The short answer: the xTool F1 Ultra is worth it if you sell both metal and wood goods and want one machine that marks stainless tags and engraves basswood without swapping modules. It is not the right buy for large signs, because the field is 220 mm square, for colour marking on stainless, or for cutting anything but very thin metal.
xTool F1 Ultra
Enclosed galvo · 20 W fiber + 20 W diode · 220 × 220 mm (220 × 500 mm with conveyor) · 16 MP camera · xTool Studio, LightBurn for basic jobs
Check price on AmazonHow this review was put together: from the manufacturer’s documentation and support pages, the live Amazon listing and repeated owner reports. This machine has not been bench-tested for this site; the sources are listed at the end of the page.
What it is
A galvo machine: mirrors steer the beam instead of a gantry dragging a head, which is why xTool can quote speeds up to 10,000 mm/s. It carries two sources in one enclosure, a 20 W fiber laser at 1064 nm for metal and some plastics, and a 20 W blue diode for wood, leather, opaque acrylic and similar materials. The working field is 220 × 220 mm, and the Auto Conveyor (sold separately) extends it to 220 × 500 mm. A 16 MP camera handles placement and recognises shapes for batch work.
Who it is for, and who should skip it
Personalisation sellers whose list mixes metal tags, knife blades and tumbler panels with wooden ornaments and leather patches. The F1 Ultra lets one machine and one design file cover both. If metal is the whole business and you want colour on stainless or thicker cuts, the F2 Ultra review covers the step up. If metal is not on your list at all, a diode such as the xTool S1 gives you a far bigger bed for the money.
What it does well
- Metal and wood on one bench. By xTool’s listing, the fiber source marks gold, silver, copper, stainless, brass and titanium, and the diode covers wood, acrylic, leather, rubber and fabric.
- Speed on small batches. Galvo speed turns a tray of tags into a short job, and the camera can fill a design onto every piece it recognises.
- 3D relief. Multi-level embossing and deep engraving on metal, wood and stone are supported, which few desktop machines offer.
- Some cutting. xTool rates the diode to cut up to 15 mm wood and 12 mm black acrylic, and the fiber to cut thin sheet: 0.3 mm stainless, 0.4 mm brass and 0.2 mm aluminium. Treat these as maximums.
Fumes and ventilation
The F1 Ultra has a built-in exhaust fan and pipe. As with any laser, that moves smoke out of the enclosure but does not filter it, and metal marking throws fine particulate as well as smoke. Vent it outside or use a filter unit; xTool’s SafetyPro AP2 has an automatic mode with the F1 Ultra that adjusts airflow to the material. Two practical notes: xTool’s own LightBurn guide warns that light materials can be shifted by the exhaust airflow, so tape thin blanks down, and an owner thread on xTool’s community forum reports the stock fan struggling on smoky jobs, which is one more reason to plan proper extraction.
Setup and time to the first job
There is no gantry to square and no coolant to mix. The listing gives the machine as 43.8 pounds, so it sits on a sturdy desk. First use is mostly software: connect over USB or Wi-Fi, run the focus and position checks, and test on the supplied material. Safety glasses are not included, and the fiber wavelength is invisible, so buy glasses rated for 1064 nm and for the blue diode before the first job, not after.
Software and support
xTool Studio runs every feature. LightBurn works through a device profile that xTool publishes, but xTool’s own guide calls that support basic: real-time framing and embossing are not available in LightBurn. If 3D relief is a reason you are buying, plan on xTool’s software for those jobs. Support runs through the same channels for every xTool machine: email to [email protected], a ticket form on xTool’s support site that promises a reply within one business day, a US phone line and live chat.
Warranty and returns
xTool’s standard cover for the F1 Ultra is 12 months on main parts, with some items on shorter terms: its xToolCare page lists the power adapter at 3 months and the power cord and USB cable as not covered. xTool sells a paid extension called xToolCare, but only with machines bought from xtool.com, so a machine bought on Amazon stays on the standard terms.
The Amazon listing is sold by xTool’s official store and ships from Amazon, so Amazon’s returns rules apply. Most items can go back within 30 days of delivery, but large items can carry exceptions, so read the return line on the listing before ordering and keep the packaging until you have run a few real jobs.
Noise and space
With no coolant pump and no gantry, the main noise is the exhaust fan plus whatever extraction you add. No decibel figure is published for the machine. Space is easy: a desk that takes a 44 pound machine, a route for the exhaust pipe, and room alongside if you add the conveyor later.
Running costs and consumables
There is no tube to replace. The field lens needs keeping clean, the fan collects residue, and a purifier, if you use one, consumes filters. The real running cost is blanks: metal tags, tumblers and slate are where most of the money goes, which is also where the profit comes from.
Check before you order
- That 220 × 220 mm covers your largest regular piece.
- Whether you need colour on stainless. If so, this is the wrong fiber source.
- Whether you design in LightBurn, and whether you can live with embossing staying in xTool Studio.
- Glasses for both wavelengths, bought separately.
Is the xTool F1 Ultra worth it?
For a mixed shop, yes. It is the most direct way on this site to cover metal and organic materials with one machine and one file. Metal production shops, and anyone who will charge for colour, should read the F1 Ultra vs F2 Ultra comparison first.
Check current price and stock on AmazonSources
- xTool Support: Operate xTool F1 Ultra with LightBurn
- xTool: xToolCare for F1 Ultra (standard warranty table, xtool.com purchases only)
- xTool Community: owner thread on the F1 Ultra exhaust fan
- Amazon returns policy
Specifications and policies were checked on November 1, 2026. Policies change; the linked pages are the current version.
Questions people also ask
Is the xTool F1 Ultra good for beginners?
It is straightforward to run, but it is a specialist tool. Beginners who only engrave wood get far more bed for the money from an enclosed diode machine.
Can the xTool F1 Ultra cut metal?
Only very thin sheet. xTool lists 0.3 mm stainless, 0.4 mm brass and 0.2 mm aluminium. For 2 mm metal you need the F2 Ultra.
Does the xTool F1 Ultra work with LightBurn?
Yes for the basic workflow, using xTool's device profile. Real-time framing and embossing are not available in LightBurn.
Can the F1 Ultra mark colour on stainless steel?
No. Colour marking needs a MOPA source like the F2 Ultra's. The F1 Ultra's fiber laser marks in black and grey tones.