Not everyone has the budget for high-end equipment. I know I’d like a 3D printer, but honestly, I don’t think it’s a “buy now, use later” device. The same goes for a laser engraver – I might want one, but it’s more of a want than a need. The missing link, however, is potential. Any good marketer will tell you that potential is the key to attracting customers. Yes, I sound a little pushy, but that’s what I’m going for. I didn’t know I needed a laser engraver until I saw what one could do.
Two weeks ago, I was in Macau for the BEYOND Expo, a trade show showcasing technological innovation in the Eastern Pacific. The expo is quite large, with hundreds of exhibitors, making it a great place to network, learn about products, and understand their potential. It was there that I saw the xTool F1 Ultra, but what struck me most was not the machine itself, but the accessories that came with it. The dual-laser engraver is neatly arranged around the F1 Ultra’s creations. The machine can cut plastic, metal, wood, fabric, leather, and even leaves (I bought a cinnamon leaf with a face engraved on it)… That’s when I realized it. The potential of laser engravers is endless, not just for artisans and small studios, but for hobbyists, designers, and anyone who enjoys spending time in the studio.
This article isn’t an introduction to the F1 Ultra, but rather an overview of all its features. Incidentally, the xTool F1 Ultra is the world’s first dual-laser engraver, combining a 20W fiber laser with a 20W diode laser. The fiber laser (with a wavelength of 1064nm, if you’re into the details) is the preferred choice for cutting metals, easily cutting through thin brass, stainless steel, and aluminum (0.4mm, 0.3mm, and 0.2mm thick, respectively). The blue diode laser (with a wavelength of 445nm) is suitable for softer materials, such as wood up to 15mm thick and acrylic up to 12mm thick. The F1 Ultra’s impressive engraving speed of 10,000mm/s, coupled with features like a smart camera and autofocus, means you can spend less time setting up and more time bringing your ideas to life. Sure, the $3,999 price tag isn’t an impulse buy, but once you understand what this product can do, the price starts to seem more and more reasonable.
All of the pieces featured here were created using the F1 Ultra or its larger sibling, the S1. The S1 uses the same laser cutting/engraving technology, but features a larger roller table, allowing it to load an infinite number of rolls of material and continuously engrave/cut a design. While both machines are suitable for a similarly wide range of products, the most obvious application is, of course, leather.
The three images shown here (starting with the Burberry wallet) are examples of laser engraving on leather. The versatility of these different products is noteworthy: A. tanned leather (above), B. suede (see middle), and C. dyed leather (see below). All three types of leather hold up well to controlled laser exposure. Suede does not take on the same rich color as tanned or dyed leather, but this may be because the dye or ink used to tan the leather also fades. However, laser machines are capable of working on a variety of surfaces, even curved ones like the shoes shown below, allowing you to personalize your items with a variety of prints and styles.
Laser engraving also works well on fabric, creating a washed/bleached effect rather than a burnt effect. This is likely because the laser not only affects the fabric itself, but also the dye, revealing the lighter fibers underneath. This saves you from having to sand your jeans or carefully dye them with bleach. Laser engraving is incredibly precise, allowing you to create beautiful prints even on heavier fabrics like denim. You can also engrave on other fabrics (preferably heavier ones), and of course, you can increase the cutting power of the fabric by using the laser as a scalpel. Fabric, paper, leather, plastic, and even thin metal sheets can be cut with ease.
It is worth noting that this machine can also work with stone, especially less dense materials such as slate. Here we see the effect of both shallow and deep engraving. The image above shows a menu engraved on a piece of slate. Although it appears to be hand-carved, it is actually entirely machine-made. The design is simple yet beautiful, and unlike chalk, it does not wear off. However, if you want a deeper engraving, the laser can not only mark the surface, but also cut the material.
The images above and below show examples of laser engraving on stone and wood respectively. The output power of the engraving machine plays a decisive role in its choice. A higher laser output (e.g. 40W vs. 20W) allows for controlled erosion of the material, creating an engraving rather than just an etching. The engraving on the stone is impressive, but the engraving of the wooden cat below really blew me away: its relief effect resembles a CNC machine rather than a laser engraving.
But as I explained, laser machines can also cut – the examples above and below are prime examples. Although laser machines are primarily popular with those working with 2D designs, they are also great for 3D design. The image above shows a doll created entirely using laser cutting. Cut out the individual pieces, assemble them, and you have a real 3D toy.
Want to go beyond simple cut-and-assemble designs? You can also bend wood by cutting controlled dot patterns into it, as shown here. This turns the wood from a solid board into something that can be wrapped around two-dimensional curved pieces. This ability gives this card holder a semi-cylindrical shape.
Similarly, you can cut plastic sheets directly with a laser engraver. In this case, you have created a carousel of prismatic acrylic sheets. The joints are perfect, the details are perfect, and the laser engraver allows you to create extremely thin and delicate parts without breaking in the process, which would inevitably happen if you were to cut the same material with a jigsaw or glass cutter.
But this is where the laser, and especially the F1 Ultra, really shines. It can engrave metal (you can see the brightly colored iPad in the first image), but it can go beyond just etching to create color. When I first saw “Starry Night” on what looked like steel, I was absolutely blown away. You’d think that etching metal would just make it black, but you can adjust the intensity of the laser to create different colors. If you’ve ever seen a car exhaust pipe turn a weird rainbow of colors from the heat of the exhaust, a laser can do that too.
Controlled exposure to a specific temperature changes the color of the metal. Using a high-precision laser, the metal is “printed” by simply heating it. I have repeatedly asked the xTool staff if this is some kind of printing technology, because the effect is so impressive. Every color you see is the result of the laser beam heating the metal, turning it black, blue, light blue, rusty, and even yellow.
Of course, I had to try the machine myself, and luckily the people at xTool were happy to oblige. All I had to do was upload a photo of myself to F1 Ultra (using a very simple QR code system) and point it at an object. xTool had a whole bunch of cinnamon leaves especially for this training session… Incidentally, Yao Ming (Chinese basketball superstar) was also on the court that day, and he was given a cinnamon leaf laser-engraved with his portrait.
All in all, the whole process took only 10 minutes, and I (I mean, I?) had my perfectly engraved portrait on the sheet. Would I ever consider spending $3,000-$4,000 on a laser engraver? Probably not – I’m not very good with money, so I had to work hard to hold back – but that’s when things started to change. Now that I know about the versatility of laser engravers like the F1 Ultra, if I were considering buying one, I’d make a more educated decision and avoid an impulse purchase. I think I’d do the same for you…
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Post time: Aug-18-2025