80W CO2 power, larger build volume, AI fire detection, and built-in CO2 suppression — the choice for production CO2 operations where the machine runs all day. The F2 Ultra MOPA at €7,299 delivers 60W MOPA fiber capability — the right choice for industrial metal colour engraving, deep marking of hard metals, and applications requiring the full MOPA colour spectrum on stainless steel. Quick Decision Guide Answer these questions in order: Do you need to mark bare metal? Yes → you need a fiber or IR laser (F1, F1 Ultra, F2, F2 Ultra). No → continue. Do you need to cut wood over 10mm thick or any clear acrylic? Yes → CO2 (P2S or P3). No → continue. Do you need to engrave inside glass or on heat-sensitive materials? Yes → UV (F2 Ultra UV). No → continue. Do you need high-speed batch production? Yes → galvo machine (F1, F1 Ultra, F2, F2 Ultra). No → continue. Do you need vinyl cutting alongside laser? Yes → M1 Smart or M1 Ultra. No → S1 is your enclosed diode entry point. Available from Eolas Prints Eolas Prints is an authorised xTool reseller based in Cantabria, Spain, serving customers across Europe. Every machine in this guide is in stock. Not sure which is right for your application? Contact us — we advise based on your specific materials and workflow before you buy.