CO2 Laser Cutting: The Complete Material Guide for the xTool P2S and P3

The xTool P2S and P3 are CO2 laser cutters — a category operating on fundamentally different physics from diode lasers. Understanding what CO2 technology is specifically designed to do makes the investment decision clear. This guide covers the complete material capability of both machines, the practical differences between 55W and 80W, and which applications justify each.

Why CO2 Is the Right Technology for Thick-Material Cutting

CO2 lasers emit at 10,600nm — far infrared. Organic materials absorb this wavelength with extremely high efficiency compared to the 450nm of diode lasers. The practical result: a 55W CO2 cuts 18mm basswood in a single pass. A 40W diode at the same thickness requires multiple passes and produces rougher, more charred edges. For anything over 10mm thick, CO2 is the correct technology — not abstractly better, but because the absorption physics make the cut faster, cleaner, and achievable at all.

CO2 also produces a flame-polished edge on cast acrylic — optically clear, requiring no post-processing. This is why CO2 is the standard technology for sign shops and acrylic fabricators.

Material Capabilities

Wood

CO2 is the natural wood-cutting laser. The P2S cuts basswood, birch plywood, MDF, pine, walnut, cherry, and oak. Practical cutting limits: basswood up to 18mm (P2S) or 30mm (P3) in a single pass. Engraving quality is excellent — smooth gradients and clean edges on detailed woodwork, personalised plaques, decorative panels, and architectural models.

Acrylic

Acrylic is where CO2 demonstrates its clearest advantage. Diode lasers cannot cut clear acrylic — the beam passes through it. CO2 cuts all acrylic colours including clear, with a flame-polished edge that is optically transparent and requires no sanding. P2S cuts up to 20mm; P3 up to 25mm. Essential for sign shops, display manufacturers, and businesses producing acrylic lettering, awards, and decorative objects.

Leather

CO2 laser-cut leather produces clean, sealed edges — the heat seals the leather fibres simultaneously, preventing fraying. P2S cuts genuine leather up to 8mm and engraves with high contrast. For leather goods manufacturers, CO2 edge quality is significantly better than mechanical cutting or diode laser cutting.

Fabric and Textiles

Cuts cleanly with heat-sealed edges that prevent fraying on synthetics. Cotton, polyester, nylon, silk, felt, and denim. The large beds of the P2S (600×400mm) and P3 (700×430mm) accommodate full panels for garment decoration and textile design.

Glass and Stone (Engraving Only)

CO2 engraves glass and stone without the spray coating required by diode lasers. The 10,600nm beam interacts directly with these surfaces, creating frosted engraving for personalised glassware, tiles, and stone markers. For glass cutting, the xTool F2 Ultra UV is the correct machine.

What CO2 Cannot Do

CO2 cannot process bare metal — the 10,600nm wavelength reflects off metal surfaces. For metal marking alongside a CO2 workflow, a separate fiber or IR machine is needed. Diode or IR modules can handle coated and anodised metals as a complementary capability.

P2S vs P3 — Which to Choose

	xTool P2S (55W)	xTool P3 (80W)
Laser power	55W CO2	80W CO2
Build area	600 × 400 mm	700 × 430 mm
Max speed	600 mm/s	1,000 mm/s
Basswood single pass	18mm	30mm
Acrylic single pass	20mm	25mm
Fire safety	Standard	AI detection + CO2 suppression
Material recognition	No	Automatic
Price	€4,199	€7,049

The P2S handles the majority of small business CO2 applications. The P3's 80W becomes necessary when: materials are routinely over 18mm thick; the machine runs all day in a commercial premises requiring fire suppression; or automatic material recognition would save significant per-job setup time.

The P3's Safety Infrastructure — Why It Matters

The P3 is the first consumer CO2 laser with a built-in CO2 fire suppression system. At 80W, the machine generates significant heat in thick wood and MDF — smouldering can ignite if left unattended. The P3's AI camera monitors the work area in real time and activates suppression automatically on flame detection. For businesses running the machine commercially, this directly reduces operational risk and may affect insurance requirements.

Who Buys the P2S and P3

• Sign makers: Acrylic lettering, wooden plaques, MDF display boards — CO2 is the sign industry standard for good reason
• Furniture makers and woodworkers: Decorative inlays, personalised panels, and joints in wood up to 30mm
• Model makers and architects: Precision cuts in 3–15mm plywood and MDF for scale models
• Leather goods manufacturers: Pattern cutting and branding with sealed-edge quality
• Gift and personalisation studios: High-volume engraving on wood, glass, and stone at CO2 speed and quality

Available from Eolas Prints

Eolas Prints is an authorised xTool reseller based in Cantabria, Spain. Both the P2S and P3 are in stock and ship across Europe. Contact us to discuss which configuration is right for your production requirements.