Laser Cutting & Engraving

The xTool F2 Ultra UV occupies a unique position in the laser market — it does things no diode, CO2, or standard fiber laser can do, and it is the first consumer-grade desktop machine to make several of these capabilities accessible. This guide explains the technology, what it produces, and which businesses it serves. What UV Cold Processing Actually Is Most lasers process materials thermally — the laser heats material to its vaporisation point, removing it as gas and plasma. The heat is the mechanism. UV lasers at 355nm operate differently: the photon energy at this wavelength is high enough to break molecular bonds directly, ablating material photochemically rather than thermally. The result is material removal without significant heat generation — which is why it's called cold processing. The practical consequences are significant: materials that thermal lasers would crack (glass), melt (heat-sensitive plastics), or discolour (electronics coatings) are processed cleanly by UV. The absence of a heat-affected zone means clean edges, no micro-fractures, no thermal spread beyond the target area. 3D Inner Glass Engraving — What It Is and How It Works Glass is transparent to UV light — the beam passes through the surface without affecting it. But if the UV beam is focused to a precise point inside the glass, the photon density at that focal point is high enough to create a micro-fracture within the glass volume. By moving this focal point systematically in three dimensions (X, Y, and Z), the machine creates patterns, text, and three-dimensional models suspended inside the glass object — invisible from the surface until the object is backlit. This is the technology behind crystal trophies, personalised glass blocks, and decorative crystal balls sold as premium gifts and corporate awards. Previously limited to industrial laser systems costing tens of thousands of euros, the xTool F2 Ultra UV makes this technique accessible from a desktop machine. What can be engraved inside glass: Text, logos, 3D models, photographs converted to 3D point clouds. The xTool Creative Space software includes AI-powered 3D model generation from photographs — upload a portrait and the software generates a 3D point cloud for inner engraving automatically. Surface Engraving vs Inner Engraving The F2 Ultra UV includes two switchable field lenses — one optimised for inner engraving (focused inside the material) and one for surface engraving (focused on the material surface). This makes it a genuinely dual-mode machine: Inner mode: 3D structures suspended inside glass, crystal, or transparent acrylic Surface mode: Clean frosted engraving on glass surfaces, ceramic marks, fine detail on acrylic, electronics marking Material Compatibility Material Process Notes Clear glass and crystal 3D inner engraving + surface frosting The primary application — the UV wavelength is uniquely suited Transparent acrylic Surface engraving + inner possible Clean burn-free edges — CO2 and diode leave heat marks on clear acrylic Ceramics and porcelain Surface marking Permanent marks on fired ceramic without cracking risk Silicone and technical plastics Surface marking No heat damage — marks heat-sensitive materials other lasers cannot Leather Surface engraving Ultra-fine detail, zero fumes from burning Wood Surface engraving Works but CO2 or diode is more cost-effective for wood PCBs and electronics Component marking Component marking without thermal damage The Business Model — What Products Does This Enable? The F2 Ultra UV opens product categories that are simply not accessible with other desktop laser technologies: Crystal trophies and corporate awards: 3D inner engraving of logos, portraits, and 3D models inside crystal blocks. High perceived value, high margin. Currently a market served by specialist suppliers — the F2 Ultra UV allows small studios and personalisation businesses to produce these in-house. Personalised glassware: Whisky glasses, wine bottles, beer mugs, and decanters with inner 3D or surface-frosted personalisation. Wedding gifts, corporate gifts, bar merchandise. Ceramic and tile marking: Permanent logos and personalisation on fired ceramic tiles, mugs, and plates for the gift and home décor market. Jewellery with glass and stone: Studios engraving on glass or semi-precious stone components of jewellery pieces. Industrial component marking: Electronics, medical devices, and precision instruments that require marking without thermal damage. F2 Ultra UV Key Specifications Laser type 5W UV (355nm) Engraving speed Up to 15,000 mm/s (galvo) Camera system Dual 48MP — 0.2mm positioning accuracy Field lenses 2 — inner engraving + surface engraving Engraving modes 3D inner, surface, embossing, rotary Software xTool Creative Space (AI 3D generation) Price €4,649 UV vs Other Technologies on Glass Diode laser on glass: Cannot engrave — the 450nm beam passes through glass. Requires spray coating to mark glass surfaces, which adds time and obscures fine detail. No inner engraving capability. CO2 laser on glass: Engraves glass surfaces well — the 10,600nm wavelength is absorbed by glass, creating frosted marks without coating. Cannot do inner engraving. Produces good surface frosting but generates heat that can cause micro-fracturing on thin glass or around curved surfaces. UV laser on glass: Cold processes both the surface and the interior. No micro-fractures, no coating required, and uniquely capable of 3D inner engraving. The technically correct and most capable technology for all glass applications. Available from Eolas Prints Eolas Prints is an authorised xTool reseller based in Cantabria, Spain. The xTool F2 Ultra UV is in stock and ships across Europe with EU warranty. If you are considering this machine for a specific product line or application, contact us — we are happy to discuss whether it is the right fit for your workflow.

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.