xTool's enclosed laser engravers have quietly become the most talked-about tool in the maker world. Here's why — and how laser engraving pairs with your 3D printing setup.
May 2026
1,000+
Compatible materials
15K
mm/s max speed
40W
xTool S1 diode power
0.001
mm precision
8 min
F1 trade show setup
What's going on
Laser Engravers Are Everywhere Now
Walk into any makerspace, craft fair vendor tent, or small-batch production shop right now and you'll find a laser engraver humming alongside the 3D printers. The category has exploded — and the machine showing up on more workbenches than any other is the xTool S1.
If you've been in the 3D printing world for a while, you already understand the appeal of desktop fabrication. Laser engraving follows the same logic: a capable, precise machine that fits on a workbench, costs a fraction of industrial equipment, and opens up an entirely different category of work.
The difference is what it makes. Where a 3D printer adds material to create objects from nothing, a laser engraver subtracts — burning, cutting, and marking at a precision that's difficult to match any other way. Together, they're one of the most powerful one-two punches in the maker's toolkit.
HOW LASER ENGRAVING WORKS
Laser
A focused beam of light heats the material surface — burning, vaporizing, or chemically altering it to leave a permanent mark or cut through entirely.
Beam Types
Diode · CO₂ · Fiber · UV
Spot Size
~0.05mm
Depth Control
Power + Speed
Software
xTool Creative Space
The xTool lineup
Three Machines Worth Knowing
xTool has built an ecosystem ranging from ultra-portable event machines to professional enclosed systems. Here's where to start depending on your use case.
xTool F1
Portable Dual-Laser
~$799 starting
Dual IR + Diode lasers in one unit
4,000 mm/s engraving speed
Won 2024 iF Design Award
Battery-compatible for field use
Engrave gold, silver, platinum
Best for: jewelry, craft fairs, on-site customization
xTool S1
Enclosed Diode System
~$1,199 40W config
40W diode laser, fully enclosed
498 × 319mm working area (A3+)
Smart Air Assist built in
600 mm/s + dynamic Z-axis focus
Auto conveyor feeder up to 3,000mm
Best for: home workshops, small production, wood + acrylic
xTool F2 Ultra
Flagship Dual-Laser
~$3,999 starting
60W MOPA + 40W diode combination
Cuts 2mm brass, steel, aluminum
50MP camera for job alignment
6,000 mm/s engraving speed
3D embossing capability
Best for: metal work, high-volume production, pro results
A 3D printer builds the thing. A laser engraver makes it yours.
— The hybrid workflow logic every maker eventually lands on
Tool comparison
Laser vs. 3D Print: Not a Competition
The real insight isn't which tool is "better" — it's understanding what each one does, so you can know when to use both together.
Laser Engraving
Process
Subtractive — removes material
Speed
Very fast for 2D work (minutes)
Materials
Wood, acrylic, metal, glass, leather, fabric, and 1,000+ more
Best Output
Markings, cuts, personalization, patterns
Limitation
Can't build 3D volume from nothing
vs
3D Printing
Process
Additive — builds layer by layer
Speed
Slower for complex geometry (hours)
Materials
PLA, PETG, ABS, resin, carbon fiber, flexible TPU
Best Output
Custom geometry, functional parts, prototypes
Limitation
Difficult to achieve fine 2D surface detail
Real-world applications
What People Are Actually Making
Laser engravers shine (literally) in a wide range of niches. Here are the categories where the xTool ecosystem is making the most noise.
01🏷️
Custom Gifts & Personalization
Engraved cutting boards, personalized keychains, monogrammed leather goods, custom wine glasses. This is the highest-volume use case for small makers — fast turnarounds, high perceived value, strong Etsy and direct-sale margins.
02🖼️
Decorative Signage & Wall Art
3D topographic maps, laser-cut city skylines, layered wooden art panels. CO2 and diode lasers handle intricate multi-layer cuts through wood and acrylic that turn raw sheet stock into high-ticket wall pieces.
03💍
Jewelry & Metal Marking
The F1's fiber/IR laser combination marks gold, silver, platinum, and stainless steel at show-stopping precision — down to 0.5mm text that jewelers need for hallmarking and custom work. Two units can be set up at a craft fair in under 8 minutes.
04🖨️
Hybrid 3D Print Finishing
Print the geometry, engrave the branding. Laser engravers burn crisp logos, serial numbers, and decorative patterns directly into FDM prints — especially wood-fill and matte PLA surfaces absorb laser marks beautifully, producing results that look injection-molded.
05📐
Rapid Prototyping & Jigs
Laser-cut acrylic and plywood jigs, fixtures, and templates are a staple of production workflows. Where 3D printing would take hours, an enclosed laser cuts precise flat-pack components in minutes — essential for assembly lines and batch production.
06🎓
Education & Makerspaces
The xTool F1 was piloted in entrepreneurship courses at multiple universities in 2025. Students move from Illustrator file to finished laser-cut prototype within a single class period — an on-ramp to manufacturing concepts that 3D printing already makes possible.
Pro technique
The Hybrid Workflow That Changes Everything
3D printing and laser engraving aren't competing — they're complementary. Here's the workflow pairing them for maximum output quality.
1
Design in CAD / vector software
Model the 3D geometry in your slicer tool of choice (Bambu Studio, PrusaSlicer, etc.). Separately, design the 2D surface artwork in Adobe Illustrator or xTool Creative Space — logos, text, decorative fills. Keep both files ready.
2
Print the base geometry
Run your FDM or resin print as normal. Wood-fill, matte PLA, and dark PETG take laser marks particularly well. Let the print fully cool and cure — surface temperature matters for laser work.
3
Set up the laser for surface marking
Place the print flat on the xTool bed. Use the built-in camera (S1 and F2 models) to position artwork precisely over the surface. Dial in power and speed — lower power, faster passes avoid burning through thin walls.
4
Engrave and finish
Run the engraving job. The result: production-quality branding that looks designed-in, not added-on. For wood-fill filament especially, the contrast is striking — burned dark marks against a natural wood-tone surface.
Common questions
FAQ: Laser Engraving Basics
3D printing is additive — it builds objects layer by layer from filament or resin. Laser engraving is subtractive — a focused beam removes or burns material to create marks, designs, or cuts. They complement each other well: 3D printing creates the object, laser engraving personalizes or finishes it.
xTool machines are compatible with over 1,000 materials depending on the model — wood, acrylic, leather, glass, fabric, metal (stainless steel, aluminum, brass, gold, silver), plastic, and more. Specific material capabilities vary by laser type: diode, CO₂, fiber, UV, or IR.
Yes — and it's one of the most satisfying hybrid techniques in desktop fabrication. FDM prints in PLA, PETG, and wood-fill filament take laser marks well. The laser burns clean detail into the surface — text, logos, decorative patterns — at a precision that FDM layer resolution can't match. Resin prints can also be engraved but require lower power settings to avoid heat distortion.
The S1 is one of the most beginner-friendly enclosed laser engravers on the market. The fully enclosed design contains fumes and reduces laser scatter — critical for home workshop safety. xTool Creative Space software includes built-in material presets, and the camera alignment feature makes job setup visual and intuitive. It's a machine you can run production jobs on from week one.
Dreaming3D is San Diego's go-to for 3D printing services, printer repair, and maker consultation. For questions about combining laser and 3D print workflows for your project, or to discuss custom fabrication options, reach out directly — we're happy to talk through what's possible.
San Diego's Maker HQ
Dreaming3D handles FDM printing, resin printing, printer repair, and custom builds. Questions about your next project? We're a call or email away.
