xTool F1 Ultra

So this makes the 4th Xtool machine I own (D1, S1, F1 and now F1 ultra) great machines all still running. The build quality is superb. The size of the f1 ultra is quite larger than the f1. The F1 ultra is more powerful that the f1 allowing to engrave more stuff. Very easy to use with Xtool own software plenty of videos to teach you how to use if you are new to Xtool. The weight is still portable just not as easy as F1. You do pay more for the ultra but well worth the price with camera and being able to do curved surfaces and deep engravings in metal.

I’m still in awe of the incredible speed of this laser. It’s a stark contrast to the slower lasers I’ve used in the past, like diode and CO2 lasers. Just the speed alone makes the F1 Ultra worth the investment. But that’s not all – the engraving quality is simply amazing. And the camera is truly exceptional. It’s a feature that seems so simple to achieve it’s a game-changer for anyone who’s used other laser engraving systems. With the F1 Ultra, I never have to worry about misaligning my artwork or not even being on the material. It’s been perfect every time. But I guess it’s not so simple if it was why haven’t other companies been able to do the same? It’s incredible how easy and intuitive this machine is. And with fiber lasers, you can project the exact image you’re about to burn onto the material. It’s not just a small square around your work; it’s the actual graphic you’re about to create. I could go on and on about the 3D coins I’ve made with this machine. They’re simply incredible. I’m a huge fan of this company and their products. Last but not least, let’s talk about Xtool. Just two years ago, they were making waves in the laser and DIY market. And now, they’re dominating the competition with their exceptional products. No one comes close to their offerings. Their product range is extensive, and their ease of use is unmatched. And their customer service is second to none.

The F1U has truly exceeded my expectations as a first-time engraver. I was looking for a machine that was simple to use but powerful enough to handle a variety of projects, and the F1U delivered on every front. After using it for about three months and engraving over 500 items, I can confidently say this machine is both user-friendly and consistently produces great results. One of the standout features is the rotary tool—something I never expected to be so seamless. The F1U makes working on curved surfaces incredibly easy, and the results are always flawless. Even as a beginner, the learning curve was minimal, and I know it will continue to serve me well as my client base grows. I use their software, Creative Space, for all my engraving projects, and their recent update for curved surface engraving has been fantastic. This upgrade has made the process even smoother, and I know I’ll be using it even more in the future. Customer support has also been a highlight. When I first received my machine, a screw for the rotary attachment was missing. I contacted customer service and received a prompt response within a day. Just a week later, the part arrived at my doorstep—hassle-free. That level of service is rare these days, and it made a big difference in my experience. Another feature worth mentioning is the regularly updated online library of engraving settings. It was already helpful when I started, and with the frequent updates, it's only getting better. This level of attention to detail enhances the user experience, making the F1U even more enjoyable to work with. In short, I couldn’t be happier with my purchase, and I’m already excited about adding their P2S machine to my setup. If you’re on the fence about getting the F1U, take the leap—you won’t regret it and it’s far better than other engravers on the market.

I’ve been thoroughly impressed with the F1 Ultra laser engraver! From the moment I unboxed it, I could tell it was a high-quality piece of equipment. The sleek design not only looks professional but also feels solid and well-made. Using the engraver has been a breeze. It delivers precise, detailed results every time, making it perfect for creating unique, personalized items. The setup was easy to follow, and the software is fairly intuitive. The engraving process is smooth and efficient, with good speed and accuracy. It’s truly a joy to use, and I’m excited about all the creative possibilities this opens up for my business! I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a quality laser engraver!

This thing is amazing. If you’re on the fence just go for it! There’s a bit of a learning curve, but honestly not much. I was making things day one, right out of the box

Final Review - After thorough testing with two separate units of the xTool F1 Ultra, I regretfully report that both machines suffered complete laser failure within approximately 30 days of moderate use. Despite my initial optimism and appreciation for the concept behind this device, the consistent hardware issues highlight significant design and manufacturing shortcomings. While the concept of a dual-laser system (fiber and diode) holds promise, the execution is fundamentally flawed. Two distinct machines, experiencing identical failures within a short time frame, is not only disappointing but also indicative of poor build quality and lack of durability. For a device at this price point, customers should reasonably expect reliability and longevity—neither of which this product delivers. Unfortunately, the xTool F1 Ultra, though ambitious in theory, falls drastically short in practice. For anyone considering this machine, I cannot recommend it based on my experiences with its hardware failures Updated Review - After my initial review of the xTool product (which is below) customer service reached out to address the issues I had experienced. They informed me about a second version of the machine that resolved some of those problems and offered me a discount (though the product was still several thousand dollars) to give it another try. Since I appreciated the concept of the product—a versatile dual-laser machine with a "Jack of all trades" approach—and believed that the issues with my first unit might have been due to the unit being defective (which happens), I decided to take them up on their offer. I’ve only had the new version for a few days and haven’t had enough time to thoroughly test it yet. However, I wanted to share an initial update and will continue to add to this review as I gain more experience with the machine. First, I want to clarify a statement in my previous review regarding xTool customer service. I mentioned a time gap in communication, which was true (likely due to time zone differences), but this should not be mistaken for poor service. In fact, the opposite is true. xTool has been outstanding in their communication and handling of my concerns. I’ve worked with Sharon and Gabby, and both have been amazing! You can tell that xTool truly cares about their customers and their products. Kudos to xTool for their proactive customer service and willingness to address and improve based on customer feedback. Now, onto the new version of the product: The machine arrived packaged incredibly well, just like the first model. xTool excels in this area, ensuring the product is well-protected. The setup process is straightforward, and I noticed that xTool has improved the calibration adjustment mechanism I mentioned in my previous review. While I still find the placement of this adjustment a bit cumbersome, the improvements are appreciated and made the process easier than before. As xTool continues to develop this product, I would encourage them to consider moving these adjustments to an external location for easier access. Once calibrated, I attempted to connect the machine to Lightburn, as most of my files are designed using that software. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get Lightburn to connect to the device. It’s unclear whether this is an issue with Lightburn or xTool, but I am using a Mac, and after researching online and reading through forums, this seems to be a common issue for Mac users. It appears this issue doesn’t affect Windows systems. Hopefully, xTool and Lightburn can resolve this compatibility issue in the future. While the inability to use Lightburn was initially frustrating, that frustration quickly dissipated when I opened xTool Creative Space. I cannot say enough good things about this software—it’s truly awesome. I didn’t realize how much I missed using it. While I like Lightburn, xTool Creative Space is far more user-friendly and packed with outstanding features. If I exclusively used xTool products, I’d never use anything else. The software connected instantly to the laser, and I was able to redesign a few files quickly using its intuitive tools. Once my files were ready, I spent the rest of the day (and much of the night) running the machine. While I’ve only had it for a short time, the machine has been working wonderfully so far. I also noticed that I was able to tweak the settings to achieve much more reasonable processing times compared to my first unit. This was very encouraging and supports my initial belief that the first unit I received was likely defective. Defective units happen across all industries and manufacturers, so this isn’t a knock on xTool—it’s all about how the company handles the issue, and xTool exceeded my expectations. Overall, I’m really enjoying the new machine, and I’ll continue to update this review as I spend more time with it. For now, I’m optimistic and impressed with both the product and the company’s commitment to their customers. Original Review - I initially purchased the F1 Ultra Laser Engraver for about $3,500 on a fall sale, I was optimistic, despite not opting for the conveyor or rotary attachments. My main intent was to do deep metal engraving (or "embossing," as Xtool calls it) using the included Xtool Creative Space software, rather than investing in additional software like Lightburn. Unfortunately, after only three weeks, I ended up returning the machine for a refund. Pros: Versatile Connectivity and Basic Software Features: I appreciated that it connected via Wi-Fi and saved files directly on the machine, streamlining workflow. While the software isn’t as feature-rich as Lightburn, it was fairly user-friendly and offered some intriguing AI capabilities (though access required paid credits after the free ones ran out). Quality of Engraving: When the F1 Ultra worked, the results were impressive. My first project—a brass challenge coin—came out beautifully. Cons: Calibration Issues: Initial calibration was challenging due to poor placement of the laser adjustment (tucked away and blocked by the light shield). The machine also kept losing calibration, especially front-to-back adjustments, requiring constant manual tweaks. Time-Intensive Engraving: Processing times for deep metal engraving were shockingly long—my first coin took over 7 hours. Even with adjustments, the lowest I could achieve was around 3.5 hours per coin, making it unfeasible for any scalable production. Inconsistent Performance and Hardware Issues: The machine’s performance declined over time; after only a few weeks, the fiber laser stopped engraving as deeply and eventually lost power mid-job. Xtool’s support tried to help, but the response time was slow, as there seemed to be a significant time zone gap. Final Failures: Near the end of my three-week trial, both the fiber and blue light lasers failed entirely. This was the final straw, as I couldn’t rely on it for any business production, let alone for metalwork. Conclusion The F1 Ultra promises versatility and performs reasonably well on certain tasks. However, for deep metal engraving, I’d recommend investing in a dedicated, high-powered fiber laser. It’s very possible that I received a defective unit, but if your focus is metal, you may be better off with a more robust machine.

Wow I've been able to create soo sooo many different gifts for the holidays and even made some money for corporate gifts.

This is my first laser. I thought this one would allow me to start as a hobby and later earn money as I get better at using it. First of all, I really like this laser. Amazing how I can emboss a coin an do so many thing with it. I do have a few issues though. There is a really big learning curve. The software isn't as intuitive as my familiar design software. Things that work on your desktop may be almost impossible to find on your tablet or phone app. Software constantly disconnects from wifi in the middle of jobs and you have to reconnect over and over. Maybe it's for safety. The filter works, but although I don't have much smoke, it still sets my smoke detectors off on occasion. Makes ne nervous. The calibration is a hassle also. You get it setup for a job. The next time you use the laser, the calibration has to be adjusted again. Wish mine came with the newer purifier.